Half of a Yellow Sun Page #3

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- My father's crops failed, sah.

Why didn't your father find someone

to lend him your school fees?

Sah?

I will enrol you

in the staff primary school.

Yes, sah. Thanks, sah.

I suppose you'll be the oldest,

starting standard three at your age.

But the only way to get their respect

is to be the best. Understand me?

Yes, sah.

- What's your name again?

- Ugwu, sah.

Ugwu...

Yes. Call me Odenigbo.

Sah?

My name is not "Sah".

Call me Odenigbo.

It's quite tasteless.

Which is better than bad-tasting,

of course.

I'll show you how

to cook rice properly, Ugwu,

without using so much oil.

- Ugwu told me he could cook rice.

- He can't.

My God.

Quick, drink coke.

You should eat first.

Ugwu is making a stew.

I know what I want to eat.

So, what happened here?

Your older books are

in the second bedroom.

I needed the space for my books.

- Why can't they go to your flat?

- Because I want them here.

You've really moved in, haven't you?

We have visitors, sah.

- Can't they leave?

- Odenigbo!

- I can't wait for them to meet you.

- Is she here? Come out, now!

Stay just a little longer.

Ugwu, go and fetch your master.

Tell him to come out now.

My friends. This, finally, is Olanna.

How are you?

You must be Lara Adebayo.

Faculty of Medicine?

Yes. He did not tell us

you were illogically beautiful.

- I will take that as a compliment.

- And what a proper English accent.

I'm Okeoma. I thought Odenigbo's

girlfriend was a human being.

- He didn't tell us you a water mermaid.

- Thank you.

- Victor Patel. Nice to see you finally.

- Olanna.

- And what's your discipline?

- Sociology.

Voodoo science! You should've

studied one of the proper sciences.

Didn't the great thinker Hegel

call Africa a land of childhood?

Nobody can take Hegel seriously.

Have you read him closely?

He's funny, he's very funny.

You are the one that is Ugwu.

How are you?

I'm fine, Mama.

Did your journey go well?

Yes. God led us.

- How are you?

- I'm well, Mama.

My son has told me

how well you're doing.

- When will my son be back?

- They will return in the evening.

They said you should rest, Mama,

when you come.

I'm cooking rice and chicken.

Rest?

I have brought ingredients

to make proper soup for my son.

I know you try,

but you are only a boy.

What does a boy know

about real cooking?

Is that not so, Amala?

Does a boy belong in the kitchen?

Mama, no.

You see, Ugwu?

A boy does not belong in the kitchen.

Yes, Mama.

Eh? My son wastes money

on these expensive things.

- Do you not see, Amala?

- Yes, Mama.

Those belong to my madam, Mama.

She brought many things from Lagos.

- Amala, come and make the cocoyams.

- Yes, Mama.

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