Chapter 12 Summary

Before leaving Conakry upon successfully completing his exams, the director of the school asks Laye if he would like to go to France to finish his studies. Without thinking about his parents Laye answers yes, but as he returns to Kouroussa to celebrate his school successes he begins to worry about how his mother will react to such news. His relatives in Conakry have told him that he should not turn down such a unique opportunity, but now he's not sure how his parents will react.

When he tells his mother that the director wants him to go to France her face falls and she tells him that he's not going. Laye's father is more supportive, and he tries to convince her that a year is not that long. Laye's mother feels that there has been a conspiracy to keep her son away...