“Booking the Plane” is a short story by Massud Farzan, an Iranian author. Farzan is an accomplished poet, critic and short story writer who currently works as an English teacher in Belgium. In this story, he discusses the challenges that the main character of his story, Morad, faced in his home country and the conflict between his parents due to poverty. Farzan also used this medium to highlight the cross-cultural disparity between Iranian and Western culture. Morad, after many years of living in the United States, decides to return to his home country, Iran. As a noble, middle-class American, impressing people was not his top priority, but rather the joy of seeing his long-seen family. When he arrived in Iran, he was disappointed to hear the taxi driver ask him for a tip. This is because he looked more American than Iranian, both in his accent and in his clothing. Therefore, the taxi driver stereotyping him as a foreigner meant that more money was expected from him than usual. Morad lives on 23rd rue Tristesse. The name alone describes the constant emotion of the surroundings and its occupants. Morad's family is not rich. In his house, there was no furniture and the floors were covered with traditional rugs. The toilet was just a simple dug pit with no seat. However, Morad's mother appeared to be a devout Muslim as he related that his mother's prayer was spread on the ground. She was very religious. Meanwhile, his father is considered a dreamer because he always likes to think and meditate without being disturbed, especially when sitting in the toilet. His father also likes to be creative and inventive in his thoughts. His father's failed inventions made his mother believe that watch... middle of paper... together. As he sat on the pit, Morad thought about “stringing the beans together in peace and harmony” (24). A long-standing quarrel or conflict has finally been resolved. He can now book a plane to return to the United States and get his shoes shined. Like any emigrant who plans to return home, a lot is expected of us from our families. For example, we are expected to look better than before we left, whether physically or financially. We can conclude that this story brings sadness because there is a strong bond of unity between Morad and his family. At one point, both family members felt disappointed because so much was expected of each of them. Therefore, when we care a lot about what society has to say, we neglect the small efforts and sacrifices that each family member makes to make our home a happy and peaceful place..