Chapter 6 Summary

Laye is very young when he first starts attending the Koran school. Shortly thereafter he transfers to the French school. Every school day, as soon as they finish breakfast, Laye and his sister start out for school carrying their books and notebooks with them. Laye participates in the childish games of pulling girls' hair until one day a friend named Fanta asks him why he always pulls her hair. He says he pulls it because she's a girl. She reminds him that she doesn't pull his hair. After this conversation he feels foolish about pulling her hair and doesn't do it anymore. Laye's sister notices that he's feeling awkward around Fanta and makes fun of him for it.

The schoolteacher is more than strict; he beats the students and abuses them for the slightest infraction. The children wouldn't think of interrupting him. If...