Summary

In Part Two, the boy relapses and starts using again. While high, he feels “strong, straight-backed” (89). His “inner monologue” recovers “its reach,” too (89). Without Noor, his Arabic feels less stunted. He realizes he “was mirroring her” (89).

Noor Skypes her mother for the first time in months. She is kinder than Noor expected. Noor puts her head on the table and cries. Although she celebrated the boy’s absence by rearranging furniture, reading, and eating, she suddenly feels upset. Seeing her mother on the screen makes her homesick.

The boy spots Noor's apartment “from the middle of the 6th of October Bridge” (92). He stands for hours, waiting for her to emerge. Since being with her, the boy has barely returned home. Being back in his shack makes him realize “the punishing aesthetics of being poor” (93). He only now realizes the difficulty of...