Nowhere Boy

Max sees pictures taped to the walls of the cellar when he walks inside. Max stumbles backward and is about to yell when a tall boy appears, begging him not to tell anyone about him. Max notices his “Arab accent” and realizes that he is “what Inspector Fontaine called an illegal” (73). The boy—soon to be revealed as Ahmed—tells him that he is from Syria and begs Max not to tell anyone about him because they will send him to the reception center. Ahmed explains to Max that he does not have a family, and Max feels pity for him. Ahmed shows Max the orchids, which are starting to grow back. Max promises not to tell anyone about him and tells him goodnight. Max wonders what he should do, feeling torn between telling his parents and keeping Ahmed’s secret. He wonders if Ahmed is a terrorist but then thinks that a terrorist would not care for orchids in someone’s home. He thinks about how scared Ahmed must be, alone in the world without a family. Max goes back to his room and decides to think about what to do in the morning.