Efuru

Gilbert meets an old friend, Sunday Eneke, and they reminisce about their days in school. Sunday has since joined the army and is back on leave for the first time. They talk about how Gilbert used to tease Sunday’s younger sister, Nkoyeni, and call her his wife.

Sunday asks Gilbert if he has children, and Gilbert reveals that he has a son, though it is not his wife’s child. Gilbert says that he is afraid to tell his wife and his mother about it, though he must.

Nkoyeni comes out and greets Gilbert, saying that she remembers him from when they were young. When she leaves, Gilbert asks Sunday why he is sending her to school when it all ends “in the kitchen” (Chapter 13, Location 3586). Sunday defends the idea, saying that an educated woman can earn money as a teacher and that if women are forced to quit school in order to marry, it is the men’s fault.

Omirima comes to visit Amede. She complains to Amede about her daughter-in-law, who went to school and acts like a white woman. The daughter-in-law does not wake up when the cock crows like the rest of the women do, but only when the sun has risen.