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Najmah has been developing a more motherly character. It can be seen that she's stepping up and becoming more defensive over her mother. "I get up and walk silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end of the house, where I've left Baba-Jan's long, curved knife that I use to cut the wheat and grass" (57). Najmah sensed that there was an intruder on her family's property. She was willing to put up a fight against whoever was there, even if things seemed insurmountable. She has learned to put her family before herself, because taking care of her mother was all her father wanted from her.

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Her defensive instinct shows when she thinks the taliban come to her property in order to take more supplies. When she hears, "[she] get[s] up and walk[s] silently on the balls of [her] feet to the wall at the end of the house, where [she's] left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that [she] [uses] to cut the wheat and grass" (57). Najmah gets up in order to protect her mother, baby brother and supplies. If she hadn't, they might've died.

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Najmah clearly shows this new trait of courage when she thinks the Taliban have returned, "[She] get[s] up and walk[s] silently on the balls of [her] feet to the wall at the end of [her] house where [she] left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that [she] use[s] to cut the wheat and grass" (57). It was evident that Najmah was ready to defend her family because she grabbed a weapon in order to fight. Najmah was most likely aware that that a knife wasn't going to protect her against guns, but she did it anyway because she knew she had a responsibility to keep.

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Najmah describes a time when she protects her family, "I get up and walk... at the end of the house, where I've left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that I use to cut wheat and grass" (57). This shows Najmah's determination to protect her family, even though she only had a guess to whom was outside. Grabbing a knife shows that she is willing to stand up to whomever was outside, even though she may be putting herself into a dangerous situation.

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Najmahs will to fulfill her fathers last wish display a change in her thoughts and actions. When she feels that her family is threatened, she proceeds to "...get up and walk silently on the balls of [her] feet to the wall at the end of the house, where [she had] left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that [she uses] to cut the wheat and grass" ( 57 ). The split second decision she made to pick up the knife show her increased maturity and bravery to protect her family.

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Najmah shows this when she is awakened by a strange sound outside of her house. She describes "...get[ting] up and walk[ing] silently on the balls of [her] feet to the wall at the end of the house, where [she has] left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that [she] use[s] to cut the wheat and grass" (57). Najmah is prepared to defend her mother in any situation, even if it means putting herself in danger.

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When Najmah hears someone outside she gets very overprotective of her family. "I get up silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end kf the house, Ive left Baba Jan's large, curved knife..." This shows how mature she is, and on her fathers word, she is willing to protect her family even at the cost of her own life.

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Najmah's responsibilities that were given to her by her father make her see life differently. She protects her mother when, "I get up and walk silently on the balls of my feet to wall at the end of the house, where I left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that I use to cut wheat and grass" (57). Najmah protects her mother by grabbing the knife and preparing to face any threat that comes her way.

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Najmah's mature views are shown by how she reacts to a potential enemy . She defends her mother by getting up "and walk silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end of the house, where I left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that I used to cut the weeds and grass"(57). Clearly, Najmah is willing to protect her mother at whatever the cost. This initial reaction of her taking a weapon is a demonstration of her ability to fight for her family.

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So when Najmah hears footsteps outside she describes her actions as " I get up and walk silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end of the end of the house where I've left Baba-Jan's curved knife I use to to cut the wheat and grass" (57). Her course of actions shows how much she values her fathers words and  what she would do to protect her family.

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Compared to the beginning of the story, where she won't even get out of bed for simple chores (4-5), now even at the slightest suspicious noise she gets "up and walks silently on the balls of [her] feet to the wall at the end of the house, where [she] left Baba-jan's large, curved knife that [she] use[s] to cut the wheat and grass" (57). Najmah changes from lazy girl who needs to be dragged out of bed, to someone who might even kill in order to keep the household safe. This is only because there is no male figure in the house, and she must assume in order to keep her mother safe as well as obey her father.

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Najmah is seen tending the house and fields in her spare time, while also taking care of her mother. She is quick to get up and defend her father's property, "I get up and walk silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end of the house, where I left Baba-Jan's large, curved knife that I use to cut the wheat and grass" (57). She uses this knife to cut the crops, proving she cares for the fields, but the purpose of the knife in this quote would be to protect her mother from harm or other people near the house.

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Najmah's willingness to protect her mother by any means and at any lengths necessary is evident when she protects her mother from her uncle and the Taliban even if it turns to violence. When hearing a disturbance outside, Najmah believes it was the Taliban and her actions to protect her mother are to "get up and walk silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end of the house, where I’ve left Baba-Jan’s large, curved knife that I use to cut the wheat and grass” (57). Najmah would risk her life to protect her mother and when it turns out to be her uncle she still holds on to the knife for she believes her mother is in the same amount of danger still.

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Najmah isn't afraid to defend her and her mother from dangerous enemies, showing how much she has grown up as a result of her fathers words. Najmah shows this fearlessness when she says "I get up and walk silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end of the house, where I've left Baba-jans large curved knife that I used to cut the wheat and grass" (57). Najmah was willing to stand up the any enemy to save her mother.

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MIP:  In chapter 5, the line of dialogue, “take care of your mother,” earlier said by Baba-Jan, reveals aspects of Najmah’s character that haven’t been seen before.

SIP: Because of her father's words, Najmah will defend her mother from outsiders -- no matter who the enemy is.

Evidence: “I get up and walk silently on the balls of my feet to the wall at the end of the house, where I’ve left Baba-Jan’s large, curved knife that I use to cut the wheat and grass” (57)