The moment Colin sat down, Hollis asked Hassan, Would you like to say grace? Sure thing. Hassan cleared his throat. Bismallah. Then he picked up his fork. That's it? Hollis wondered. That's it. We are a terse people. Terse, and also hungry.

Summary

This quote humorously highlights the brief and direct nature of Hassan's grace before a meal. Despite the simplicity of his words ("Bismallah," meaning "In the name of Allah"), Hollis finds it amusingly short. The quote implies that Hassan's cultural background contributes to this terse manner of speaking, perhaps indicating that he belongs to a community that values brevity over elaborate expressions. The line also suggests that the characters, including Hassan, are eager to eat as they humorously emphasize their hunger.

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