During this time, Adah's husband, Francis, chooses not to work, insisting that it would hinder his studies. Instead, he takes care of their children, Titi and Vicky, while Adah is at the library. However, one day he questions her about who will take care of "your children" when he is no longer available. Adah realizes that this concern comes from their childless landlord and landlady’s disapproval of keeping their children with them rather than finding a white foster mother.
In England, Nigerian children have both a biological mother and a social mother. Many foreign mothers in Adah’s situation look for a foster mother. However, Adah does not want to pursue this option.
Other people have always made decisions for Francis. In Nigeria, his parents made the decisions; now, Adah suspects, he is allowing their neighbours to fill the decision-making gap his parents left.
The neighbours gossip about Adah, accusing her of being too proud to follow the trend of fostering her children as many Nigerian families do.
Adah befriends a white woman named Janet, whose husband is Mr Babalola, one of their Nigerian neighbours. Janet suggests that she hire a "daily minder" for her children.
Adah struggles to find someone suitable, while Francis, having failed his recent exams, blames Adah and the children for his lack of success instead of acknowledging the fact that he skips classes and sleeps late.
Eventually, Mr. Babalola introduces Adah to Trudy, a mother of two who agrees to look after Titi and Vicky. Francis begins dropping the kids off at Trudy’s in the mornings and picking them up in the evenings. He regularly tells Adah how good Trudy is.
However, after a few weeks, Adah becomes concerned when Titi stops speaking. She decides to pay an unannounced visit to Trudy.
Upon arrival, Adah is horrified to find Titi attempting to wash her face with water from a leaking toilet in the filthy backyard while Vicky, without a nappy, is playing in the rubbish bin. Adah also sees Trudy flirting with a visitor instead of supervising the children. Trudy attempts to justify her actions by claiming that Titi doesn’t talk much and that Vicky constantly wets himself.
Ignoring Trudy's excuses, Adah swiftly takes her children to the nearest child welfare officer, Miss Stirling, to report Trudy. Trudy follows them and makes up excuses. She claims that she would never have allowed Titi and Vicky into the backyard if an unwanted visitor had not distracted her. She claims also, to be a registered daily minder with high standards.
Adah is shocked to learn, contrary to her childhood beliefs, that white people can lie. Trudy promises to improve, but when Adah informs Francis about the incident, he dismisses her concerns.
Adah later discovers why Titi does not talk much. Francis had demanded that she speak only English as she is mostly used to speaking Yoruba. Realising Titi’s difficulties, Adah presses Miss Stirling to find nursery spots for her children, but there are none, so Adah keeps sending them to Trudy’s. Then, something terrible happens to Vicky.
Why does Francis refuse to work while Adah is employed at the Finchley Central Library? A. He believes it would interfere with his studies B. He is unwell and unable to work C. He thinks it is Adah’s responsibility to earn money D. He does not want to take care of the children.
How does Adah first hear about Trudy? A. Janet suggests Trudy as a daily minder B. The landlord recommends Trudy C. Mr Babalola introduces Trudy to Adah D. Adah finds Trudy through a child welfare officer
What causes Titi to stop speaking A. Trudy punisher her for speaking Yoruba B. Francis insists she must speak only English C. She becomes traumatised from Trudy’s neglect D. She is scared of her surroundings
Why does Adah refuse to follow the trend of fostering her children to white foster mothers? A. She cannot afford it B. She does not trust white foster mothers C. She fears they will lose their cultural identity D. She wants to care for her children herself.
Why do the landlord and lady disapprove of Adah and Francis keeping their children at home? A. They believe children should be sent to school early B. They are jealous because of their childlessness C. They dislike Nigerian families D. They want to foster the children
ANSWER: 1. A 2. C 3. B 4. D 5. B
What reactions do the neighbours and the landlord have to Adah’s refusal to foster her children? How does this reflect societal expectations of Nigerian immigrant families?
Using illustrations from this chapter, describe Francis as a husband and father.
