Summary

Ben likens hope to a tadpole. He recalls catching tadpoles with his brothers, taking them home and hoping they would live and evolve, only to find they died time and time again. Ben hoped his brothers would always be there for him and they were not. Father hoped his sons would grow up to do great things, but they did not. Ben said his hope to go to Canada also died.

The New Year brought new hope to Ben. Mr. Bayo would be coming soon to take him and Obembe to Canada. Ben noted that his father still referred to him and Obembe as fishermen. Mother and Father began to recover from their family's tragedies. The only one who did not seem more positive was Obembe. The idea of being able to ride bikes through town was big like an elephant or...