Zeitoun

When Kathy wakes up on Wednesday morning, she is particularly anxious because Zeitoun didn’t call the day before. She tries not to panic, and Yuko reassures her, but she’s still tense. She talks to friends and family, none of whom have heard from Zeitoun. With reports of crime and lawlessness on the news, Kathy becomes more agitated. She briefly thinks of going to New Orleans to look for him, and Ahmad tries contacting the TV station that interviewed Zeitoun and the Coast Guard. Zeitoun’s family from Syria begins calling her as well, and their frustration only exacerbates Kathy’s feelings of helplessness. As she prepares for bed on Thursday night, she hears her daughter Aisha say that their house is underwater and their dad is missing, and Kathy has a breakdown in the bathroom.

On Friday, Kathy decides to lie in an attempt to lift the kids’ spirits. Though they might suspect she’s lying, it’s what they want to hear, so she puts on a brave face. More family members call asking about Zeitoun, and friends call offering help and assistance when they find out that Zeitoun’s missing. With stories of murder and looting all over the news, Kathy becomes more despondent.