Summary

In Chapter 5, Sammar and Rae continued talking on the telephone. The conversations often began awkwardly. They talked about the weather, Rae's daughter, and the past. Sammar recalled to Rae the seasons and colors of Khartoum. They talked about the way change threatened extremist groups, making "them no longer confident of their vision of the world" (45).

Sammar liked the way Rae gave her license "to think and talk" (45).

She talked more about her childhood, and her vague sense of home (45). She remembered her first trip to Khartoum, meeting her cousins and aunt, and seeing their home. As soon as they arrived, her parents became disinterested in her and her younger brother, Waleed. Sammar rapidly grew close with Hanan and Tarig.

Rae's coughing interrupted their conversation. He had asthma, and was also getting sick. They continued talking about Africa, and the past. At the end...