- Mrs. Weera is moving in, which makes Parvana happy because when she is around Mother feels like "her old self" (8.2).
- She says she and Mother will be creating a magazine.
- Parvana shows them the money she made at the market, but Nooria says Father could have made more—her older sister's attitude can't spoil Parvana's good mood today, though.
- Parvana goes out with Mrs. Weera to get her belongings; she isn't at all worried about seeing a Talib, but Parvana stays close by just in case.
- Mrs. Weera is borrowing a karachi (cart with wheels) to make the move easier, though there isn't much to bring anyway—what the bombs didn't destroy, the bandits stole.
- Remember how Mrs. Weera used to be a gym teacher? Apparently she also won a gold medal for being the "fastest runner in all of Afghanistan" (8.18) back in the day. Color us impressed.
- With Mrs. Weera all moved in, Parvana offers to fetch some water, and Nooria—shocked that Parvana offers to help—asks if she is feeling okay.
- Parvana asks if Maryam can tag along since she hasn't been outside in a year in a half (poor kid), but there's a small problem: Maryam's feet have outgrown her sandals.
- Yet again Mrs. Weera comes to the rescue though, this time wrapping Maryam's feet up in cloth for the time being.
- Maryam's muscles are not used to movement, so they walk cautiously to the tap; when they arrive, and water flows through Maryam's hands, the young girl is delighted.
- The next day, Parvana buys Maryam a new pair of shoes.
- Each day follows a pattern for Parvana: to the market, home for lunch, then back to the market.
- Parvana would like to stay at the market longer, but only "if there was a latrine" she could use (8.42).
- Here's an idea: since Parvana is Kaseem in the marketplace he / she can escort Mother and Nooria while they shop. Won't it be nice to leave the house?
- Of course Nooria doesn't like the idea of Parvana escorting her outside, but she bites the bullet when Mother reminds her how important it is for Ali to leave the apartment.
- Nooria and Ali haven't been out since the Taliban's arrival, and all that little Ali knows is the apartment. How sad is that?
- So Parvana, Maryam, Nooria, and Ali walk around the neighborhood, taking breaks to sit in the sunshine—Nooria even flips up her burqa to feel the sunshine on her face.
- The little ones play and wash under the running tap water. Life is looking up.
- Parvana is making enough money these days to keep the family fed on nan and tea, and the fresh air is great for the kids. They have more energy now, though when they're stuck in the little apartment that's not always such a great thing.
- On special days, Mother goes to the market with Parvana, who loves their time alone.
- Parvana is generally happy with her market gig—the people are fascinating—but she really misses Father, and it's hard listening to Mother and Nooria crying or Maryam upset from a nightmare.
- Then one day she swears she sees Father at the market. She throws her arms around a stranger, thinking he is her dad, but no such luck. The man is nice enough about it, and he tells her to keep hope alive because soldiers release men from prison often.
- On a different day, another strange thing happens: while packing up the blanket, Parvana notices a small piece of embroidered cloth lying there. Huh.
- Her eyes are drawn to the blacked-out window above her, but again she sees nothing there.
- A few days later, Parvana finds a beaded bracelet on the blanket—and again she looks up at the window.
- This time, however, it is open—and a woman stands there, smiling at Parvana.
- A few days after that, Parvana helps a tea boy picks up cups that he drops… but wait a second… the tea boy is actually a tea girl. It's her friend, Shauzia, from her old school. Yay.