Chapter Four – October 1950
Ellie goes to Homa’s house after school. Ellie’s mother won’t have Homa in her house (I tell you this woman is awful).
Homa’s mother is lovely. Homa has a baby sister Sarah. They play hopscotch, jump rope and eat amazing pastries. Ellie wants Homa’s life, she is jealous of her.
Chapter Five – November 1950
Ellie and Homa become firm friends. Homa’s mother teaches them how to cook. At home Ellie’s mother is letting her do more cooking.
Ellie can’t understand how Homa’s family can afford so much food. It turns out that Homa’s father is the head waiter at a restaurant and he brings home the excess.
Chapter 6 May 1953
We’ve jumped in time (thankfully it was beginning to feel a bit slow). Both girls are doing well at school. They have skipped a grade.
Towards the end of the year Homa convinces Ellie to skip school. The go to the Grand Bazaar and eat ice cream and have nuts. They return for lunch at home.
Ellie’s mother knows she has skipped school – they were seen by one of the neighbours. There is a nasty argument about Homa.
[…] her father waits on people all day like a servant. Her mother is illiterate. They are vermin in the alley, my dear. They are nobodies who come from nobodies.
Ellie responds with
So the fact that you are his descendent [the qajar king] basically makes you the great-grand daughter of a whore.
Something is brewing. This chapter marks a turning point for the mother. She seems to have made a decision (is she going to marry Uncle Massoud?)