Summary

In Chapter 1, two days before Christmas, Mamush visits his mother in Washington, DC for the first time in five years. When he arrives, he learns that his mother’s childhood friend and his stand-in father Samuel died. Samuel was Mamush’s biological father but he and his mother did not want Mamush “to treat him as such” (4). The two had grown up and fled Ethiopia years prior. They lost touch until one day Samuel showed up at Mamush’s family’s Chicago apartment and began staying with them.

Two years later, Mamush and his mom moved to DC. Samuel followed. Mamush’s mom cared for Samuel until he met and married Elsa. Samuel often spent time with Samuel and Elsa. Samuel was “a model husband” for the first two years, but then started using (6). His behavior changed thereafter. Elsa and Mamush’s mom...