Under the Udala Trees

The grammar school teacher sends the girls away to boarding school. He can only afford Obodoañuli (or, “Land of Joy”) Girls’ Academy, so Amina and Ijeoma are reunited on its large residential campus. Its student body is mostly Igbo with just a few Efik and Hausa girls.

After seeing Amina with another Hausa girl, Ijeoma tries to hug her, but Amina hurries away. Amina avoids Ijeoma until Ijeoma stops trying to approach her. Spurned by Amina, Ijeoma befriends her roommate Ugochi, an Igbo with dark skin and curves.

Ugochi keeps scarves and other “pretty” accessories that she only wears on dates with her “special man friends” (137). Unaware of Ijeoma’s lesbianism, Ugochi hopes she’ll also find a boyfriend someday.  

One day, the return of a happy, rumpled Ugochi interrupts Ijeoma’s early morning studying and musing on how Amina is avoiding her. Ijeoma reminds her of their history test, but Ugochi is unconcerned about schoolwork. She gets ready to shower, and Ijeoma looks away while her roommate changes.