Chapters 11 and 12 summary

Chapter 11
-There is a skip forward in time, Baba and Amir are now in Fremont, California, and have been there for 2 years. Baba now works at a gas station and has found it hard to adapt to his new life.
-We are told about an incident with Baba and some shop owners, where he gets angry and flips over a magazine rack because they ask him for his ID to pay with check. He is not used to this as in Afghanistan everyone trusted each other.
-After the incident Amir asks Baba if it is best for them to return to Pakistan where they stayed for a while when escaping Kabul, but Baba says no, they are there for Amir to finish school and college.
-When Amir graduates Baba buys him a Ford Torino as a gift, and later that night says he wishes Hassan was there with them, which ruins the moment for Amir.
-Amir tells Baba that he wants to study writing, which Baba disapproves of and says is useless, but Amir stands his ground.
-Amir talks about how he takes long drives in his car, and says America is a place to forget the past.
-The next summer Baba buys an old van which the pair use to load with old junk which they sell for a profit at a flea market the next day.
-At the flea market one day Baba and Amir speak to General Taheri, who has a beautiful daughter called Soraya that Amir  takes a liking to.
-Amir asks about her but all Baba knows is that she was once involved with a man but it did not end well.
-That night he falls asleep thinking of her.

Chapter 12
-Amir finally speaks to Soraya after a year of wanting her. He only speaks to her and her mother when the General is not around.
-One day Amir is giving Soraya one of his stories when the General returns. He throws away Amirs story and reminds him that he is around 'other Afghans'. Amir is disheartened.
-Baba is diagnosed with lung cancer, but tells Amir not to tell anyone and refuses treatment.
-One day Baba collapses as the cancer has spread to his brain. In the hospital many people come to visit, including the Taheris.
-At Baba's bedside Amir asks him if he will speak to the General about marrying Soraya. Baba very happily agrees and phones General Taheri straight away and agrees to visit him the next day.
-The next day Baba goes to ask the General for Sorayas hand. He agrees, and Baba phones Amir to give him the news. Baba puts Soraya on the line and she tells Amir that she is very happy that they will be getting married but she has to tell him something important which may change his mind. Amir says nothing will change his mind but she says she has to tell him.
-As it turns out Soraya had run away with an Afghan man when she was 18, and lived with him for nearly a month before her father, General Taheri, found her. While she was gone her mother had a stroke. Amir says it bothers him a little but he definitely has not changed his mind about wanting to marry her.