The Girl with the Louding Voice

Adunni cannot will herself to sleep. Too many painful thoughts occupy her mind. At dawn, she rouses herself at dawn and tells Kofi that she is going out. Adunni goes to visit Tia. They talk about the previous day and apologize to one another. Tia explains that Ken and his mother had a big fight. He asked his mother to leave their home. Afterward, Ken admitted to her that he is sterile and thus cannot get her pregnant. Tia breaks down in tears. Her mother’s condition has also worsened, and Tia will have to go to her soon. Tia explains that she will visit the offices of the scholarship program soon to check if Adunni’s application was successful. While Adunni is worried about how to break news of any potential success to Big Madam, Tia assures her that she will handle the matter. Tia also mentions that she read Adunni’s application essay and believes that Adunni is “the bravest girl in the world” (186). 

Adunni returns to the house to find Kofi asleep in the backyard. He tells her that Abu is still searching for her and that Big Madam may not return home for some time. As she completes her chores, Adunni feels happy. She talks to Kofi about how people like Big Madam and Kola are modern day slave traders. She outlines her desire to stop them and save people like herself. 

At midnight, Adunni listens to the rain while lying on her bed. Abu knocks on her door and gives her a piece of paper that he found in the car after Rebecca vanished. He begs her to take it and tell no one where she got it. Abu explains that he washed one of the cars the day after Rebecca went missing. One of the seats was wet and buried deep inside the seat belt buckle was the folded paper. Abu leaves in a panicked stated after telling Adunni to read the note. She unfurls the paper and discovers a short letter, stained with blood. The letter was written by Rebecca, who explains that she became pregnant with Big Daddy’s child. He often drugged Big Madam so that he could sneak away and have sex with Rebecca. On discovering that she was pregnant, Big Daddy promised Rebecca that he would marry her. One day, he told her he was taking to the doctor. The letter ends abruptly as Rebecca admits that her stomach hurts when they stop for food.

After finishing the letter, Adunni is left with many questions. She is so consumed by worry that she does not hear the door to her room open. She forgot to lock it again after Abu left. She knows Big Daddy is outside. Adunni hides under the bed and closes her eyes. He calls her name and sits on the bed. She cries and the sound alerts him to her presence. Big Daddy drags Adunni out from under the bed and tries to rape her. Remembering Tia’s words, Adunni fights and screams as he pins her down. Even though Big Daddy is much stronger than her, Adunni gains strength from the memory of her mother. She bites his hand and twists her body free. Adunni grabs hold of her mother’s heavy bible and hits Big Daddy across the head. His phone flies across the room, ringing and flashing brightly. As Big Daddy sneers at Adunni, Big Madam appears in the doorway. He runs away as Big Madam answers his ringing phone. She falls to her knees and lets out a pained howl. Adunni desperately wants to comfort Big Madam.  

The following events are a blur to Adunni. Big Madam finally stops crying and returns to the main house. After some time, Adunni follows her and finds Big Madam sprawled on a sofa in a messy parlor. She is in pain after being hurt by Big Daddy. With Rebecca’s letter in her hand, Adunni demands to see Big Daddy. Big Madam mumbles that she “could understand the other girls … but this time, he went too far” (194). Adunni fetches warm water and washes the blood from Big Madam’s mouth. When Big Madam falls asleep, Adunni returns to her room. 

The next day, Kofi comes to Adunni’s room. She tells him what happened and asks for any samples of Rebecca’s handwriting to prove that Big Daddy murdered her. Abu may have some old shopping lists, Kofi explains. He tells Adunni that Big Madam has requested her presence. Adunni goes to Big Madam who reveals that, the previous day, Tia asked to speak to her about Adunni’s future. The suggestion made Big Madam so angry that she left the hospital to find and beat Adunni. Instead, she found her husband attempting to rape a 14-year-old girl. Adunni is scared to talk about her relationship with Tia. She confesses that she would leave, if offered the opportunity, and accuses Big Madam of violence and slave-trading. When Big Madam worries what people will think of her when her husband is no longer at her side, Adunni thinks that “he wasn’t ever by your side” (196) and accidently says the words aloud. Enraged, Big Madam demands an explanation. Adunni no longer holds back. She tells Big Madam that she is a victim of Big Daddy, just like everyone else. Big Madam tells her to leave. 

That night, Adunni is woken up by a car horn sounding loudly. She finds Kofi who explains that Big Daddy is outside the gate. Big Madam has issued instructions that no one is to allow him into the compound. Kofi remarks that he has never experienced this before, pointing out a renewed steeliness in Big Madam’s eyes. He also hands Adunni an example of Rebecca’s handwriting, which matches the note. Kofi remembers that Big Daddy acted strangely around Rebecca. When he asked her about it, however, she was dismissive. Meanwhile, Big Daddy continues to blare the car horn from outside the compound. Big Madam shouts from the house, telling him to leave. She stays locked in her room for two days.

On the third day, Big Madam sends for Adunni. She explains to a friend on the telephone that Big Daddy will beg for her to take him back. Big Madam admits that she has been a “big fool” (199) for tolerating his behavior. She also discovered that he was having an affair with one of the women from the Wellington Road Wives Association. Adunni realizes that this affair, rather than the attempted rape, is what finally compelled Big Madam to turn against her husband. Big Madam ends the telephone call and demands a foot massage. As she massages Big Madam’s feet, Big Madam explains that she plans to have her husband arrested. She asks to see Rebecca’s letter. 

The next morning, Kofi tells Adunni that the results of the scholarship program will be announced soon. He also reveals that Big Daddy and two of his sisters are in the house. Big Madam enters the kitchen and treats Adunni in a kinder manner than usual. She explains that she is expecting a police officer and asks Adunni to prepare to bring the letter when asked.

Adunni waits until Kofi calls her. He invites her to secretly listen to the conversation between the policeman, Big Madam, and Big Daddy, who denies any involvement in Rebecca’s disappearance. The policeman seems reluctant to arrest anyone while Big Daddy begs his wife to cease her accusations. His sisters chime in to ask Big Madam to take her husband back. They claim that he has no money and no place to go. Big Madam agrees to send the policeman away but tells Big Daddy that he is no longer welcome in her house.

Horrified that the policeman is leaving, Adunni calls out in disbelief and alerts everyone to her presence. Kofi drags her away to the garden. She is upset that she could do nothing to help Rebecca, just as she could do nothing to help Khadija. Eventually, Kofi summons Adunni on behalf of Big Madam. Just as Adunni enters the house, she receives a text message from Tia stating that Adunni won the scholarship. Tia promises to collect her right away. 

Adunni finds Tia sitting with Big Madam in the house reception. Big Madam has agreed to allow Adunni to leave, but only on the condition that they can have a private conversation. Once they are alone, Big Madam demands Rebecca’s letter from Adunni who reluctantly hands it over. As Big Madam tears it to shreds, Adunni realizes that she may have been wrong. When Adunni demands the truth about Rebecca, Big Madam insists that Rebecca is not dead. She drove Rebecca away herself. The blood came from a drink given to Rebecca by Big Daddy which forced her to have a miscarriage. Big Madam says that she drove Rebecca to the hospital and then gave her money to go away forever. Adunni chooses to believe her.

Adunni collects her meager possessions and prepares to leave with Tia. Memories from her past come flooding back, and Adunni is overcome with emotion. She falls to the floor and weeps, crying for everyone in her life. She decides to take a coat hanger and scratch the names “Adunni” and “Rebecca” into the wall of her room.

Adunni runs to tell Kofi that she received her scholarship. He is delighted and promises to visit her. She thanks him for everything and tells him what happened to Rebecca’s letter. Adunni also runs to the library and thanks the books, including the dictionary and The Book of Nigerian Facts. As Tia and Adunni prepare to leave, Big Madam wishes them well. She tells Adunni to “face your life” (211). Adunni understands this to mean that she must tell no one about the letter. After Big Madam walks out of the room, Adunni promises to tell Tia everything, including the contents of the letter. Tia promises her own updates about her husband, their marriage, and their plans to adopt. As Adunni looks forward to the future and the education she will receive, she feels free at last.