Shooting Kabul

When Fadi comes home from his ordeal in the taxi, Noor invites him to meet her at work after school. She tells Fadi about her social life and gives him the money he needs to join the photo club. This gesture surprises Fadi because he is used to having an adversarial relationship with his older sister, but their exchange signals that she sees him in a more mature light.

Meanwhile, terrorists have crashed two planes into the World Trade Towers in New York City and one into the Pentagon. Instead of dwelling on the news, Fadi focuses on how he can win the photo competition.

At home, Fadi learns the importance of what has happened in New York and that the terrorists were Muslims from Afghanistan associated with Osama bin Laden and al-Qaeda. Fadi accompanies his father to a grocery store in Little Kabul where the adults discuss Afghanistan’s political history and why the Taliban is harboring Osama bin Laden. 

The next day in school, Felix and Ike accost Fadi. They call him “Osama” and say they will “show him some American-style justice” (1338). Principal Hornstein interrupts the incident and offers to help Fadi, but Fadi tells him everything is fine.