It Ain't So Awful, Falafel

The Kleins stop over the next day. Zomorod assumes they heard her parents fighting. The Kleins offer to help any way they can and emphasize that they’re sorry Americans have been treating them Iranians poorly. Mo thanks them.

When they leave, Zomorod’s parents start fighting again.

Zomorod receives her first paycheck for $49, and she gives it to her dad. Later that night, she is delivering papers. She stops when Skip greets her. He says that Brock mentioned that her family is from Iran, though he pronounces it “I-ran.” Zomorod suddenly wishes she hadn’t stopped. He goes on to say he knew someone from Iran in college and that he was really nice. He hopes that her family is okay, and Zomorod says that they don’t know what will happen. Then, Skip says, “Ain’t it awful, falafel?” and that they can only hope for the best (311). Zomorod asks what falafel is, and Skip explains, surprised that she doesn’t know. She responds that it might be an Arabian food, and Iran isn’t an Arabian country. She pedals off.

Zomorod and her family learn that President Carter dispatched a rescue mission to Iran, but it was unsuccessful. Eight American servicemembers had died.

At school that day, a group of eighth graders come up to Zomorod demanding that “you” need to let the hostages go (313). Zomorod is nervous, and she hears them singing “Bomb, bomb, bomb, bomb I-ran” as they walk away (313). Carolyn thinks she should tell the principal, but Zomorod says no. Rachel agrees, knowing that they’ll just bug her more afterwards.

Zomorod is enraged. She’s mad at Khomeini and the hostage takers, but she’s also mad at the Americans who don’t know where Iran is on the map but are happy to declare it an enemy.

Zomorod is invited to Matt’s high school graduation party. He is the valedictorian, and Carolyn says that she hopes she’ll be valedictorian, too. So does Zomorod, but she no longer thinks she’ll go to college, because of her family’s financial situation. Her parents get Matt a pen.

At the party, Matt thanks her for the pen, and Zomorod suddenly feels nervous. He also adds that boys will one day value smart girls. Zomorod blushes, reflecting, “That is the nicest thing a boy has ever said to me” (316).

Zomorod wishes that her summer were fun, but her house is sad, as her parents keep the blinds closed. Her friends are mostly busy, but Zomorod still avoids Carolyn when she calls. Eventually, Carolyn gives up.

Zomorod turns 13 and thinks her parents forgot. Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and it’s Carolyn and Rachel with balloons, cake, and a gift. Zomorod does not want to invite them in because her mom is in her robe and their house is a mess. She says she has to go. Her mom starts crying when she comes back inside, and Zomorod goes to her room. Her friends got her a puka shell necklace, which she has always equated with being like the other kids. She thinks that that’s silly now.

Carolyn stubbornly comes over the next day and invites herself inside. Zomorod brings her upstairs because her house seems so dark with the curtains closed. Carolyn confronts her about being busy and says that she knows Zomorod is avoiding her. Zomorod feels embarrassed, both grateful for her friend and mad.

She is afraid to tell Carolyn what she’s feeling and how stressed she is about money, her mom’s sadness, and the violence in Iran. She’s afraid she won’t understand. Then, Carolyn invites her to go see Fame next week, and Zomorod agrees, but she knows that she’s avoiding her problems.

When they’re folding papers one day, Zomorod’s dad tells her, “[E]ducation can never be taken away from you” (322). He wipes away a tear, and Zomorod wishes she could make him feel better.

When Zomorod comes home from her paper route, her father announces that her uncle’s cousin, who loves to buy clothes, is about the same size as Zomorod, and they’re going to give her some clothes. Zomorod is excited. They bring over a suitcase of clothes the next day.

Zomorod is excited until she finds a shirt that says “Sexy Grandma” on it. She goes back downstairs, thinking her life is awful.

On Saturday, Carolyn’s mom picks her up to see the movie. Zomorod asks Carolyn if she can promise to report on normal people when she becomes a journalist because she feels like they only see Iranians on TV yelling things like “Death to America” (326). Mrs. Williams says that shocking stories often get the most attention. Zomorod says that people should get to see the good things too. Carolyn agrees.

The phone rings at 4:00 am. Zomorod’s dad is on the phone. When he hangs up, he reports that the shah is dead. They’re all worried.

Their phone keeps ringing with Iranians calling about the news. Thousands celebrate his death. The funeral is in Egypt, and the leader of Egypt and former president Nixon are the only world leaders to attend. Zomorod thinks that all of the people who seemed like they were friends of the shah clearly weren’t real friends. She thinks that powerful people probably know a lot of people who pretend to like them. Zomorod is grateful for her friends.

It is the first day of eighth grade, the last year that Zomorod will spend at Lincoln Junior High. She sees Rachel and Howie, who called when they got their class schedules in the mail. Zomorod feels bad she avoided them.

At school, Zomorod sees yellow ribbons representing the hostages all over the school. In Social Studies, the hostages come up, and Zomorod tells everyone that her father lost his job because of the relationship between America and Iran. She waits for people to say something rude, but no one does. Her teacher asks if she wants to do a report on current events, and she asks to do it after the hostages are released. They go back to discussing the presidential elections, and Zomorod wonders what President Carter will do if he’s not reelected.

For Halloween, Carolyn and Zomorod decide to wear the matching “Sexy Grandma” T-shirts that Zomorod received as Halloween costumes.

On Halloween, Carolyn and Zomorod pass out candy. One of the adults is dressed as Khomeini and he shouts, “Bomb I-ran” (336). Carolyn gives candy to the kids but tells the adult he can’t have any. As trick-or-treaters continue to come, many of the older kids are dressed as Khomeini. Zomorod tries to go home, but Carolyn convinces her to stay by reminding her that her dad believes in freedom of speech and that people have the right to wear bad costumes. She feels a little better but hates the Khomeini masks.

Zomorod goes the Kleins’ home to babysit David. They work on making an origami frog, but Zomorod is thrown off by the fact that even David knows her father is looking for a job. They end up playing Go Fish.

Ronald Reagan wins the presidential election. Jimmy Carter loses votes because of the failed rescue mission, the hostage crisis, and the bad economy. Zomorod’s dad thinks the hostages will be released now that there’s a new president, but they aren’t.

The hostage takers want $24 billion. They claim that the US has $14 billion in Iranian money already. Zomorod doesn’t think this situation will ever end.

On Christmas day in 1980, Zomorod’s family is watching the news, which shows footage of the hostage, which has been permitted by the Iranians. A woman who has appeared before sings a Christmas song, and Zomorod and her mom both start to cry.

A few days later, Zomorod goes with Howie, Carolyn, and Rachel to see A Little Romance. After the movie, the girls talk about romance, and Carolyn asks Zomorod if she wants to fess up to her crush on Brock. The girls tease her before Rachel changes the subject. They talk about boys on the way home, but Zomorod is a little mad at Carolyn.

Zomorod and her family watch Reagan’s inauguration. Right after it’s over, Reagan announces that the hostages have been freed. They can’t believe the good news.

Zomorod thinks that for a long time she thought that everything would return to normal when the hostages were released. However, her father is still out of a job. Iran is still filled with restrictions around music and women. There is no normal to go back to.

Zomorod’s dad asks to talk to her, and he explains that they are out of savings. No one has even let him interview, and so they are going back to Iran. He tries to make it seem like life there won’t be as bad as Zomorod thinks it is, and Zomorod runs to her room, refusing to let him in. She thinks that she hates her life and wishes she weren’t Iranian. She doesn’t know what to say to her friends and that maybe it would be easier to leave without saying goodbye.

After an hour, she goes back downstairs. She knows her father does not want to make them return either. She hugs him and cries. He doesn’t say anything.

At Carolyn’s one day, she asks Zomorod what her family will do now that the hostage crisis is over, and Zomorod says that they’re going back to Iran. Carolyn is upset and calls her mom in, asking if Zomorod could live with them. Mrs. Williams says it is a big decision and she would have to talk with her husband and Zomorod’s parents. She then asks Zomorod what she wants.

Zomorod never considered being away from her parents, but she can’t imagine returning to Iran. She wants to finish high school and college and to be with her friends. She believes her dad when he says that in America, you can become your best self. She says that she wants to stay. She and Carolyn hug.

When Zomorod gets home, she asks to talk to both of her parents. Her dad tells her that they will do everything they can to send her to college in England or America. He wants his daughter to be educated. Then, her mom says that Zomorod is so important to her and that she wishes they could stay in America. Zomorod is surprised and replies that she always thought her mom wanted to go back.

Her mom explains that she wanted to go back to the old Iran, but now they don’t have a choice. Zomorod feels like she doesn’t even know her mom. Her dad goes on to say that their whole lives are for her and that family is the most important thing.

Zomorod calls Carolyn and says that she has to go back to Iran. She wants to stay, but it’s complex. Carolyn doesn’t understand, and Zomorod explains that unlike in America, where one can dream up their future, she has to accept the future that she has been given. Carolyn feels like Zomorod is giving up, and Zomorod doesn’t feel like her friend understands her. They yell at one another and then hang up the phone.

Zomorod is in her garage assembling boxes for their move. Original Cindy comes in and asks to talk. She apologizes for being mean in sixth grade and admits that she was just trying to be good. She also apologizes for her mom putting the dead hamster on their doorstep. Zomorod asks her why her mom hates them, and Original Cindy isn’t sure, but she says her mom hates many people. She says that her mom is going to Montana to live with her sister while Original Cindy and her dad are staying.

Zomorod remembers how much she wanted to be the other girl’s friend and how when she stopped trying to be someone else, she made real friends.

Skip comes over, and he explains that he learned about the hamster and apologizes for the fact that that happened to Zomorod’s family. Mo is confused, and Zomorod has to explain. She does, and her father says nothing.

Skip goes on to say that Mrs. Linden is no longer a member of the condo association and that she is going to send them a letter of apology. Skip also says that he has good news and that he knows Dr. Klein from the Rotary Club. After everything that happened, the Rotary Club wanted to help out with Mo’s job situation. Several of the Rotary Club members are also looking to hire an engineer, and they line up three interviews for Mo, who tries not to cry. Zomorod’s mom does start crying, thanking Skip.

Skip looks at Zomorod and says, “See? It ain’t so awful, falafel. Is it?” (365).

Skip throws a potluck pool party for Mo’s new job. Zomorod invites all of her friends, including Original Cindy. Zomorod watches as the neighbors try to chat with her mom. Original Cindy is also trying to find a home for the kittens that were just born in her house, and Zomorod asks her dad, but he says no.

Skip gives a speech, and he emphasizes that America is full of immigrants. He also announces that the condo association has decided to add an “Our Community” chapter to the rulebook (368).

Zomorod goes over the food table to get another taco with Carolyn and Howie. Brock comes over and comments that the fesenjoon looks like mole, which he had in Mexico. He is the first one to try it.

Zomorod feels like everything in her world is good.