The Lines We Cross

Michael finds Mina in the library and apologizes to her about their first argument, his involvement in the fight, and Terrence. Confused by the contradictions in his behavior, she says, “One minute you’re reject the refugees! The next minute you’re oh but I still feel sorry for them” (88). They decide to find people to interview for their project that Sunday. Michael is highly curious about Mina and hopes to bridge the distance between them. On Saturday, Michael’s father leaves for Iraq, and Michael’s mother cries. Michael worries about his father and how his experiences in a war zone may change him.

For their school project, Mina and Michael ask five strangers what Australian culture means to them. They receive cliched answers: “Barbecues, beer, the beach, and the bush” (93). Mina asks Michael what he wants to do after graduation, and he recites his parents’ plan for his future before confiding that he wants to be a graphic designer specializing in virtual reality. Mina explains that she doesn’t know what she wants to do and is just focused on earning high grades to meet her parents’ expectations. She tells Michael, “They’ve turned their lives upside down for me.