Extra Credit

Sadeed Bayat is curious when his teacher, Mahmood Jafari, asks him to visit Akbar Khan’s home that afternoon without telling him why. When Sadeed arrives, he eavesdrops on his teacher and the village elders while they discuss whether or not they should allow a student from their school to write a reply to a letter from an American girl. Some of the elders feel it would be inappropriate to correspond with an American, especially for a male student to write to a female student. Mr. Jafari says that it would be respectful to write a reply and suggests that Sadeed should be the writer as he is the most proficient in English. Hearing this, Sadeed is disappointed. He was hoping the men would discuss giving him an honor rather than a responsibility. The men decide that Sadeed’s younger sister Amira will answer the American’s letter, with Sadeed helping her. Afterward, Mr. Jafari comes outside and thanks Sadeed for coming, and tells him they will discuss something soon. Sadeed feels puzzled about his new responsibility but flattered that he was chosen for the job. He walks to the local bazaar where he works for his father, a wheat merchant, every day after school.