Summary

In 1984, Riad is six years old and his family is again living in Ter Maaleh, Syria. Riad’s paternal grandmother is getting old and needs extra assistance. Anas and Moktar, Riad’s cousins who are mean to Riad, look after goats in the fields and don’t have time to be mean to Riad anymore.

Riad spends his days playing alone with his French toys while his mother works on hand sewing a tapestry. Riad’s cousins who he likes—Wael and Mohamed—aren’t free to play anymore because they also watch goats. Riad’s father tells Riad that he would let him watch the goats, but Riad’s mother says Riad is too young.

Riad’s father enjoys using a crystal oil lamp for light during daily power outages, but Riad’s mother wants to purchase a generator. Riad’s father says...