Prayers
McCann writes, “Every day since Abir was killed, Bassam has walked to the mosque in the hour before sunrise to join the optional dawn prayers…He prays for his wife, his five children, the memory of Abir.” Prayers are a strategy for Bassam to cope with his bereavement. Even though they are not mandatory they motivate him to move on with life. Through prayers he his inspired and contented with his remaining family which bids him move to keep living.
'Refugee Camp'
McCann explains, “The town (Anata) shoulders up against the Shu’fat refugee camp. Shu’fat builds itself upwards, apartment block upon apartment block. Nowhere else to go but the sky. "It is easy to get into the camp-just slide through the metal revolving gate at the checkpoint and walk down the road-but it is tougher to get out. To travel to Jerusalem an ID card or a permit is need." The camp depicts the rampant displacement in the area. Conflict results in the displacement of individuals from their homes. Eventually, the displaced persons end up in the refuges for their homes are destroyed in the course of the conflict.
“Candy Bracelet”
McCann expounds, “To this day, Bassam is haunted by his daughter’s candy bracelet…Abir’s shoe had been slipped back on her foot, but the candy bracelet had disappeared: It was not in her hand, not on her wrist, not in her pockets…Bassam reached into her schoolbag and found the candy beneath her maths book.” The bracelet directly contributes to her death for she is shot after purchasing it. Bassam reckons that maybe if she had not gone to purchase it, she would not have been killed. The bracelet contains all of the daughter’s last memories which are melancholic.
“Smadar and Abir”
McCann explains, “ Smadar. From the Song of Solomon. The grapevine. The opening of the flower. Abir. From the ancient Arabic. The perfume. The fragrance of the flower.” Both are Smadar and Abir are deceased. The name Smadar is an allusion to the Bible whereas Abir is an Arabic allusion. They share a comparable destiny due to their sad deaths.
“West Bank”
Rami asserts, “Look at my ID I’m Jewish. I got lost. Lost, man. Why in the world would you want me to go back?...What Jew in their right mind would go to the West bank in the first place?” Rami directs this question to the guard who insists the road is closed and he has to return. Rami considers West Bank an extremely dangerous, due to his religious affiliation, locality for him to return there. He would not be secure there and, hence, insists that the guard should let him use the route.
