Other Words for Home

In ESL class, the students celebrate Ben’s family’s citizenship ceremony. Then they practice verb tenses, and Grace remarks that the verb “ran” is easy to conjugate in the past tense; Jude replies, “Maybe it’s all getting easier” (310).

At play practice Jude sees Layla and reflects appreciatively on Layla’s work on the set. Uncle Mazin comes to get Jude; Mama is in labor. They drive to the hospital. Jude reflects that the baby will always belong and will “make anywhere beautiful” (312). Mama names the baby Amal, a nod to both Aunt Amal and hope. Jude is overwhelmed with love for her sister and notices every little detail about her. The baby brings positivity and joy to the household. Sarah comments that she thinks Amal looks like Jude, Uncle Mazin, and herself; when Jude asks if she means that she and Sarah resemble one another in appearance, Sarah says, “Of course. / We’re cousins” (313). Baba and Mama talk often over the computer so that Baba can see and watch Amal, but Issa is still absent.