Get to know Hedieh better.

Horiya comes over with a mug of coffee for you and her. She can detect the music pouring from Hedieh's headphones and lightly scolds her.

"You should turn the music off when someone is speaking to you, Hedieh. What sort of manners did I teach you?" Hedieh closes her eyes, probably so Horiya can't see them rolling.

"Horiya, they're just around my neck, I can hear everything."

"You know, that music makes you so grumpy, you're isolating yourself that way."

"That's not why I'm isolated..." Hedieh trails off as Horiya cuts her a stern glance, before turning to you and softening up again.

"My step-daughter is studying hard for entrance exams. Sometimes we all get a little wound up. I mean, you would certainly know, Mr. College Graduate."

"Oh, yeah," you reply, "I know all about the grind. Maybe she could use some relaxation, get her mind honed back up?" Hedieh looks hopeful at your suggestion, before Horiya puts it down.

"What Hedieh needs right now is discipline. It's a value we're starting to lose nowadays. That's why we took her out of school here the last couple of years, all this, you know, soft schooling, try your best, it's just not good enough for her. I've heard from some people that they barely teach at that school anymore, just lollygag the day away with games. They say that's educational? My Hedieh needs better than that." She's really going into Mom Mode over here, but a cellular ringtone cuts her off. She hurries over to her purse on the counter and excuses herself. You turn back to Hedieh.

"Don't mind me saying, I think your parents are a bit high-strung."

"Yeah, tell me about it. I hate this homeschooling shit. I barely get to leave the house, so I've got no friends. The only way I'm getting out of this is going to a college far away from here." So she calls her stepmother by her name, feels cut off from her peers, and wants freedom from her disciplined life. There's only one element missing here. She's about to put on her headphones again when you stop her.

"What are you listening to?"

"Slayer," she drolly intones. A shut-in daughter with religious parents listening to heavy music and trying to escape. This will be an inspirational biography someday. You know, as soon as you're done with her.

"That's pretty hard shit, that's cool. Why do you like it?"

"Cos my parents hate it." She cracks a grin.