Boy Overboard

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of child death.

Thinking that the police have been sent by the Afghani government, Jamal tries to dissuade them from arresting Dad, telling them that his father won’t ever open another illegal school or drive without his brake lights again. Mum embraces him and tells him not to worry. It is the first time Jamal has seen her outdoors without a face covering. Dad hands the policemen a large amount of cash. Jamal thinks this is a bribe to the police not to arrest him but is mystified about where Dad got the money. After the policemen leave, Dad tells Jamal that the money was for them to arrange the family’s journey to Australia in a couple of days. Jamal is overjoyed and excitedly tells Bibi what he heard from the blond man about Australia: the cake shops, the gold, and the female soccer players. However, Mum and Dad both look sad, which puzzles Jamal.

At the airport, the family waits in a cramped bus for half the night before they are finally driven to their plane. As they leave the bus, the driver tells them that after their flight, a boat will meet them for the next leg of their journey.