All We Have Left

Hank responds to Jesse’s sixteenth attempt to Skype him in Africa, admitting that “I’ve spent a lot of time forgetting what happened back then” (238). He explains that Travis had arrived home without completing his freshman year at college and “[…] he was a mess…and Dad was seriously pissed” (239). He notes that he failed to ask questions about Travis’s problems to avoid his parents’ anger. Further, he states that it had been rumored that Travis was stealing, and that Travis moved out of the house following an altercation with their father.

Further, Hank relates that their father screamed at the 9/11 compensation fund rep who had called the house offering financial assistance, and had subsequently yelled “Don’t you think I know he was a coward?” (241). He notes that it seemed appropriate when the US had starting bombing Afghanistan in apparent retaliation. Meanwhile, Grandpa McLaren had died and his funeral service was held on the morning of 9/11, although no one knew why Travis was not present and that he was in the World Trade Center. When his body was located and dental records confirmed his identity, their father had made it clear that no further discussion of Travis was to take place. Although their mother continued to listen to Travis’s last voicemail on the answering machine in an effort to clarify his message, Hank worried that his father would dispose of the tape. He had hidden the machine in his closet in order to prevent this; however, he has no knowledge of a girl named Alia and “[a] white scarf with red and green flowers on it” (244) that was found in Travis’s bag.

Alia reminisces about watching as Nenek made a headscarf for her, about ten years earlier. Her grandmother explained the process of creating batik fabric and covering it with wax, as well as the symbolism of each design drawn on the fabric. As the group continues down the stairs, they all join in singing the hymn, “Amazing Grace”; Travis notes that it had been included in the songs planned for his grandfather’s service that morning. He notes how much he had loved his grandfather, saying, “I wish I could be more like him” (247). Alia tells him that she had fought with her parents that morning, and how much she regrets that now. Travis states that he is unsure that his father will ever forgive him, but does not elaborate on the cause of their dispute. 

Jesse takes advantage of an opportunity alone in the house to search her parents’ bedroom for Alia’s headscarf, which she finds in a bag in her mother’s dresser. Jesse is annoyed by the fact that it is starting to appear that all the members of the family retained clues about Travis which they had never shared as a whole. Subsequently, still performing community service hours, she helps prepare the Peace Center for a Christmas party, which Sabeen asks her to stay for. The young Muslim girl opines that it may be easier for her to make her way in American society, readily identifiable due to her hijab, than it is for her brother, Adam, who “[…] got Mom’s light skin and blue eyes” (252). She further explains that Muslims don’t date as teenagers; rather, “[…] [t]hey marry” (253). Sabeen notes that her observations of American teenage dating patterns have not caused her to feel regret about this custom. Subsequently, Jesse shares her newest findings regarding Alia with Adam; he offers to ask his father to try to find information about the young woman who spoke on Travis’s last voicemail to his family. As the chapter ends, the Ramadan fast is concluding and the group members prepare to share a feast.