Summary

In Chapter 7, Gabriel describes the French school that he attends in Bujumbura. His school has begun a new pen pal program with students in Orléans, France. Gabriel’s letter is from a girl named Laure. In it, she tells him about her hobbies and notes that the family has sent Gabriel some rice. In his response to Laure, Gabriel describes his family, his appearance, and his relationships to school and with his friends. He says that he wants to become a mechanic when he grows up “so nothing ever stays broken in my life” (38). At the end of his letter he mentions that there will be elections in Burundi soon, for the first time, and that he will check on the rice.

In Chapter 8, Gabriel wakes up early to go with Innocent and Donatien to travel to Cibitoke in search of Gabriel...