The Kite Runner, chapter 7

Amir and Hassan participate in the neighborhoods annual kite flying competition. Amir is afraid to disappoint Baba, and has his doubts, but Hassan talks him into doing it. Amir wins and Hassan runs of to catch the last kite that Amir cut. Amir goes looking for him, and finds him in an alley. Hassan is cornered by Assef and his friends. They want the kite he found for Amir.  The guys hold Hassan down while Assef rapes him. Amir watches, but is too afraid to provide what is happening, and runs away. Afterwards, when he meets Hassan, and pretends he didn’t see the incident. Hassan keeps his mouth shut, but hands Amir the kite. When they return home Amir takes the kite to Baba who finally gives him the recognition he think he deserves.

The Kite Runner, Chapter 21

Farid drives Amir to visit his childhood home, Baba's house. They arrive at the Wazir Akbar Khan district, which Amir finds to be in good shape, Farid comments all the important people now reside here. Amir notices a familiar landmark and soon they see Baba's pink house at the end of the street.

Amir has a flashback, he is playing with Hassan and they've caught a turtle. Hassan has an idea to paint its shell red so that they won't lose it in the high grass. They play with a wooden wagon Ali build for Hassan, fireworks in the background. They pretend to be the world's greatest explorers.

Despite his house still standing, it's beginning to wither. A jeep is parked where Baba's black mustang once stood parked. As he looks at his house and front yard he has several flashbacks to when Hassan and Ali still lived with them all those years back.

Farid is impatient, but Amir asks for ten more minutes and walk up the hill north of Baba's house. The old pomegranate tree is still there, but dead. Amir remembers how he and Hassan used to climb it with ease as children. He looks for their carving "Amir and Hassan. Sultans of Kabul." Amir sits down and remembers how his home looked like many years ago. Farid honks again, and Amir walks back to him.

They check into a old run-down hotel. They hear that Kabul has been without electricity for two days. Amir sleeps in the bed while Farid sleeps on the floor. Farid talks about his childhood and youth, he asks Amir about America, and Amir draws a picture of America that's in stark contrast with the reality Farid is familiar with.

Farid asks Amir if he's really returned for the boy. Amir confirms and Farid wants to know why he is willing to risk so much for a Shia. Amir doesn't reply, just tells him to get some sleep. Amir wonders if Afghanistan really is a hopeless place after all.

The next day they visit Ghazi stadium that once used to be used for soccer playing. They're there to witness the stoning of a man and a woman, and to get in touch with a specific person. Amir is horrified by the stoning, but they manage to agree to an appointment at three o'clock that day.

The Kite Runner, Chapter 3

This chapter is more concerned with Amir's relationship with his father, Baba. Amir begins by telling some stories about Baba and slowly shifts into Baba's disappointment in Amir. With his stories about Baba, Amir shows us how strong baba is, and how much he has achieved and then becomes an important man in Kabul. Throughout chapter 3 it also shows how Amir does everything to get Baba’s respect and attention. Since Baba likes soccer, Amir tries to like it as well, but rarely feels he is successful. Amir worries about that baba might don’t like that he is in to the poetry and writing, he also admits to feeling responsible for his mother’s death.