- After the two little ones fall asleep, Mother, Nooria, and Parvana clean the ransacked apartment; then they spread quilts on the floor and go to sleep too.
- But who can sleep? Parvana misses the sound of Father snoring; his presence has always helped her feel safe.
- She worries about him in prison—he's joining lots of other people they know in there.
- Parvana tells her mother to put a lamp in the window so he can find his way home if they let him go—but walking may be a problem for him.
- Parvana stares at the one, small window in their apartment.
- The Taliban ordered all windows to be painted black so no one could see the women inside, but Father refused; it was the only source of sunlight for crying out loud.
- Finally the long, sleepless night is over and it's time for a breakfast of nan and last night's boiled water. Yum?
- No time to wait for tea, says Mother—she and Parvana are going to get Father out of jail.
- Sounds good to Parvana—she's always wondered what the inside of jail looked like—but there's one minor problem: women can't walk outside without a man.
- So Nooria forges a note from Father giving Mother permission to be outside the home, and Parvana sticks the note up her sleeve.
- Then Nooria gives her little sister a big hug. Yup—this is definitely a risky mission.
- Off Mother and Parvana go to rescue Father, with Mother clad in the "regulation burqa" (3.38), which is a total pain in the butt to move around in.
- Even wearing that tent though, she still moves faster than Parvana. This woman is on a mission.
- Mother stops to show peddlers Father's photo. Parvana's not thrilled about this plan, since photographs are illegal and she really doesn't want to meet anymore Taliban soldiers.
- The prison is "dark and ugly" (3.43) when they arrive, and Parvana's knees are shaking.
- Mother, on the other hand, marches right up to the guards and demands Father's release. Go Mother, go.
- Thoughts of Malali inspire Parvana to do the same, as she shouts: "I'm here for my father" (3.51).
- The soldiers have had enough from Mother and Parvana, so they tear Father's photograph and start hitting Mother with a stick; shortly after, they beat Parvana as well.
- Mother is beaten to the ground and Parvana tells the soldiers to back off, that they will leave.
- The soldier spits at Parvana and Mother, then Parvana scoops up her mom and they limp away.