Summary

Nine days ago, there was an airport bombing that sent Beirut and the family into chaos. The adults spend all their time huddled around the TV waiting for news, and the children are forbidden from leaving the apartments. Linah is driven mad with boredom and she and Zain make a plan to sneak out to go and buy cigarettes. They have been inside for what seems like ages and Linah cannot take it anymore. Zain takes some convincing but eventually agrees to her plan; they will sneak out while the parents are watching the news. Riham is the only adult that does not scold them for going onto the balcony sometimes, saying Qur’an verses with them and seeming more grown-up than the other adults. She tries to explain to them that there is a war going on. Linah does not fully...