The Breadwinner

Parvana and Mother get home late. Parvana is exhausted and in excruciating pain. When she takes off her sandals, she sees that her feet are bloody and covered in blisters. Mother’s feet are worse; she hasn’t been out since the Taliban took over a year and a half ago. She could’ve gone out—Father would’ve taken her any time—but Mother refused. She insisted that the Afghan people would kick the Taliban out in no time and she’d stay in until then. She also snapped that if they’d left Afghanistan when they had the chance, she could still be working. She and Father had this fight often, and Father always said they had a responsibility to stay and rebuild their country.

Mother refuses Nooria’s help as she tears off her burqa and collapses onto a toshak. She sobs and allows Nooria to wash her dusty face and feet. Eventually, Mother falls asleep. Maryam turns to Parvana and does the same thing, wiping Parvana’s face and soaking her feet. Nooria prepares supper and Parvana shares that the guards wouldn’t tell them anything about Father. Before Parvana has a chance to eat, she falls asleep. She wakes in the morning and can’t bring herself to move. All night, she dreamed about soldiers hitting her and yelling her. She also watched the soldiers beating Mother in her dream. Parvana jerks upright but relaxes when she sees that Mother is still here.

Nooria offers to help Parvana to the washroom. Parvana accepts when she discovers how much her feet hurt. Parvana comments that in their family, everyone leans on someone, but Nooria snaps that she has no one to lean on. This is normal Nooria behavior, which makes Parvana feel better. As Parvana washes and eats, Nooria offers Mother food. Mother refuses and spends the next two days lying down, only sitting up to drink tea or getting up to go to the washroom. Ali is distraught. Nooria and Parvana distract the younger kids as best they can. Parvana and Maryam reconstruct the photo of Father and decide to tape it back together once they have tape.

On the third day, Parvana considers doing housework, but she doesn’t want to disturb Mother. She and Nooria discuss that Mother has to get up soon, but nothing changes. Parvana wants to read Father’s secret books but is afraid that the Taliban will return. She also notices Ali growing quiet and withdrawn. Nooria says he misses Mother. The room begins to smell when Nooria decides to skip laundry to conserve water. Ali’s diapers pile up. On the fourth day, they run out of food. Parvana gently shakes Mother, but Mother refuses to get up. Nooria snaps that Mother is depressed, but Parvana points out that they’re all depressed—and hungry. The next day, Nooria insists that Parvana go out and buy food. Nooria looks terrified; she’ll have to go if Parvana won’t. Strangely, having this power over Nooria doesn’t make Parvana happy, so she accepts Nooria’s money.