Love, Hate and Other Filters

When Maya learns that a passport belonging to an Egyptian national was found at the bombing site, she becomes nervous. She wants to be regular American teenager “who isn’t a presumed terrorist first and an American second” (154). She would rather not go to school. Maya’s parents talk to her, explaining that terrorism has no place in Islam. Sofia wants Maya to go with her to the mosque to say prayers for the victims. Maya resists. Asif feels bad and wishes they had gone to the mosque more as a family.

At school, Maya sees Lisa put her arm through Phil’s. Then Brian comes by and asks Maya if the terrorist is her uncle because she has the same last name. Maya tries to explain that Kamal Aziz is Egyptian and she is Indian. Violet grabs Maya’s elbow and tries to pull her away. Brian wonders what the difference between an Egyptian and an Indian is: “You’re both ragheads” (158).

Phil approaches Maya at lunch and asks about the NYU talk. He is happy to hear that things went well. He starts to talk about Lisa, but the dean asks to see Maya. In the hallway, a police officer explains that someone threw a brick through a window at her parents’ clinic.