The Girl with the Louding Voice

The compound is busy as the party guests arrive. Kofi enlists Adunni to serve the food, giving her a tray and telling her not to talk to anyone. Adunni serves the glamorous guests as Big Madam complains about her servants. One woman asks for Adunni’s name and praises Rebecca as Big Madam’s “best house girl ever” (113). As the guests ask Big Madam about Rebecca, Big Madam changes the subject. Although most of the women mock Adunni’s manner of speech, one guest named Tia comes to her defense. Big Madam tells Adunni to serve the food and leave while the guests discuss politics, gossip, and shopping. Adunni serves food to Tia, who thanks her. Shocked by this simple expression of gratitude, Adunni drops the tray. Big Madam hits Adunni hard on the head with her shoe and knocks Adunni unconscious. 

Adunni wakes up in the backyard as Tia applies a wet cloth to her bleeding head. Tia reveals that she too lives on Wellington Street. Her husband recommended that she socialize with their neighbors, but she does not like the women at the party, including Big Madam. Tia was born in Nigeria but spent many years in Great Britain. She returned to Nigeria to work for an environmental consultancy agency. Her husband Kenneth is a doctor who helps women with fertility issues. Tia, however, does not want children of her own. Adunni is surprised that a woman would not want to be a mother. When she asks why, Tia ends the conversation and leaves. Adunni worries that she offended Tia. 

The next day, Big Madam summons Adunni. She claims that Adunni was lucky Tia was at the party. Had she not been there, Big Madam admits that she may have beaten Adunni to death. Big Madam is not concerned about Tia’s threat to report the violence to the police, as she does not believe that any policeman would dare arrest her. Big Madam also reveals that she plans to travel abroad for business and to visit her children, adding that Adunni must behave while she is gone, especially if Big Daddy is around. Adunni tries to ask about Rebecca, but Big Madam becomes angry. Later, Adunni asks the driver Abu about Rebecca but he seems unwilling to answer.

The day after Big Madam leaves on her trip, Tia visits the house and apologizes to Adunni for her abrupt departure. Tia admits that Adunni’s questions about motherhood "dug up something" (124) inside of her. Adunni decides to tell Tia about her scholarship application. She begs Tia to be her guarantor, and while Tia is afraid that Big Madam will be angry, eventually she agrees. Tia also offers to help Adunni with her English. Adunni is shocked and moved by Tia’s offer. 

As Tia helps Adunni improve her English, Adunni is amazed by Tia’s internet-connected smartphone. They look through Facebook and at the photographs of Tia’s wedding. Adunni does not quite understand Tia’s complaints about racism in the Western world.

Adunni describes English as “a language of confusions” (130). Meanwhile, Tia enjoys her role as teacher, even though Adunni struggles with the specifics of the language. Sometimes, they simply enjoy long conversations. Adunni tells Tia about her past but leaves out some of the more difficult details, such as the nights with Morufu or Khadija’s death. Tia provides details about her own life, including that her mother was very demanding. Tia also says that she is now interested in having children. Her overbearing mother and her worries about the environment made Tia not want to have children, but her stance has softened recently. Her mother is now terminally ill, and her first conversation with Adunni revealed to Tia that she could be a good parent. Although her husband is still unsure about children, he agreed to try.

One night, as Adunni works through English exercises in her room, she hears a noise outside her door and finds Big Daddy in the hallway. He talks to her even though she is reluctant to engage in conversation. When Big Daddy offers Adunni money in exchange for sex, she declines. Big Daddy advances toward her, but Kofi interrupts their conversation. Big Daddy makes excuses and leaves the servants’ quarters. 

After the nighttime visit from Big Daddy, Adunni struggles to sleep. Each night she lays awake clutching Rebecca’s beads, her mother’s bible, or the English exercise book. She also tells Tia about the incident with Big Daddy. Meanwhile, Big Madam will arrive home soon so the lessons will have to stop, but Tia begins to devise ways they can continue to meet. Tia asks whether she should mention Big Daddy’s behavior to Big Madam. Terrified by this prospect, Adunni says no but agrees to ask for a lock for her door. They return to the lesson but have to stop when Tia feels dizzy. She jokes about being pregnant, and Adunni assures her that this will happen soon. 

When Big Madam returns from her trip, her mood is good, and she compliments the cleanliness of the house. Kayla, Big Madam’s daughter, is engaged to the son of a well-respected senator. People phone Big Madam to congratulate her on the news. Adunni hesitantly asks Big Madam for a lock on her door, explaining that she wants to be protected “from the rat” (138). Suspicious about her husband’s behavior, Big Madam agrees to Adunni’s request.

Later, when Adunni arrives to massage Big Madam’s head, she overhears an argument between Big Madam and Big Daddy. Big Madam accuses Big Daddy of making sexual advances toward Adunni. She says that her husband has disgraced himself, listing his numerous affairs. Adunni overhears Big Madam crying, asking why her husband will not love her instead. She still loves her husband, even if he no longer loves her. His children resent the way he treats their mother, she reveals. Big Daddy beats Big Madam and Adunni runs away, worried that she is the cause of the violence.