- Parvana is shocked to see Shauzia dressed up as Shafiq—a.k.a. a boy—doing the same exact thing she's been doing.
- While they weren't super friendly when they went to school together, Parvana is thrilled to meet another girl like her in Kabul.
- Enjoying Shauzia's dried apricots, Parvana chats with her new friend.
- Shauzia has been working in the market for six months, since her father died and her brother went to Iran to look for work.
- Parvana tells Shauzia about her father's arrest, though she's pretty bummed when Shauzia tells her she probably will never see him again.
- "My father's coming back" (9.17) she tells Shauzia in no uncertain terms.
- Given that neither girl is making much money, Shauzia suggests they work together and find a better hustle.
- Parvana likes reading letters and the little gifts that are left on the blanket though, so she asks if they can work together for half the day.
- According to Shauzia, they need to get themselves some trays so they can move around when they sell stuff. But how can they possibly get money to buy trays?
- Parvana has absolutely no money to spare; her family doesn't even have money to light the kerosene lamps at night. It's chilly.
- For a brief moment though, it feels like the good old days, as the girls walk home talking about school and their friends.
- Parvana invites Shauzia to stop in and say hello to her family, and when they enter the apartment, everyone is so happy to see Shauzia, and Mother wants her to bring her family over for a bite to eat.
- Sadly though, Shauzia explains that she's the only one that leaves the house. Her mother is sick, and her two sisters live with her father's sister.
- Mrs. Weera tells Shauzia that she is going to start a secret school if she would like to attend, and Parvana makes the excellent joke that Mrs. W will be teaching field hockey.
- Later Mother says she wants to meet Shauzia's mother and interview her for her magazine.
- They already have plans to smuggle the magazine into Pakistan.
- Even negative Nooria thinks the school is a good idea. She will teach math and history, Mrs. Weera will teach health and science, and Mother will teach reading and writing.
- During the days that follow, Parvana and Shauzia hang out at the market, and Parvana continues getting gifts from the mystery lady in the window. This next one she gets is a white handkerchief with red embroidery that lands right on top of her head. Nice shot, window woman.
- Before Parvana can smile a thank you in return though, Shauzia storms on the scene—she's heard of a great way to make money, but Parvana is not going to like it. Uh-oh…