How Beautiful We Were

The children imagine future songs about the day they defeated the soldiers. The fathers convinced Woja Beki to lie by threatening his family. As the children walk to school, they pass Jakani and Sakani’s hut, which they’ve been instructed never to look at. One twin was born with his right eye shut and the other his left. When Jakani started to hear voices and Sakani began to fix his playmates’ wounds, people knew they were special. They’ve always lived together, and rumors circulate about what they do in their hut; however, the children suspect they are more like mother and child than lovers. The children believe that Sakani gave their fathers a pre-battle potion and Jakani had the Spirit imbue them with fearlessness.

In class, the children know Teacher Penda is lying as he tells them how smart government officials are. Teacher Penda has taught the children some English. One time, a child yelled “hello, man” to a Pexton overseer; to the other kids’ surprise, the American man responded kindly. This only made the children more confused about the humanity of Pexton non-local employees: “How could they be happy when we were dying for their sake? Why wouldn’t they ask their friends at Pexton to stop killing us? Was it possible they knew nothing of our plight?” (72).