The Lines We Cross

Mina converses with Adnan, one of the employees who is on a bridging visa. He had to leave school early because immigration stopped funding his education when he turned 18. Late that night, she reassures her stepfather that she’s spoken to someone with ties to Aussie Values and persuaded the organization to leave the restaurant alone. He answers that the group can’t scare him after what he’s survived and observes that “there is something the majority wants us to do in order to be fully accepted, but they never tell us what it is” (339).

Mary tells Alan about their son’s decision not to pursue architecture, and Alan brings Michael some brochures for a graphic design exposition. Alan says that he feels that he and his son “have grown apart these past few months” (340), and he listens patiently as Michael explains what he wants to do even though he isn’t happy about his son’s decision. At school, Terrence avoids Michael, who doesn’t mind spending time with his other friends. Michael encourages Jane to get over Terrence.