Summary

Section 4 contains the chapters “Pa,” “Ma’s Little Monkey,” “Leaving Home,” and “Child Soldiers.”

“Pa” begins four months after Keav’s death when the family is struggling to survive and move past her loss. They are all terrified of being discovered as supporters of the former government, and their worst nightmare comes true when two soldiers appear one evening asking Pa to come help them drag an ox wagon a few kilometres away. They promise to bring Pa back the following morning, but from the way Ma begins sobbing and Pa embraces all his children, Loung senses something is wrong. Pa leaves with the soldiers after an emotional goodbye with his family, and does not return; not the next morning, and not ever.

Ma is absolutely devastated, taking to sitting on the steps outside...