Summary
Chapter 4 opens with the back story of Ali, who was orphaned and welcomed into the home of Amir's grandfather, a respected judge. Ali and Baba grew up as playmates. Yet Amir comments that Baba never refers to Ali as his friend. Amir rationalizes this due to the history of the region, their religions, and their culture.
Amir describes his relationship with Hassan and the role each played in the daily workings of their lives. Education, and the lack thereof, is a major difference between the two boys. Amir tries to use his literacy to prove his superiority to Hassan, yet Hassan can solve the riddles Amir quizzes him with, so Amir stops sharing them. Likewise, if Hassan wouldn't know a word, Amir would tell him an incorrect definition. Amir would later placate his own guilt by giving Hassan an old shirt or broken toy.
Hassan's favorite book is the Shahnamah, and his favorite story is "Rostam and Sohrab," the story of a father who knowingly kills a man who is unknowingly his son. Stories about heroes and what it means to be one are another important motif in The Kite Runner. Amir uses the stories in the Shahnamah to compare and contrast the story of Amir and Hassan. And Amir is not nearly as admirable as Hassan is.
One time, when Amir is reading to Hassan, Amir decides to deviate from the written text, believing he is tricking Hassan; however, Hassan is delighted by the story that Amir tells. Amir writes his first short story, attempts to share it with his father but instead receives encouragement from Rahim Khan. After receiving the note of encouragement, Amir wakes up Hassan and shares his story with him. Hassan loves the story but also points out "the Plot Hole" that Amir had missed. Just as Amir is attempting to answer, "Afghanistan changed forever."