Darius the Great Notes by Veronica Galdieri

Mental Health

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:15:11 UTC

Family

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:15:17 UTC

Friendship

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:15:23 UTC

Community

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:15:29 UTC

Culture

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:15:41 UTC

Differences

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:15:55 UTC

Love

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:16:10 UTC

Orientation (LGBT)

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:16:17 UTC

History

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:16:35 UTC

Confidence

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:16:51 UTC

12, 13, 14

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:31:58 UTC

Dad didn't believe about bike takes forever to get there and plays devils advocate about who stole the bike and tells Darius to just stick up for himself. Not good relationship. Doesn't feel like his son at all.

4, 5

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:40:10 UTC

Trent is a bully but is popular so no one sees him as a bully and Darius doesn't feel included with his peers, "completely ignored by your entire class until you begin to wonder if you've turned invisible."

6, 7, 8

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:43:04 UTC

Darius follows the corporate mandated stuff and is humiliated by Trent and Chip.

15

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:44:47 UTC

Mom makes Persian food on the weekend because it takes so much time to make.

16

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:46:21 UTC

Feels like he can't say anything but thinks highly of his sister

16

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:47:03 UTC

Laleh has more friends than he does in second grade. He is a loner

2, 18

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:50:03 UTC

He jokes with his mom. Pretty close to mom, but also feels separate from the Persian aspects.

20

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:55:10 UTC

His Farsi is bad

21

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 14:58:00 UTC

Laleh's farsi is better than his because she was talked to in farsi and has the ear for it he doesn't.

21, 22

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-13 15:00:47 UTC

Farsi felt like Laleh and his moms thing. He feels separate from his culture and the rest of his family.

24

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:01:44 UTC

Likes seeing grandmother, dones't know how to talk to her. Feels excluded, like Laleh knows how but he doesn't. He and dad share this outsider-y aspect

26

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:04:45 UTC

Envies Laleh's blue eyes, she gets compliments on + got from dad. He's got moms brown eyes, and doesn't get complimented. There's something here I'm not far enough into the book to grasp

28

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:06:42 UTC

He and his dad both take depression meds. Dad is dissapointed in both of them for having to take them like its some sort of moral failing that they are both depressed

30

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:08:24 UTC

Compares Javaneh to a Lioness. She is brave and herself at school Darius seems to admire that

31

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:09:38 UTC

Javaneh looks like a true persian to Darius which he is kind of jealous of but also isn't because he sees what thats gotten her socially.

33, 34

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:10:56 UTC

Talks about how much prozac sucked and how he was switched off it while he is taking meds at nurses office. Dad was diagnosed and seems to have immidieately found what worked, Darius had a harder time. Went through moodswings, hit someone who made fun of mom

29, 47

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:21:09 UTC

He feels sad about grandfather but isn't sure what to do with it because he has never really been a major presence in his life. theres a disconnect. Doesn't know how to deal with him or his emotions about grandfather

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:24:16 UTC

I wouldn't be surprised if this played a little bit into some unreliable narrator stuff

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-15 15:24:27 UTC

I really hope this book is gay

45

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 13:53:27 UTC

Darius doens't feel like Iran is home even though Mr. Apatan calls it that. Hes never been there and feels no connection

50

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:01:19 UTC

Dad tells him to check things he's checked a bunch of times, no trust between them

44, 53

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:04:50 UTC

Laleh has clean white tennis shoes, she never spills her tea like Darius, shes just everything Darius wants to be already at age 8. He loves her but there seems to be some resentment

37, 45

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:08:36 UTC

Darius has weight gain from his meds which his dad is trying to get to go away, like its a personal failing when the thing that is treating him is causing some weight gain. There is so much to analyze there

53

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:09:46 UTC

Darius got chosen for a random check at the airport, got an insensitive cultural comment stemming from the popped pimple on his forehead

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:12:06 UTC

Seeing a pattern with how Darius's dad seems to not deal with any symptoms or anything with depression and Darius does but he seems ashamed of it and wants to hide everything to do with it for both of them

20, 21

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:13:24 UTC

Laleh has a relationship with grandparents, can speak farsi. Darius can't

55, 56

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:17:06 UTC

Laleh asks about meaningless things, Darius is worried about customs and been turned away

56

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:21:49 UTC

Mom warns about how mental health is viewed differently and not to take any comments personally.

59+earlier

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:24:51 UTC

laleh gets to eat sour patch kids and darius is scolded. double standard

60

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:26:06 UTC

Dad says he wouldn't be bullied if he fit in more and tried to be more normal. This stems from the depression and also seems to not understand the persian parts of him

30

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:31:17 UTC

Javaneh is his one school friend.

64

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:38:42 UTC

Half expected the customs officer to be a middle eastern sterotype. Understands its a sterotype

64

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:39:31 UTC

wishes he has green Northern Iranian eyes

65

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:40:22 UTC

mom had never explained why thank you in farsi was the same as french. I have Theories

65, 66

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:44:31 UTC

Darius gets stopped again at the airport by a customs officer. Uses the phrasing target like his dad did about him being bullied? Gets interogated about the trip.

68

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:45:10 UTC

Feels guilty because he has nothing to be depressed about. It just happened. Feels inadequate.

His father/their relationship

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:52:02 UTC

21

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-20 14:54:09 UTC

Star Trek is like his and his dads thing, they bond over it and get to pretend they don't have a strained relationship

72, 73

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:23:53 UTC

Mamou is excited to see them, reunion is happiest hes ever seen his mom. Darius gets an equally warm welcome, and grandmother isn't what he expected. "Maybe she was trying to fit a lifetime of missed hugs into the one car ride"

74

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:24:05 UTC

CHIP IS HANDSOME????

74

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:24:44 UTC

No one notices Darius

74, 75

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:26:04 UTC

mamou is very touchy and loving to Darius, in contrast to dad's parents who don't express affection. "For Fariba Bahrami, love was an opportunity, not a burden" this is a new unique experience for him

75

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:28:37 UTC

did storytime with dad, but doesn't remember much of his childhood. There was just one day where his dad came in and didn't tell him a story, and it just stopped. Darius feels he did something wrong.

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:29:36 UTC

I think its interesting how Darius's idea of what Iran would look like depends on a lot of American sterotypes. Theres something there

78

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:33:23 UTC

taarof, the social cue is different from american social cues. cultural difference.

79

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:34:36 UTC

Dad and he are viewers to a Taarof Arguement they can't understand. Wasted time doing this.

80

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:38:23 UTC

Anxious about meeting babou. Feels wrong to meet Mamou but not Babou

82, 83

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:42:03 UTC

Persian toilets are different than American ones. Darius isn't quite sure what to do with this. The fan is weird. Overall there are so many differences Darius feels vaguely uncomfortable.

85

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:55:01 UTC

Babou looks fine even though hes supposed to be getting worse. Darius tries to says hi and doesn't know how. He feels kind of isolated from him?

85

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:57:08 UTC

Long description of Sohrab. "it made me think maybe brown eyes weren't so boring after all."

87

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 14:57:46 UTC

Never thought of grandparents having neighbors. Like they were alone in a city full of strangers

88,89

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 15:00:25 UTC

Talks about the origins of Sohrab, might be relevant later? Legendary fighter killed his son named Sohrab.

90

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 15:02:08 UTC

babou is stubborn, waters fig trees, probably shouldn't be doing that.

88

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-22 15:03:02 UTC

FIRST FRIEND Sohrab makes Darius laugh, they seem to start becoming friends??

91

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-25 03:25:31 UTC

Babou isn't like he expected, no hug, isn't quite smiling. Darius is not sure what to do with him

92

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-25 03:25:54 UTC

babou orders Darius to befriend Sohrab lol

93

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-25 03:26:49 UTC

Darius is impressed by the houses and likes the character they have

93, 94

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-25 03:28:41 UTC

Its different and much more alive than Darius expected. Not as bad as expected.

94

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-25 03:29:24 UTC

He can be quiet with Sohrab, thats how he knows they can be friends

97

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-25 03:31:11 UTC

Agrees to soccer because Sohrab is interested

97

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:50:08 UTC

Cant eat in front of someone who cant eat with him, that sure is a character detail idk

99

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:51:11 UTC

Didn't like the food mamou made, couldn't tell her that from either embarassment or something idk

101, 102

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:52:00 UTC

Babou asks what Darius has to be depressed about, embarrasing him because thats what he feels too. Babou tells him to try harder.

104

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:53:09 UTC

"My stomach tickled where Sohrab had grabbed me" sorry no heterosexual explanation for this. Some analysis I could do but rn I'm just collecting gay moments

104

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:54:14 UTC

Didn't consider Iran shoe sizes could be different

107, 108

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:54:41 UTC

Medication changed his behavior, made him suck at soccer which the coach couldn't understand.

110, 111

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:56:05 UTC

In the US where they are a minority, its just anyone whos persian sticks together, in Iran theres prejeduice and issues that Darius never considered, like disliking someone for being Baha'is.

114, 115, 118

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:57:10 UTC

Awkward about showers, gets judged for being uncircumsied and feels betrayed. Feels like a larger issue, that he will never fit in anywhere because hes not enough of any cultural norm to be accepted. He is really upset about Sohrab making fun of him too, after they started becoming friends

118

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 13:59:13 UTC

Theres either something gay here or something that I am not male enough to understand

104,119

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:00:40 UTC

Awkwardly took Sohrabs cleats, hates them after the match

120

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:01:56 UTC

Babou says its a misunderstanding, which Darius compares to his dad and immidieately feels invalidated and stressed.

120

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:02:23 UTC

"he didn't know what it felt like to be a target" THIS QUOTE IS EXACTLY THE ISSUE WITH HIS FATHER EVEN THOUGH ITS ABOUT BABOU

120

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:04:04 UTC

"I wrapped myself in one of Mamous towels, It felt much warmer and softer than Sohrab's" I could use this for analysis

121, 122- 124

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:06:43 UTC

He doesn't want to have tea, his favorite thing, after being humiliated. Talks with dad a bit, they laugh a little, and dad mentions that he heard he made a friend and was proud. Darius agrees to tea eventually.

126, 166, 207

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:08:02 UTC

Mamou appriciataes the tea, and compares Darius to his dad, which he is shocked by. She calls them both sweet, which he also is in shock about. Sweet is used again.

127

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:09:06 UTC

"A little weight gain was a small price to pay for emotional stability"<- what his dad doesn't get because he thinks its a sign of failure. He thinks its an issue to be fixed, not a side effect of a solution

127

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:10:15 UTC

Didn't expect Sohrab to have an iphone.

128

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:11:20 UTC

Darius hates how petty he is.

128

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:12:28 UTC

Sohrab Defeats Taroof because of his fasting. Darius learns details about his fasting, like not even drinking water during the fasting

129

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:13:14 UTC

Nice bit of characterization, he wonders about whether he should be plahing soccer if he can't rehydrate, remembers hes supposed to be mad and doesn't care.

129, 130, 131

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:14:38 UTC

Sohrab apologizes and explains it was nice not having to be a target. Darius understands because hes been there and forgives him. Sohrab says hes different, and Darius has hope for them being friends again

132

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:17:57 UTC

Darius thinks his dad wishes he was more like him, beyond the depression just about his personality and how he functions. He thinks Laleh is the upgrade, his better version and the ideal child, which is all he sees from his father. He doesn't blame Laleh, which is interesting.
He wonders if he was an accident.

133

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:18:55 UTC

Babou does not like Stephen Kellner, for reasons Darius theorizes about. All interesting, come back to this for details later

134

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:21:44 UTC

Babou interrogates Stephen about eating the american way, is unimpressed. Stephen gets embarrassed, which is uncomfortable for Darius because yknow hes like perfect or whatever

135

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:22:22 UTC

Darius sucks at math, which he knows is a disapointment that he could never go into archetecture.

132

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:23:43 UTC

The thing about legos absolutely is rooted in his dad being an archetect.

136

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:24:15 UTC

Babou thinks his mom wanted him to just be american, not persian because Darius doesn't know much farsi

138

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:25:59 UTC

Lots of pictures because of Mamou, goes on about halloween. I think theres something here

140

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:27:03 UTC

Mom sometimes says Darius is her april fools day joke, he hates it

141

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:28:52 UTC

Babou says the tea Darius brought isn't Real Persian Tea (trademark) so he embarrassingly shows Darius how to make it.

143

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:29:26 UTC

Kellner gets embarrased about taking depression meds and getting called out by Babou too.

144, 145

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:31:08 UTC

Laleh gets in on the whole Star Trek tradition which makes Darius upset, the one time he gets with his dad is being taken by his sister "I sat with Stephen and Laleh Kellner as they watched star trek" is SO GOOD hes so alienated here

146, 147, 148

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:32:54 UTC

They all leave for Persepolis. Theres some good family dynamic stuff here if I need to come back to it

150

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:34:06 UTC

Babou drives like a madman.

151

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:36:33 UTC

Sohrab thinks Darius is a good brother, which hes not sure he agrees with

153

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:37:16 UTC

"Darius the great" OMG BOOK TITLE actually theres probably something here to analyze, that this is all taking place in "his" place

156

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:37:36 UTC

Doesn't know how to ask dad to explore with him

157, 158, 159

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:39:23 UTC

Darius gets to see Darius the great, feels inadequate and like a failure. Wonders why Babou (who hes mostly referred to as his full name, layer of distance) wanted to see this when yesterday he wasn't persian enough. Sohrab understands.

160, 161, 162

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:40:36 UTC

Babou gets lost. Not good. Stephen takes his place driving, asking for directions which he never does. Darius knows this means Babou will never get to drive it again.

162, 176

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:42:38 UTC

Darius doesn't know how to deal, so he makes some tea.

164

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:43:59 UTC

Darius feels like a failure for not being part of the same religion, and is angry because Laleh is implied to be a failure too. Hes mad for her, not himself. He wants to say hes still his grandson, but doesn't.

165, 166

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:44:31 UTC

Mamou says Babou is okay, but they know he isn't really. This is interesting considering the title.

vegaldieri26 — 2023-03-29 14:50:22 UTC

Its really interesting how Darius draws parallels between Babou and his father but Mamou keeps drawing parallels between Darius and his father.

167

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:35:37 UTC

For Nowruz, they get to act like a normal father and son

168

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:36:47 UTC

Felt very Persian eating flatbread and cheese

168

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:37:44 UTC

Laleh's watching Iranian soap operas with babou, darius kinda wants to join

169, 170

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:39:18 UTC

Persian Casual is a very specific cultural thing that he and his dad know and his mom insists isn't real

170

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:41:39 UTC

Almost felt handsome in his button up shirt for persian casual

170

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:42:44 UTC

Uncle points out his stomach and weight and medicine after nicely greeting him. He doesn't know what to do

171

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:43:45 UTC

Gets smile from aunt and uncle after greeting them properly. He feels humiliated and partronized

172

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:44:21 UTC

way too long description of Sohrab

172

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:45:23 UTC

Sohrab and his mom come to mamou and babous celebration, Amou Askhan go to the Baha'i celebration. No mention of Sohrab's dad? huh

173,174

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:48:34 UTC

He is uncomfrotable but has never felt surrounded by family like he does at this party. He loves being surrounded by it, by people that look like him and love him. Loves his grandmothers smile.

175

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:50:12 UTC

babou says something and suddenly that feeling is over and Babou is screaming at mamou. everyone is shocked and mamou is crying. the paradise is gone and darius hates that this can happen

176

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:51:25 UTC

Its because of the tumor, but Darius never knew him any differently, so its hard to believe Babou was ever any different

177

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:52:42 UTC

"I didn't know anything could make Sohrab blush. It made me like him more" ...

177

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-05 14:53:46 UTC

Zandayi Simin offers to answer any questions and Darius feels paralyzed by the possibilites

213

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:00:23 UTC

Info about Sohrab's school and social stuff

214

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:01:30 UTC

Gets weird about being asked about having a girlfriend, feels better when Sohrab says he doesn't have one either because of societal differences basically.

215

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:03:03 UTC

Info about Siedeh Bedar

216,217

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:04:54 UTC

Sohrab shows Darius a roof with beautiful mosques, this is the scene on the cover of the book

181, 216, 217, 222, 237

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:05:56 UTC

Sohrab keeps throwing his arm around Darius

218

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:07:09 UTC

Darius gets really concerned that he forgot deoderant, probably says something about how he feels about Sohrab

219

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:09:03 UTC

Sohrab basically knows Babou better than Darius does, reminices about a good time when Babou and Mamou came over and says he loves Darius's grandparents

219, 220

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:09:55 UTC

Babou always talks about his grandchildren which Darius is confused by. Darius gets teary and wishes he could've gotten that time with Babou

220

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:10:54 UTC

Darius feels very Persian inside the Mosque now. He feels the weight and sense of belonging in his heritage and feels the uniqueness of it

221, 222

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:12:48 UTC

Sohrab asks if Darius believes in God, he says no Sohrab says its fine but its really not. Sohrab asks who he turns to and Darius says thats what friends are for.

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:13:46 UTC

"two bros. sitting on a rooftop talking about religion."

223

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:19:10 UTC

Darius is making tea and asks for them to wait and his dad says no and starts it just with Laleh. Confirmation to him as being replaced

223

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:20:00 UTC

"Like whether anyone would miss me if I was dead" thats normal right? DAMN DUDE YOURE SUCIDICAL GET SOME HELP he doesnt even know its not normal because hes never been open enough with anyone about his mental health to know

224

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:23:19 UTC

Dad says Darius is being selfish by storming off after they started without him because his sister wanted to spend time with him and he hurt her feelings by storming off. Dad wont admit that Darius hurt his feelings not Laleh's by him abandoning startrek and just throwing Laleh in here.

225

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:25:06 UTC

"Did it ever occur to you that I might actually enjoy watching it with her? Darius is upset because this is him replacing Darius with Laleh and THEN tries to claim that Darius is being overly emotional huge turning point. Didn't say I love you that night which they've done every night after he stopped telling stories

225

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:26:14 UTC

Kellner doesn't like it when Darius shows feelings, gets upset or does anything that sets himself apart as his own person and not a copy of Kellner

226

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:28:31 UTC

Wishes mom would decide between his Iranian or American name because it makes him feel like he doesn't fit anywhere.

227

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:29:39 UTC

Darius hates how selfish he is AGAIN because he doesn't want to share with her, misses the version of her that would just fall asleep on his lap, but he can't stay mad at her

228

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:31:13 UTC

Laleh doesn't want to go and no one can convince her to go the rest of the way except Darius, who bribes her.

229

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:31:44 UTC

Babou says Darius is a good brother. First truly nice thing hes said to Darius

229

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:33:08 UTC

Babous grandfather was also named Darius. Both grandparents were buried at the tower

229, 230

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:34:17 UTC

Darius wonders if he was a tourist. He feels like a tourist, even when seeing his own heritage and culture.

230, 231

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:35:52 UTC

Darius is in awe of how connected they are to this place. Babou is worried about eventually none of their families would be left in Yazd. Darius understands his Grandfather here, how sad he is, and they get close to a hug

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:36:57 UTC

Grandfather is almost certainly depressed but can't talk about it because he didn't grow up in a time or culture that allowed that

232

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:40:20 UTC

Laleh has a crush on Sohrab lmao thats a parallel to Darius and also Darius is just like that checks out hes a great person to have a crush on compulsive heterosexuality is winning

233

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:42:25 UTC

Darius wonders about Sohrabs relationship and how he feels talking to different family members. Wishes Sohrab could be a kid again all the time.

234

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:45:31 UTC

Darius gets really jealous because Laleh is talking to Sohrab in Farsi and after he had gone out of his way to include her she excludes him from the conversation. Feels like this is the latest thing Laleh is taking from him after Star Trek

235

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:46:06 UTC

Sohrab goes out of his way to include Darius telling off Laleh for excluding Darius. Darius has never had anyone do that before not even his mom.

237

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:47:43 UTC

Sohrab tells Darius he is his best friend.

237

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:48:18 UTC

Darius is finally comfortable and used to Yazd

237

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:49:05 UTC

As he gets more comfortable in his culture he gets less close to his dad

238

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:49:50 UTC

Darius thinks Picard pulls of swimtrunks while Laleh makes fun of them. Difference between them and maybe gay implications

239

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:50:56 UTC

Relationship is getting a little better between Darius and his father. They said they loved each other

240

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:55:52 UTC

Laleh tells Sohrab about Star trek. Thats weird some relationship thing

240

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:56:23 UTC

Darius hates Sohrab seeing him takes pills hes super self concious about it its his biggest issue at this point

241

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:58:20 UTC

Darius feels comfortable around Sohrab and feels very persian in his Jersey. Very comfortable in this scene

241, 242

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 14:59:44 UTC

Darius is convinced to play football again by Sohrab, Sohrab says he should play it for his school which he actually considers.

242

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 15:04:11 UTC

Darius and Sohrab talk about Sohrab's dad. He used to visit him, but they transferred him to a prison in Tehran and he's in solitary confinement.

243, 244

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 15:04:46 UTC

Darius wonders if Father issues is just a fundemental part of being persian.

243

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 15:05:31 UTC

DARIUS puts HIS arm around Sohrab's shoulder, because Sohrab is hurting

Babou/Darius and Babous relationship

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 16:45:04 UTC

SOCIAL differences

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 16:47:19 UTC

LALEH AND DARIUS differences

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-12 16:47:38 UTC

245, 246

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:29:09 UTC

Darius is kind of overcome by the beauty of islamic archetecture

246-249

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:33:03 UTC

This time Sohrab and Darius play against the two bullies and defend the younger kids and even out the stakes. They reconvene and Darius and Sohrab gets to be captain of their team and Darius is shocked, and has a lot of fun

250

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:34:21 UTC

Sohrab gave up playing soccer regularly to see Darius

251

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:35:53 UTC

Darius feels like maybe hes opening up and doesn't have as many walls at least with Sohrab

252

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:37:03 UTC

Darius wants to buy Sohrab cleats because he wants to be a good friend

253

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:38:39 UTC

Loves mamou has a really nice interaction asks her about abba

247, 252

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:39:07 UTC

Darius isn't as awkward and gets through taroof easily

255

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:46:18 UTC

Grades are the one thing his dad is chill about.

257

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:49:04 UTC

Darius is really getting emotional about all hes missed and all he will miss because Babou isn't going to live much longer.

258, 259

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:51:21 UTC

261, 262

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-14 14:53:27 UTC

Stephen Kellner is getting criticized but hes found his place and does the right thing, dynamic change from earlier

262

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:14:36 UTC

Sohrab notices Darius is upset and tries to get him out of it

263

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:16:15 UTC

One of the guys bullying Sohrab has father issues

264

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:17:32 UTC

Sohrab says Darius is persian too, Darius feels very prideful and happy

265

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:18:51 UTC

gets a hug from mamou and hugs back, super happy

265

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:19:53 UTC

"But dad had found his place, and I had found mine. Even if they were further apart"

267

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:20:52 UTC

Darius thinks about how he'll miss Iran and wishes he was born there

268

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:24:36 UTC

Darius draws a comparison between Babou and his dad with how they think he should get a haircut

269

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:29:18 UTC

Darius feels like hes dressed like a tourist, Babou comments on how nice he looks and he feels a little better

270, 271

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:29:47 UTC

Babou stays in the car for the thing he was excited to show them because of the tumor. Darius gets really emotional inside with all the history and previous generations thats seen this, and that Babou will be gone soon too

272, 273

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:32:53 UTC

Darius assumes a photo of him and his dad is his dad and Laleh, his mom talks about how nice his dad and Darius's relationship was then

273

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:37:39 UTC

Darius apologizes to his mom because he feels responsible that he and his dad don't have that relationship anymore

276

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:41:31 UTC

Darius offers to make tea at the discomfort of seeing all of sohrabs family in despair

276, 277, 278

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:43:01 UTC

Sohrab is just angry at everyone about his dad dying and kind of yells at Darius and shoves him for bringing him shoes for football when his dad is dead. Calls Darius selfish

279

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:44:20 UTC

Sohrab tells him no one wants him here and that he has never had anything to be sad about confirming Darius's worst fears

280

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:48:22 UTC

Darius thinks hes selfish and hates himself again

281, 282

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:49:55 UTC

Darius mourns the friendship and wishes he could dissapear he is so spiraling

283

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:51:38 UTC

His dad tells Darius not to cry and Darius kinda blows up at him about everything he feels about their relationship

285

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:54:36 UTC

His dad talks about his issues with depression

284

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:57:08 UTC

His dad talks about how much he loves Darius and how he's scared to see him deal with depresssion

286

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:57:46 UTC

His dad blames himself that one of the major things that Darius got from him was his depression and is actually really upset about it

287

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-17 14:58:01 UTC

#representation

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 13:54:45 UTC

Its interesting all of his dads stuff about their medication with the context of him being put on that tranquilizer to stop his sucididal thoughts

289

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 13:57:31 UTC

Darius isn't sure how to do with this new development in his and his dads relationship and how much more time he's trying to spend with him but its nice

290

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 13:58:12 UTC

Understands his father

291

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 13:59:42 UTC

Babou tells him its not his fault and that hes a good friend to Sohrab

291

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:00:44 UTC

"Maybe I should've never tried being something I wasn't."

292, 293

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:01:11 UTC

Hes not feeling bad about going home anymore because of everything with Sohrab. Laleh doesn't want to go home which Darius attributes to her being more persian than him which is interesting

293

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:02:55 UTC

Darius thinks that Sohrab now has walls around him now, which is funny they've kinda switched places.

294

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:03:53 UTC

Interesting phrasing. Especially with him looking back at his dad. this would be really good evidence for gay themes

293, 294

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:04:25 UTC

Sohrab apologizes and now they aren't really sure what to do anymore

296

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:13:53 UTC

Sohrab is jealous because Darius really knows himself and doesn't try to pretend hes different which is the version Sohrab knows but Darius doesn't feel like. Sohrab says hes always trying to be what other people need.

297

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:15:37 UTC

Darius puts his arm over Sohrabs shoulder

298

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:16:11 UTC

....

298, 299

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:17:57 UTC

Darius and his dad trying to have a better relationship

300

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:19:48 UTC

Babou tells darius his dad needs him, and they have a nice moment

302

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:22:41 UTC

They sometimes watched star trek with laleh and without her, Darius isn't worried about it anymore

304

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:26:14 UTC

hes saying football/american soccer now instead of vice versa

305, 309

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:26:59 UTC

Darius realizes maybe Chip isn't so bad, Chip is nicer now

306

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:28:47 UTC

Coach tells him to try out for the soccer team in the fall, and doesn't want to because he wouldnt do that but Darius considers how in Iran he would've and does it

308

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:32:20 UTC

He wishes he could shower after P.E. now which he thought was weird entering Iran

309

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:33:23 UTC

Chip says maybe Darius brought back a little of Darius the Great with him

311

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:38:08 UTC

They have a new tradition

311

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:39:17 UTC

hes shocked his dad doesn't try and pressure into soccer

312

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-19 14:39:50 UTC

Darius is great lol

179

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-30 23:51:27 UTC

Laleh tells all her friends hwy shes been pulled out of school for Nurwuz that is spelled so wrong, Darius hides it

180

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-30 23:52:26 UTC

Sohrab gifts him a jersey for the iranian football team, and darius feels like a real persian in it.

181

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-30 23:53:35 UTC

Jersey gift makes Darius feels like he belongs.

182, 183

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-30 23:57:25 UTC

gets told he isn't persian like his sister for disliking a food, thinks that even at his most persian its still not enough

184

vegaldieri26 — 2023-04-30 23:59:04 UTC

Darius ca't believe his dad is hiding in the kitchen because he never hids from anything, gives family beenfit of the doubt but not darius

186

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 00:00:33 UTC

Darius hates it but hes jealous of the connection Sohrab has with his grandparents he lacks.

187

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 00:01:26 UTC

His dad is fitting in better than him

189, 190

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 01:01:27 UTC

Darius feels like he doesn't fit, but Sohrab says he's filled a missing spot in their family

192

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 01:29:28 UTC

Darius opens up to Sohrab about his mental health and Sohrab listens

195

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 01:31:06 UTC

His dad says and is accidentally overheard that he thinks Sohrab is Darius's first real friend and Darius hates that hes right and that Sohrab heard.

199

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 01:33:11 UTC

Darius apologizes about Babou to his mom, his mom tells him a story about Babou.

201

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 01:34:31 UTC

His mom apologizes for not teaching Farsi, for not making him apart of the culture because she wanted him to fit in in America, and tried later on which just helped Laleh.

202

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 01:35:11 UTC

Darius loves the idea of Babou

207

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-01 01:36:28 UTC

Darius is called sweet by sohrabs mom

my padlet

vegaldieri26 — 2023-05-08 16:04:04 UTC