Passage:
“The Afghan soldier said something too, in a low,
reasoning voice. But the Russian soldier shouted something that made the other
two flinch. I could feel Baba tightening up next to me. Karim cleared his
throat, dropped his head. Said the Soldier wanted a half hour with the lady in
the back of the truck.
The
young women pulled the shawl down over her face. Burst into tears. The toddler
sitting in her husband’s lap started crying too. The husband’s face had become
pale as the moon hovering above. He told Krim to ask “Mister Soldier Sahib” to
show a little mercy, maybe he had a sister or a mother, maybe he had a wife
too. The Russian listened to Karim and barked a series of words.
“It’s
the price for letting us pass,” Karim said. He couldn’t bring himself to look
the husband in the eye.
“But
we’ve paid a fair price already. He’s getting paid good money,” the husband
said.
Karim
and the Russian soldier spoke. “He says…he says every price has a tax.”
That
was when Baba stood up. It was my turn to clamp a hand on his thigh, but Baba
pried it loose, snatched his leg away. When he stood, he eclipsed the
moonlight. “I want you to ask this man something,” Baba said. He said it to
Karim, but looked directly at the Russian officer. “Ask him where his shame is
(p114-115).”
“We road in silence for about fifteen minutes before
the young women’s husband suddenly stood and did something I’d seen many others
do before him: He kissed Baba’s hand (117).”
This passage shows a glimpse of the war they were
trying to escape, all of the segregation and Rape their country was about to
face. They were all mistreated and taken for granted because they were all
looked down upon. This passage appeals to me because of when Baba stood up for
that man, He knew that they were being taken for granted and would not stand
for it. He even risked his own life when the Russian officer had him at gun
point but Baba still stood strong like an ox. I thought that this passage was
important because it shows the morals and religious aspects the Afghans
have. The women in the back of the van
was already married so it was absurd for the Russian officer to ask such a
thing. This passage shows how brave and courageous Baba is, he would have died
for someone else’s wife and because of his selflessness people give him immense
respect and kiss him on the hand. Back at his homeland Baba had a big house,
with lush gardens and servants to help them around the house. Locals respected
him and knew he was a good man. When Baba moved to America everything was turned
upside down, no one knew he, Amir and he were crammed in a small apartment, and
Baba was always working hard at the gas station to make ends meet. He did it
all for Amir, so that Amir would be able to build a bright future in America
where its safe and secure compared to Kabul where the war was going on.
