House of Sand and Fog

Kathy arrives at the house and is relieved not to see Behrani’s car. Nadi answers the door and invites her in. Kathy explains that she used to own the house but was evicted by mistake. Shocked, Nadi asks Kathy to write everything down so she can better understand. While Kathy writes, Nadi recounts their family’s troubles since coming to America and the fabulous lives they once led. Kathy feels uneasy and wants to go, but Nadi continues regaling her with stories.

Behrani arrives and sees Kathy and Nadi speaking together in the front lawn. Against Nadi’s protests he shouts at Kathy, forcibly moving her toward her car. He says he reported Lester to internal affairs and shoves Kathy into her car, accidentally hitting her head against the roof. Kathy drives away in tears.

Kathy drives away and stops at a 7-Eleven, where she calls Frank, a car dealer on the East Coast. She tells Frank that Nick left, and he reacts with exasperation. She decides not to tell him about the house.

She drives to Connie’s office and tells the receptionist that she’s tired of dealing with the legal system and would just like her house back. She drives around the neighborhood where Lester’s family lives and wonders if she should warn him about internal affairs. Next, feeling certain that Lester will return to his family, she goes to a shopping mall where she plans to see a movie but instead gets extremely drunk and fantasizes about burning the house down.

After buying a gas can, Kathy discovers Lester’s pistol in the trunk of her car and drives to a gas station. She fills up the can and offers three dollars to the clerk, which isn’t nearly enough. Angry and confused, Kathy points the gun at the clerk and drives away, headed for her old home.

While Behrani is busy fixing the coffee table, Nadi confronts him about Kathy’s visit and the fact he concealed her initial visit from the family. She chastises Behrani, blaming his ties to the military for getting them placed on a death list by the Iran’s revolutionary government. He gets fed up, regarding Nadi’s compassion for those less fortunate with exasperation while feeling stung by her accusations of selfishness. He argues, “I do nothing for myself” (210). Nadi goes to sleep in her room.

Kathy drunkenly drives to the house and pulls in behind Behrani’s car. She longs to see Lester and her late father. She points Lester’s gun to her chest and prepares to pull the trigger.

While repairing the table Behrani decides to arrange a time to meet with Soraya, although he is unsure how to explain the modest reality of his life in America. Looking out the window, he sees Kathy crying in her car. He sees her try to shoot herself, although the gun’s safety is on and she is unharmed. He rushes to retrieve the gun, unload it, and help her into the house to rest in Esmail’s bed.

With Nadi and Kathy asleep, Behrani decides not to call the police, surprised to find himself feeling sorry for Kathy. Although he believes that “pride is weak vanity” (218), Behrani feels pleased he saved Kathy’s life and hopeful that, upon her waking, they can work out an arrangement.