How Beautiful We Were

Content Warning: This section of the novel includes discussion, but not description, of child sexual abuse.

The children start to lose faith in the Spirit. Pexton said that it was up to His Excellency, the country’s dictator, to release the prisoners, and although other countries tried to threaten His Excellency into releasing the prisoners by threatening to withhold loans, nothing ever came of it. Thula and seven boys take the bus to Lokunja for school, while their female peers stay home to learn domestic tasks. Two more children die. Some leave Kosawa, but others refuse to leave their land and instead fantasize about hurting Pexton. Woja Beki’s sons do not want to lead Kosawa, so for the first time, the position is not passed through bloodlines.

In 1988, Thula goes to America. Three months later, her friends get a letter from her about how cold and fast-paced New York City is. She tells them about the book The Wretched of the Earth and how her new knowledge can help Kosawa; her friends see her becoming less shy.

Meanwhile, the seven boys are searching for wives, and Kosawa is unchanging. The Restoration Movement advises villagers to become friendly with Pexton.