Summary

In Chapter 40, Abeo bathes herself with a bucket, just as she did in Ukemby, despite Serafine’s protests. One night, Serafine walks in on Abeo while she is bathing and sees her scars. McFadden writes, “There were marks everywhere--behind her thighs, on the tops of her feet, on her arms, across her shoulders” (213). Serafine also notices her daughter’s stretch marks. Abeo tells Serafine about Pra and his death. Serafine has finally realized the brutality her daughter endured. McFadden writes, “Truth be told, she had believed that trokosi was akin to indentured servitude and not at all like the slavery that black Americans wailed on an on about. But now she saw that it was indeed the same -- the evidence was stamped all across Abeo’s body like footprints in sod” (212).

In Chapter 41, Serafine still struggles to deal the guilt she feels...