Chapter 14 - The Language of Calligraphy and Patience

Shizuka offers to teach Adnan calligraphy. The first lesson takes place at home, sitting on the floor. The preparation of the ink, the way the brush is held, everything is ritualistic. Adnan has a hard time at first. The letters come out crooked. "Calmness," Shizuka says, "is the soul of the letter." In the process, Adnan begins to understand the patience, respect, and inner discipline that underlie Japanese culture. Shizuka's voice, the feedback she patiently gives, begins to penetrate his heart.