The Famished Road

The rainy season continues unabated. On his way home from school, Azaro is caught in a terrible thunderstorm with strong winds that knock him off his feet. He takes refuge on the porch of a blind old man, who seems to take control of his consciousness for a time. He breaks free and runs home to find Mum bailing water out of their rooms. She informs Azaro that Dad is “training to be a boxer” (315) and sends him to get some ogogoro (local whisky) for his father. While on the errand, he is taunted by what he thinks are spirits, and they start throwing rocks at each other. Azaro accidentally breaks the old man’s window. When he returns home, the old man comes to the house to demand reparations for the window. But Azaro denies that he was the culprit; he claims it was the spirits’ fault. He is physically punished and goes to bed in tears; however, in the morning, he feels fine.

The next day, Dad brings the carpenter and materials to fix the window. Mum is still angry at Azaro, and his parents decide to send him to bed without supper.