The Kite Runner: Chapter 6 Summary
Chapter 6 is divided into four shorter sections. The first section mentions the winter and how the schools shut down during the icy season. And it mentions the flying and running of kites. Kites, according to Amir, are the only things that connect him to his father.

The next section describes the kite-fighting tournaments. Kites are flown, and their strings, coated with glass, enable flyers to be victorious in their fights. Hassan and Amir are better kite fighters than kite makers, and Baba always purchases identical kites for both Amir and Hassan. The assistant to the kite fighter, Hassan to Amir, holds the spool and feeds the line, and chases the kites that have been cut down — hence the name, the kite runner. The last fallen kite of the tournament is the most coveted prize. Hassan is the greatest kite runner. One time, while waiting for a kite to land, Amir turns a simple little comment made by Hassan, "I'd sooner eat dirt" into a challenge of the hierarchy and nature of their relationship. Hassan not only answers but also is able to challenge Amir's integrity with his own reply, questioning if Amir would ever ask such a thing. At the end of this episode — in an aside — Amir questions the existence of God.

The third section of this chapter mentions the winter of 1975 as Amir reveals this is the last time he sees Hassan run a kite. Four days prior to the start of the tournament, Baba hints that Amir might win the tournament this year. Amir is determined not to fail Baba.

In the final section, historical information about most Iranians being Shi'a Muslims is revealed during the night before the tournament. Later, Baba comments about the jealousy many Afghanis have when people assert that Iran is becoming a world power and Afghanistan is remaining a two-bit player in the world market, claiming he would rather be hurt by the truth than find comfort in a lie. The section closes with Hassan stating he likes where he lives because "it's my home."