Count Me In

The reporters stay outside Karina and Chris’s houses for several days. Karina is glad that her post went viral, but wishes the media would leave them alone. One TV station did a story on Karina, Anne’s article, the attack, and the memorial, asking questions about what defines an American. Shortly thereafter, the station called Dad and asked if Karina could do an interview, but he refused. The media hasn’t backed down since. One of Dad’s friends, a lawyer, suggests that Dad put out a statement asking reporters to respect their family’s privacy. Dad writes and reads the statement to the reporters, but it doesn’t change anything. Then one day, the president of the Indian American Association contacts Dad and asks that he let Karina do an interview. He thinks it might expose the hate crimes South Asians have been facing. Dad gives in and calls Anne, asking her to help Karina tell her story.

Anne comes over and interviews Karina. Karina answers Anne’s questions about Papa, the attack, the memorial, and her photos and hashtags. Chris sees the interview on TV and rushes over to Karina’s house afterward to congratulate her.