The Kite Runner
By: Jessica Araway, Erica Davis, Lauren Falls, and David Klak
By: Jessica Araway, Erica Davis, Lauren Falls, and David Klak
Walking down the road, Hassan and Amir didn’t hear them until it was too late. Assef and his cronies were there to ruin the day again. Surely Assef would hurt them with those brass
knuckles of his. Their presence was made known by the rock that struck Hassan in the back. They whirled around and their hearts dropped. Assef greeted them with insults. Amir was certain he wasn’t entirely sane, and he wished he and Hassan had stayed home. The way Assef talked about Hitler and Afghanistan being the land of Pashtuns made him sick. As Assef continued on, Hassan quickly bent down to pick up a rock. He pulled out his sling shot and aimed it at Assef’s face. Amir knew Hassan was terrified, but it was obvious to no one else. The exchange between Hassan and Assef that came now was short and tense. Wali and Kamal, Assef’s cronies, looked on with what appeared to be fascination. It didn’t take long for Assef to decide that Hassan was serious. He left, but not before issuing threats. For Hassan, it was a warning that their encounter would not end that day. For Amir, he promised that someday they would face each other one on one. Both vows were fulfilled. Running kites was a tradition, and Hassan was a natural. He was the best kite runner many people had ever seen. On the day of the big kite flying tournament, Amir and Hassan were determined to win, and that they did. When Amir defeated the last kite in the sky, Hassan told him he was going to run it for him, and that he would one thousand times over. Hassan took off and Amir followed shortly after. Amir asked a man in the bazaar if he had seen Hassan run by, and he said yes, the boys chasing him had probably caught him by now. Amir took off and soon found Hassan trapped by three boys in an alley. The boys were Assef, Wali, and Kamal. Assef looked calm standing there twirling his brass knuckles. Amir was frozen in hiding, observing the meeting. He could see that Hassan was terrified, and Assef was the one in control. Amir was paralyzed as he watched Wali and Kamal hold Hassan down. Assef undressed Hassan’s lower half and proceeded to undress himself. Amir closed his eyes as Hassan lost any shred of honor, pride, or dignity he had. Instead of stepping into the alley to save Hassan, Amir ran, and in that moment he lost all self-respect and started an internal war that would go on for decades. When Hassan brought Amir the kite later that day, blood dripping from his pants and staining the snow, Amir again said nothing. That became the ongoing theme in their relationship; neither saying anything to each other, avoiding all contact. This ended when Amir rid himself of Hassan by way of lying to his family, never to speak with him again. Amir and his father eventually moved to America, while Hassan and Ali remained in Afghanistan, leaving no possibility of any reconciliation. |
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Kabul, AFghanistan
The streets of Kabul were loud and colorful; people and animals were constantly moving, while young children raced to buy candy from the bazaar. Neighbors helped each other and friendly gatherings were frequent occasions. There were many things to enjoy about the city, and no one knew that better than Amir. His father, a very rich man, threw all he had into the community, making sure everyone knew how proud he was of his country. Amir watched as his father brought great institutions to the city, ensuring better lives for everyone around. Baba was loved and adored by all, as everyone knew he was respectful and trustworthy. Amir often stood in awe as well, but it came with the pressure to measure up, as he know the expectations that his father had for him. Baba's generosity stemmed from something that all the people of Kabul had, regardless of their social status; Afghan pride.
The pride that the Afghani people had was unparalleled. They stood strong in their beliefs and values, quickly correcting anyone who tried to question them. Honor and pride came first, and if a man lacked these qualities, he wasn’t viewed as a true afghan. Loyalty to those around you was the most important thing. Baba, Amir's father, displayed this constantly as he always respected everyone - especially Ali and Hassan. Though they were servants and hazaras, who were viewed as lesser, Baba still remained loyal to Ali, who had been in his life since the beginning, ignoring the questioning looks of the others. He cared deeply for both Amir and Hassan, always making sure Hassan was given gifts and fun experiences alongside Amir. Baba sent them to the movies or gave them money to buy candy from the market. There was always a new adventure to be had. Running through the streets of this bright and vibrant Kabul with Hassan helped shape Amir’s childhood, but soon everything changed. As Amir grew older, Kabul quickly became overtaken by war. The trust that once came so easily was now broken, and every man was left to fend for himself. Russian soldiers patrolled the sidewalks, running their tanks through the streets, threatening anyone who came near them. The friendly respect was gone, causing many to flee if able. Amir and Baba, blessed with their fortune, left the country and got away from the intruders that were destroying their home. They fled to America, knowing it was their best chance at a better life. Kabul in the Midst of War When Amir returned decades later, he recognized nothing of the city in which he was raised. There was rubble everywhere. A city that was once surrounded with beautiful buildings and people was now dirty and destroyed. It wasn’t safe to walk outside as soldiers were quick to fire their weapons, enforcing rules that they made up on the spot, and terrorizing people just for fun. Women and children were on every corner, begging for food. The homeless were everywhere, barely surviving. People sold everything they owned, including body parts, in order to eat for the night. Orphanages were overflowing, and there was never enough food to go around. There was no growing up in a place like this. |
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Redemption |
Returning to Kabul was never part of the plan. Amir was a grown man, and had
made a good life in America. There he was able to get married, have a successful writing
career, and care for his father before he passed. Though the memories and guilt that
came with Kabul had never left him, he was still able to move on with his life. Until one
day, when his late father’s friend contacts him with an opportunity to fix what he
ruined so many years ago. Amir learns Hassan and his wife have been killed in the war,
but their son is alive, and desperately needs a place to go. Amir must return to his
homeland, and save the son of the man he betrayed. The cowardice that prevented
him from intervention years ago was no longer there. He finally had a chance to prove
that he was the man that his father expected him to be, and more importantly he had a
chance to repay Hassan for remaining so loyal to him throughout their lives.
He was determined to make things right, no matter how difficult it was.
As he lay there, he was content. He was broken; his body was mangled and bloody,
but he was finally at peace. After years of torment and regret, Amir at last felt healed. The
dusty floor pressed into his face, the cracking in his ribs, face, back, everywhere, lead
to the laughter coming from his mouth. Assef was screaming, asking him what was
funny, kicking him repeatedly, and furthering the damage to his physical being. But
Assef could not touch his soul. His spirit was safe and newly absolved. The war that had
afflicted him for years was over. He had come to Kabul to find Hassan’s orphaned son,
and had found him, as well as more. Assef had Sohrab, the orphaned boy, in his custody
and told Amir that Sohrab was his if he could win a fight. Assef fulfilled his promise to
Amir and fought him one on one, winning as he knew he would, until Sohrab interfered.
Much like his father, he was great with a slingshot. He aimed a brass ball at Assef’s face,
and let it fly, hitting him in the eyeball. He had finally finished what his father had
started all those years ago. The ongoing story between Assef, Hassan, and Amir was
over, and Amir was redeemed.
made a good life in America. There he was able to get married, have a successful writing
career, and care for his father before he passed. Though the memories and guilt that
came with Kabul had never left him, he was still able to move on with his life. Until one
day, when his late father’s friend contacts him with an opportunity to fix what he
ruined so many years ago. Amir learns Hassan and his wife have been killed in the war,
but their son is alive, and desperately needs a place to go. Amir must return to his
homeland, and save the son of the man he betrayed. The cowardice that prevented
him from intervention years ago was no longer there. He finally had a chance to prove
that he was the man that his father expected him to be, and more importantly he had a
chance to repay Hassan for remaining so loyal to him throughout their lives.
He was determined to make things right, no matter how difficult it was.
As he lay there, he was content. He was broken; his body was mangled and bloody,
but he was finally at peace. After years of torment and regret, Amir at last felt healed. The
dusty floor pressed into his face, the cracking in his ribs, face, back, everywhere, lead
to the laughter coming from his mouth. Assef was screaming, asking him what was
funny, kicking him repeatedly, and furthering the damage to his physical being. But
Assef could not touch his soul. His spirit was safe and newly absolved. The war that had
afflicted him for years was over. He had come to Kabul to find Hassan’s orphaned son,
and had found him, as well as more. Assef had Sohrab, the orphaned boy, in his custody
and told Amir that Sohrab was his if he could win a fight. Assef fulfilled his promise to
Amir and fought him one on one, winning as he knew he would, until Sohrab interfered.
Much like his father, he was great with a slingshot. He aimed a brass ball at Assef’s face,
and let it fly, hitting him in the eyeball. He had finally finished what his father had
started all those years ago. The ongoing story between Assef, Hassan, and Amir was
over, and Amir was redeemed.