Chapter 10 Summary

Laye returns to Conakry in October to find that, true to his Uncle Mamadou's words, his school has been entirely reorganized. The instruction is now excellent in both technical and general subjects. He no longer envies any other students in the country. Laye works hard and finds his name on the honor roll every term.

This is the year that Laye meets Marie. Nothing in his school years means more to Laye than his friendship with Marie. Marie is a student at the girls' high school. Her father is a good friend of Uncle Mamadou's, so Marie spends her Sundays at Laye's uncle's house. Marie's skin is very light and Laye thinks she is as beautiful as a fairy. Laye's aunts tease him and Marie about each other and try to get them to be more intimate, but Marie and Laye are both...