The Attack

Amin finds the front page of a newspaper fastened to the gate of his house, the lead story depicting the destruction caused by the bomb. His house has been turned upside down by the police search, and he barely recognizes his reflection in the mirror. He eats whatever food he can find, drinks two beers, and bathes. Amin is woken by Kim, who finds him still asleep in the bath the next morning. She helps him out of the bath before making him a hot drink. The scalding tisane warms Amin’s shivering body. Kim reveals that the door had been open all night but Amin cannot think of anything to say. Kim has to leave to work and Amin falls back to sleep. 

Later, he is awoken by the screeching of his gate. Two teenagers skulk across his lawn, surrounded by pictures from newspapers. Amin shouts at them to leave, chasing them away. A crowd has gathered and they call Amin a “dirty terrorist […] Arab traitor” (38). He suddenly finds himself in the middle of a mob; they spit on Amin and push him. The mob beats Amin to a pulp. Kim finds Amin laying in his driveway, covered in bruises.