Refugee Chapter 17 & 18

Chapter 17

• Over the past few years, Ahmed has learned to recognize different types of knocks.
• He hears a gentle knock at half past eleven and knows it's safe.
• Max is standing there with a blanket, a pillow, and a bag with food
• Max brought a turkey sandwich, a juice box, and some health-food bars.
• Max also brought a pillow and another blanket, and Max said as he followed Ahmed back into the cellar.

Chapter 18

• The next day was Friday the 13th of November,
• Max noticed the unlucky date because of the horrible evening.
• He looks through his books and comics to find a couple of uplifting ones for Ahmed
• Max chooses Aquaman, Volume 3: The Throne of Atlantis and Boy Heroes of the War Between the States.
• Boy Heroes was written in the 1950s
• The stories in Boy Heroes are about courageous kids during the Civil War.
• Max slides the books into a tote bag, finds pajamas, a toothbrush, and toothpaste.
• Max's parents went to bed early and Claire went to sleep early as well because she had a sore throat.
• At 10:30, Claire crept downstairs.

Claire's Actions

• Her mother's voice rose, they were innocent people just going to a concert. His father tells her that she is going to wake Claire.
• Max is to warn Claire about something.
• Max wonders what his mother would want to peek in as Claire slept
• Max's mother asks where he was.
• Max says he needs snacks and to pee, then he will be right back
• His mom shows his dad her phone
• Max runs upstairs, grabs his phone, and starts typing as fast as he can.
• He texts MOMDAD UP TERROR ATTACK PARIS GET HOME B4 MD REALIZE UR GONE
• Max runs back to his parents' room and they were glued to their phones.
• He asks if there is any news.
• Max's dad says that the police have not gone into the Bataclan yet and the terrorists must have suicide vests.
• His father's voice was tense, and his mother looked scared as she looked at her phone.
• It was horrible to imagine the suicide bombers and whether these moments would be their last.
• He focused on keeping his parents talking so they would not get up to check on Claire.
• His phone vibrates and it displayed FRONT DOOR.
• Max says he will be right back.
• His mother looks like she is about to cry over the message on her phone.
• Max runs downstairs and opens the door. Claire slips past him.
• Claire had wiped off all her makeup and changed clothes.
• She looked at Max calmly and clear-eyed. It was the first time since they moved to Brussels that she really saw him.
• Claire muttered thank you.
• Claire tiptoes upstairs after him.

Max and His Parents Discussing the Attacks

• Max goes in his parents' room who are looking at their phones with the lights on.
• His mom whispers at him to be quiet because he is going to wake Claire.
• There are terror attacks happening in Paris and they are holding people hostage at a concert hall.
• Max asks what kind of terrorists they are.
• His mom says that they are Muslim ones shouting "God is great".
• Islamic extremism is also a real problem.
• Islamic extremist exist in Europe, the Middle East and Asia.

Discovering Ahmed

• Max tiptoed up the basement stairs
• He wondered if something happened to Claire, picturing her mugged and beaten.
• He grabbed a banana to quieten his footsteps.
• Max becomes aware of soft footsteps in the hall below. The front door creaked open.
• Max raced down the stairs and Claire was standing there. She was wearing eyeliner and lipstick, and holding a small beaded purse in her gloved hand.
• Claire says, "Do not you dare tell Mom and Dad,...I will kill you."
• Max wondered what Claire was doing late at night with a tote bag.
• He realized she was going to a party, even though their parents would not let her go.
• He can't tell their parents because they would ground her, and he would not be able to visit Ahmed.
• He fixed Ahmed a peanut butter and jelly sandwich in the kitchen and laughed thinking about all the secrets in the house.
• Max knocked on the cellar door, and Ahmed smiled and opened it.
• Max held out the tote bag. "Bananas, peanut butter and jelly, two books."
• His mother's voice yelled from upstairs, "Oh my god!"
• The smile dropped off of Ahmed's face. Max shoved the tote into his hand.
• Ahmed closed the cellar door.

Meeting with Ahmed

• Max and Ahmed meet in the cellar
• Ahmed seemed relatively relaxed. and was resting on the floor
• Ahmed wonders how close Max is to revealing him.
• The orchids seemed to say, "We trust you".
• Ahmed says that they will send him back like they send the other boys back, like prison, because he is Syrian.
• Max said that he researched it ,and Syrians can stay.
• Ahmed has learned the different types of knocks.
• He identifies a knock as something horrible has happened or it is someone that he knows is at the door
• Max is standing there holding an arch and a pillow with a paper bag on top.
• Max brought him the pillow and the blanket because it is cold down there.
• There is a turkey sandwich and a juice box.

The Truth About Ahmed

• Ahmed admits he has no papers, name, or home country.
• Everyone assumes that he is Syrian
• Those in charge sent Ahmed to Turkey and told hime not report the situation for that nation.
• Max reassures Ahmed and promises to help.
• Max will not tell anyone and will continue helping him.
• Max points at the cage man which Ahmed has taped back up again.
• Ahmed is confused when Max mentions that the artist's name is Magritte and that he is Belgian.
• Ahmed wants a book, and Max says he has tons of comic books, science fiction and history books.
• Ahmed says he can't go past the first floor, so Max should pick out a book for him.
• Max noticed that the left side of Max's nose was red.
• Max lies and says he tripped.
• Ahmed knows that Max knows about him.
• Max asks Ahmed if he is Muslim.
• Ahmed says that he is, and that is why he does not eat meat because it needs to be halal.
• Halal is Muslim rules for how animal killed.
• Max admits that does not know much about Islam.
• He is relieved to not have to explain about halal.
• Max asks if he likes turkey.
• Max does not say anything about his religion.
• He says "No"

Ahmed's Feelings on Religion

• Ahmed is relieved not to have to explain Halal
• Being helpful to the poor is a pillar of Islam.
• Muhammad is the prophet, and the best Muslims are those who are useful to others.
• This information is in the Qur'an, the words God revealed to Muhammad.
• He doesn't know if he should tell Max about his father's religion.
• Ahmed doesn't believe in God, but sometimes he thinks someone needs to.
• He is afraid he might cry so he whispers, "Good night."

Max secretly brings Ahmed food, blankets, and reading material. Max notices that November 13 is an unlucky date. He brings Ahmed 'Aquaman, Volume 3: The Throne of Atlantis' and 'Boy Heroes of the War Between the States'.