Living the Dream

Amir calls Soraya and has   unloaded the secrets that have haunted him.  Of course, she agrees to let Sohrab come to America and be their son..  A childless woman, who is not so by choice, would never turn down the opportunity to mother.   They go to the American embassy.  There is a picture of Les Miserables on the wall.  It does not bode well, knowing Hosseini’s use of symbolism.

At the embassy, they meet with a man who holds Sohrab and Amir’s fate in his hands.    Amir has to tell a few white lies rather than tell the full details of why his jaw is wired, whether he is a practicing Muslim, and it does no good.  He is told to give it up, that there are many reasons that the government of Afghanistan will never let him take Sohrab to America:  Two main ones are that there is no proof his parents are dead, he would need the cooperation of Afghanistan and the Taliban.  Amir feels resentful being told to give it up and Amir reacts by saying, “Do you have children, Mr. Andrews?”  Mr. Andrews blinks and is silent.  Amir then says, “  I thought so…They ought to put someone in your chair who knows what it’s like to want a child.” (p348)  As Amir turns to leave, Mr. Andrews gets his voice back and gives Amir a business card of someone he can contact.  Amir abruptly leaves the office and as he passes Mr. Andrew’s secretary, he tells the secretary that her boss could use some manners, to which she replies, “Poor Ray, he hasn’t been the same since his daughter died….suicide.”(349)

Sohrab does not speak of how he feels about this proclamation that he might not be able to go to American with Amir.  Mr. Andrews had warned Amir about making promises:  “It’s dangerous business, making promises to kids.” (p348)  What Sohrab’s reaction is, is to go to the bath and scrub and scrub and scrub.  Amir talks to Soraya and she tells him that she has pulled some strings.  A lawyer meets them the next day but the answer he gives Amir is almost the same as what Mr. Andrews had said.  He can think of only one way and that is to put Sohrab in an orphanage for a short while and file an adoption petition, but it would take two years.  They speak in English.   He  tells Amir he would have to stay in Pakistan  and Sohrab would have to be in the orphanage for two years.

When they get back to the hotel, Amir tells Sohrab the outcome.   “You promised you’d never put me in one of those places.”  Amir begs and then cries himself to sleep.  (P358-359)  Amir falls to sleep as well and is wakened by a call from Soyara.  She has gotten good news.  They can get Sohrab a Humanitarian Visa.    Amir jumps up and calls for Sohrab to tell him the good news.

Sohrab has attempted suicide, in the bathroom, with the razor Amir used to shave to meet with the lawyer.  “They said I was still screaming when the ambulance arrived.” (p361)  The key to Amir’s redemption now lies with Sohrab’s survival.

Tags: Good Reading //