She asks Francis to take the children to Trudy’s for her and Francis begrudgingly agrees. Vicky fusss as Adah leaves. Titi. who has learned that her suffering changes nothing, and doesn't fuss. Adah comforts Vicky and leaves.
Because nearly all of Adah’s salary goes to rent, childcare and Francis’s education, she eats a boiled egg for lunch – or nothing. This day, she goes for a walk on her lunch break to keep her coworkers from her stomach rumble.
Walking around, She looks around and dreams that should Francis qualify as an accountant and she a librarian, Francis would take her to one of the expensive restaurants. She knows however that Francis wouldn't take her to one even if they had money because he has internalised that “such places were not for blacks”. Yet, if Adah had the money, she would go and demand to be served.
When Adah returns to the library, a coworker is searching for her. Her maternal sense of caution warns her that it is about her children. She is informed of Vicky’s sudden ailment. Mrs Konrad, Adah’s boss at work, drives her to Trudy where an ambulance is waiting outside. Inside, Trudy is wiping Vicky’s face with a “rag as filthy as an old mophead” (p. 64).
The ambulance takes the ailing child to the Royal Free Hospital. Adah is sceptical that the “free” hospital might be for “second-class people” and that they are taking Vicky there for racist reasons.
While at the hospital, she thinks she should tell Francis but she does not know where he is. He has stopped attending classes and is instead studying alone.
Later, the doctors tell Adah that Vicky must be kept “for observation” until the test results return. Adah falls asleep on a hospital bench. When she wakes, she sees the nurse who asks her whether Vicky is an only child. Adah says no, but her other child is “only a girl.” When the nurse objects that girls are equally valuable. Adah wonders how she could explain that she knows girls are equally valuable but in her culture and her tribe, her status depends on producing male children.
Later, Francis arrives and cries with Adah rather than comforting her “like a man.” After three days, the hospital discovers that Vicky has “virus meningitis” Adah learns that the boy’s chances of “surviving are very slim” (p. 69) and that the disease can contracted by ingesting the virus.
She believes that Vicky had contracted the virus at Trudy’s. She forcefully tells Francis that she is going to confront Trudy. When Francis expresses shock at her tone, Adah snaps back that she knows Francis is having an affair with Trudy and that they both spend her money. She says that if anything bad happens to Vicky, she will kill both him and Trudy.
Francis, shocked by Adah’s fierceness, thinks that it is culturally normal in Nigeria for husbands to have sex with women other than their wives. Somebody had once told him that it was a mistake to bring a woman from Africa to England. He blames the UK for teaching women “their rights”
At Trudy’s, Adah has just brought up meningitis when Trudy interrupts, suggesting Vicky was infected by drinking water in Nigeria. Adah is baffled, thinking how Vicky was born in “the best hospital” under the best gynaecologist in Nigeria. Then Titi walks in, very dirty, from Trudy’s backyard. Adah snaps and tries to hit Trudy.
A passing neighbour grabs Adah and tries to soothe her. Adah tells her: “I am going to kill you. Do you hear that? I am going to kill you if anything happens to my child. I shall sneak in here and kill you in your sleep.” (p. 72).
While the quarrel lasts, Miss Stirling, the children’s officer who could discipline Trudy for her carelessness is neutral in the typical English manner. When Miss Stirling speaks, it is to announce that “we’ve got nursery places for the children” (p. 73).
Adah realises that she has been lied to again: “Second-class citizens could keep their children with them,” but at a terrible cost. Trudy loses her childcare license and moves neighbourhoods.
Why does Adah distrust the Royal Free Hospital? A. She believes that they provide subpar care to black patients. B. She fears the doctors do not know how to treat meningitis. C. She has heard negative stories about the hospital from others D. She does not trust any free services in England.
How does Francis react when Adah accuses him of having an affair with Trudy? A He admits to the affair and apologises B. He is shocked and speechless C. He denies the accusation aggressively D. He laughs and dismisses Adah’s concerns
Why is Adah baffled by Trudy’s claim that Vicky contracted meningitis from Nigeria? A. Vicky has never been to Nigeria B. The doctors confirmed the illness was from Trudy’s neglect C. The water in Nigeria was never a problem for her family D. Vicky was born in a prestigious hospital in Nigeria
What happens After Adah’s confrontation with Trudy? A. Trudy apologises and promises to improve B. Miss Stirling takes the children to a nursery C. Trudy loses her childcare license and moves away D. Trudy apologises and promises to improve.
ANSWERS: 1. A 2. B 3. D 4. C
Discuss how Adah’s experiences in this chapter highlight the challenges faced by immigrants in England.
Discuss how gender inequality and cultural expectations shape Adah’s and Francis’s actions in this chapter.
