Podcast
Questions and Answers
Initially, how long did Ahmed plan to stay in the cellar?
Initially, how long did Ahmed plan to stay in the cellar?
- A month
- A day or two (correct)
- Indefinitely
- A week
What were Ahmed's symptoms when he woke up the morning after arriving in the cellar?
What were Ahmed's symptoms when he woke up the morning after arriving in the cellar?
- Fever and sore throat (correct)
- Nausea and vomiting
- Headache and dizziness
- Cough and chills
What language did Ahmed hear the family speaking upstairs?
What language did Ahmed hear the family speaking upstairs?
- French
- English (correct)
- Arabic
- Spanish
What aspect of the family's sounds was comforting to Ahmed?
What aspect of the family's sounds was comforting to Ahmed?
During what time of day did Ahmed dare to sneak out of the cellar?
During what time of day did Ahmed dare to sneak out of the cellar?
What did Ahmed discover behind the red shades in the furniture room?
What did Ahmed discover behind the red shades in the furniture room?
What was the condition of the orchids Ahmed found?
What was the condition of the orchids Ahmed found?
After how many days did Ahmed's fever finally subside?
After how many days did Ahmed's fever finally subside?
What did Ahmed compare the living room to when he first saw it?
What did Ahmed compare the living room to when he first saw it?
In the photos on the mantelpiece, who were the primary subjects?
In the photos on the mantelpiece, who were the primary subjects?
What annual religious observance is being remembered in the passage?
What annual religious observance is being remembered in the passage?
During Eid al-Fitr, what specific food's aroma filled the city?
During Eid al-Fitr, what specific food's aroma filled the city?
What was Ahmed's emotional state primarily driven by in the story?
What was Ahmed's emotional state primarily driven by in the story?
What did Ahmed take from the kitchen to ease his hunger?
What did Ahmed take from the kitchen to ease his hunger?
What did Ahmed use to keep track of what he took?
What did Ahmed use to keep track of what he took?
Where did Ahmed find the orchids?
Where did Ahmed find the orchids?
What was the condition of the orchids when Ahmed found them?
What was the condition of the orchids when Ahmed found them?
Whose advice did Ahmed remember regarding ailing orchids?
Whose advice did Ahmed remember regarding ailing orchids?
What language did Ahmed use to note down the items he took?
What language did Ahmed use to note down the items he took?
Why did Ahmed decide to start taking note of what he was taking from the family?
Why did Ahmed decide to start taking note of what he was taking from the family?
What did Ahmed whisper to the orchids in Arabic?
What did Ahmed whisper to the orchids in Arabic?
What did Ahmed use to cut down each orchid's spike?
What did Ahmed use to cut down each orchid's spike?
Where did Ahmed find the razor blade?
Where did Ahmed find the razor blade?
What did Ahmed do after tending to the orchids?
What did Ahmed do after tending to the orchids?
What was the family eating for breakfast?
What was the family eating for breakfast?
What traditional food did Ahmed miss from his mother's cooking?
What traditional food did Ahmed miss from his mother's cooking?
What did Ahmed take from the fridge?
What did Ahmed take from the fridge?
What sound did Ahmed hear that reminded him of his past?
What sound did Ahmed hear that reminded him of his past?
What did Ahmed see when he looked out the living room window?
What did Ahmed see when he looked out the living room window?
What promise did Ahmed's father make to him?
What promise did Ahmed's father make to him?
Flashcards
Wine Cellar
Wine Cellar
The location where Ahmed stayed, described as being below the main house.
Feverish
Feverish
Having a high body temperature, often accompanied by shivering.
Undetectable Accent
Undetectable Accent
Unable to determine exactly where someone is from based on the way they speak.
Ravenous
Ravenous
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Crept
Crept
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Stained-Glass
Stained-Glass
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Confident Gaze
Confident Gaze
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Orchids
Orchids
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Potted
Potted
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Insolent Look
Insolent Look
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Eid al-Fitr
Eid al-Fitr
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Anise Sweet Bread
Anise Sweet Bread
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Grief
Grief
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Panic
Panic
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Without Strength to Figure Out
Without Strength to Figure Out
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Racking Hunger
Racking Hunger
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Sin of Stealing
Sin of Stealing
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Devour
Devour
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Ailing
Ailing
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Tend to (the orchids)
Tend to (the orchids)
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Exhausted
Exhausted
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Disarray
Disarray
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Flatbread
Flatbread
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Chickpea Fateyh
Chickpea Fateyh
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Shoved the memory away
Shoved the memory away
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Aware
Aware
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Overcrowded
Overcrowded
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Rubber dinghy
Rubber dinghy
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Promise
Promise
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Study Notes
Ahmed's Illness and Confinement
- Ahmed had only planned to stay in the cellar for a day or two, but he became feverish with a sore throat.
- Ahmed shivered, sweated, and slept for three days in the basement.
- Ahmed could hear a family speaking English upstairs, but couldn't tell what kind of accent they had.
- While the voices were muffled, Ahmed took comfort in their presence and sounds of daily life.
- Ahmed imagined he was back in Aleppo when he closed his eyes.
- Ahmed only dared to sneak out at night to get water and relieve himself.
Exploring the House
- One night, delirious with fever, Ahmed peeked behind the shades in the furniture room.
- Ahmed found a row of potted orchids with withered leaves and dry roots.
- Ahmed felt pity for the orchids.
- After four days, Ahmed's fever subsided, and he felt ravenous.
- Ahmed crept upstairs to find an enormous living room that seemed like a palace.
- A white cat gave Ahmed an insolent look, but the house was otherwise silent.
Discovering the Family
- Ahmed saw framed photos on the mantelpiece and tiptoed closer.
- Ahmed saw photos of a teenage girl with blond hair and a younger boy with brown hair.
- The boy's unnatural smile reminded Ahmed of annual Eid al-Fitr photos with his family.
- The largest photo featured the entire family against a sunset beach backdrop.
- The family looked European with sunburnt skin and western clothing.
- Ahmed missed his own father after seeing the father embrace his son.
Hunger and a Plan
- Ahmed quietly went into the kitchen, feeling ravenous.
- He spotted bananas but knew stealing was a sin, but ultimately decided he needed to eat
- He found notepaper and a pencil.
- Ahmed wrote a note indicating that he would pay the family back.
- Ahmed grabbed bread and a banana before returning to the cellar.
Caring for the Orchids
- Ahmed felt calmer after eating and listing the items he took.
- Ahmed noticed the orchids were in bad shape due to too much sun and too little water.
- He remembered his grandfather's advice about reviving ailing orchids.
- Ahmed whispered encouragement to the orchids in Arabic.
- Ahmed took the orchids to the bathroom, watered their roots, and cut each spike.
- Ahmed lined them up in front of the windows before falling asleep.
A Glimpse of Life Outside
- Ahmed listened to the family's sounds in the kitchen, imagining them having breakfast.
- With the family gone, Ahmed tiptoed upstairs, noting the empty foyer and disorganized kitchen.
- Ahmed notices the family ate boxed cereal a direct contrast to his mother making fateyh with its flavors of garlic and cumin.
- Ahmed ate leftover cereal, bread, a carrot, jam, and a pickle.
- As he headed back to the basement, Ahmed heard the happy shouts of children playing.
- Ahmed looked out the window and saw a schoolyard
- Ahmed remembered his father's promise that Ahmed could go back to school in Europe.
Reasons to Stay
- Ahmed felt conflicted and pressed his forehead against the window.
- The cat rubbed against him, and Ahmed thought of the orchids
- Protecting the orchids and his own health became reasons to stay.
- Ahmed wanted to find a way to repay the family for the food.
- Ahmed knew he was making excuses to linger because he felt safer in the house.
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Description
Ahmed's initial plans for a short stay in the cellar turn into a prolonged ordeal. Battling fever and hunger, he ventures out, discovering details about the family upstairs. The story highlights themes of survival, fear, and hope amidst religious observance.
