Extra Credit

Sadeed hurries home from school with Abby’s letter in his pocket. He knows that his teacher suspects something about his letter writing, but he’s mostly excited to read the rest of Abby’s letter, as he now considers her a friend. On his way home a strange man comes up to Sadeed and grabs his arm, asking him where he is going. Sadeed is scared of the man, whose face is half-covered with a scarf. The man demands money or food, and goes through Sadeed’s pockets, finding his letter from Abby. The stranger is furious that Sadeed has a letter from America and accuses him of being a spy, threatening Sadeed and his family with violence. He rips up the letter and throws it away before Sadeed runs away. He waits until the man is headed back up into the mountains, and then runs back and picks up the pieces of the letter. Still afraid, Sadeed races home with the ripped-up letter. When Amira demands to see it. He shows it to her, and tells her a bully ruined it. Sadeed decides to talk to his teacher about what happened.