The Kite Runner: Chapter 11 Summary & Analysis

The story skips forward in time, and Baba and Amir have been living in Fremont, California for almost two years. Baba likes the idea of America, but he has a hard time adjusting to the culture shock. One day at a convenience store where he often shops, Baba overturns a magazine rack in anger that the manager asked to see his ID when Baba used a check. Baba is enraged at the lack of trust and honor in this society, and Amir tries to apologize to the owners and defuse the situation.

That night Amir asks if they should go back to Pakistan, where they had spent six months waiting to get U.S. visas, but Baba says they are in America for Amir’s sake, not his own. Amir thinks bitterly that this is yet another gift he does not deserve, though he is glad to be in a place so far from home, where he can try to bury his old guilt.

Baba works at a gas station for twelve hours a day, six days a week. He was offered food stamps, but he rejected them with pride. Amir, meanwhile graduates high school at the age of twenty, and Baba is truly proud at his graduation ceremony.

That night Baba takes Amir to an Afghan kabob house, where he buys drinks for everyone and starts an impromptu party. After dinner Baba shows Amir his graduation present – an old Ford Grand Torino to take to college. Amir is moved with gratitude, but then Baba says he wishes that Hassan was there too and Amir feels suddenly suffocated.

The day after his graduation Amir tells Baba that he wants to study creative writing, knowing that Baba will disapprove. Baba does indeed think the degree will be useless, but he does nothing more than grumble. Amir feels guilty thinking of Baba working so hard while he leaves to pursue his dream, but he decides he will stand firm and not sacrifice anything else for Baba’s approval.

Amir likes to take long drives in his car alone, past rich neighborhoods and poor ones. He says the first time he saw the Pacific, he almost cried. America has become a place for Amir to bury the ghosts of his past – his memories of war-torn Kabul and his guilt for his betrayal of Hassan. America is huge and moves quickly like a river, and Amir embraces the country because it helps him forget.

The next summer, in 1984, Baba buys an old van and spends his Saturday going around filling it up with purchases from garage sales. Then on Sunday, he and Amir set up a booth at a flea market and sell everything for a profit. Soon there is a whole section of the flea market made up of only Afghan families. It becomes a close community, with food and gossip flowing constantly between the booths.

One Sunday Baba introduces Amir to a man named General Taheri, who is very traditional and formal in his appearance and demeanor. Baba tells him that Amir will be a great writer someday, and Taheri insists that Amir should appreciate Baba, who is a great man. Then General Taheri’s daughter Soraya comes over with his tea, and she and Amir briefly exchange glances.

On the way home Amir asks Baba about Soraya – he had heard rumors about her before. Baba is unwilling to spread gossip, but he says that Soraya was romantically involved with a man once, but it didn’t go well. Since this “loss of honor” no men have tried to court her. That night Amir falls asleep thinking of Soraya’s face.