A Very Large Expanse of Sea

“I’m in the right class.”

On the first day of school, Shirin tries three times to tell the teacher that she belongs in Honors English, but he assumes from her appearance and headscarf that she is not ready for the pace and level of a rigorous class. Shirin, born in America, finally responds strongly with profanity, which earns her a detention and reprimand from the principal. 

“Food was a fixture in our home, and in Persian culture in general. Mealtimes were gathering moments, and my parents never allowed us to break this tradition, no matter how badly we wanted to watch something on TV or had somewhere else we wanted to be.” 

Shirin discusses the importance attached to family dinnertime. Her parents wait to start eating until she arrives several minutes late on the first day of afterschool breakdancing practice. She sees that Ocean is worriedly texting about getting science homework done, but she knows dinner with the family comes first.

“You really weren’t kidding […] About the breakdancing thing?” 

Ocean sees Shirin from the gym door; he is there for basketball practice, but she doesn’t yet know he is a star player. After several weeks of trying to talk with Shirin in biology class, Ocean is surprised to see her with the breakdancing crew after school. Shirin is “perplexed” by his interest.