Summary

As the children, Mrs. Bankole, and the man who has arranged their false passports enter the departure terminal, he pats the children on the head and says their names loudly in his goodbye. He leaves and they proceed to the luggage security checkpoint where Mrs. Bankole must bribe the security officer to avoid having to take all of her belongings out of the suitcase. Femi begins to become agitated by having to take his bag off, “behaving like he did when he was overtired and no one could reason with him” (34). An American man begins to talk to the group about how amazing he has found his recent journey to Nigeria, wondering why Femi does not seem excited to go on an airplane.

The children excuse themselves to go look at a nearby gift kiosk. Sade sees a souvenir that reminds her of...