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FOR THE LIFE OF LAETITIA
ABOUT MERLE HODGE
- Merle Hodge is a Trinidadian novelist who was born in 1944.
- She received both her elementary and high school education in Trinidad.
- She attended the University College, London.
- more ...
SETTING
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THEME
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MAIN SUMMARY
The novel is literally about the life of Laetitia, the protagonist, over two terms of high school. The reader sees her leaving the comfort of her maternal home to live with a father that she does not know. This is to facilitate her smooth (www.bulbsoup.com) transition to the La Puerta High School. The novel charts her growth and development through the rocky relationship that she has with her father, as well as the issues that come with forming and maintaining friendships at her new school. The novel ends on a hopeful note that Laetitia, with the support of her family, will weather any further storms that she encounters.
The novel is literally about the life of Laetitia, the protagonist, over two terms of high school. The reader sees her leaving the comfort of her maternal home to live with a father that she does not know. This is to facilitate her smooth (www.bulbsoup.com) transition to the La Puerta High School. The novel charts her growth and development through the rocky relationship that she has with her father, as well as the issues that come with forming and maintaining friendships at her new school. The novel ends on a hopeful note that Laetitia, with the support of her family, will weather any further storms that she encounters.
CHARACTERS
Laetitia/ Lacy
Laetitia/ Lacy
- The protagonist of the story.
- She tries to live up to the expectations of her extended family.
- She experiences a drastic change when she relocates to her father's home, where she is controlled and treated like a trophy.
- She eventually suffers from a mental breakdown, based on many factors, the most significant being her toxic relationship with her father, and is allowed to return home.
- She is a good sister to her little brother and very patient with her little cousins.
- She is a good friend to Anjanee, whom she consistently helps with her school work and encourages.
- She is Laetitia's friend who encourages her to do her work and listens to her complain about her toxic relationship with her father.
- She also lives in a toxic environment, where her dream of being a good student is unacknowledged and unsupported.
- Her mother is subjugated within the household and Anjanee is in the same situation. She is expected to help her mother with the household chores and selling.
- Initially, Anjanee is optimistic and enthusiastic, but as two terms filled with fatigue from her commute, lack of textbooks, absences due to lack of financial support from her brothers, and illness draw to a close, she commits suicide.
- Laetitia's grandmother and legal guardian.
- She is the matriarch of her home, she is in charge.
- She loves and takes care of all her grandchildren, an example of which is when she goes to collect Charlene to spend the holiday with the family, despite Charlene's mother's objection.
- She is very protective of Laetitia, as seen when she checks on how Laetitia is being treated at her father's house.
- Ma Zelline is Patsey's, (Laetitia's mother) godmother and Ma's best friend.
- She is an independent lady who never got married and lives in her 'batchie', aka bachelor pad.
- She is an insightful lady who listens and can give good advice.
- She foreshadowed that Anjanee would do something to herself if her situation did not change.
- Laetitia's father.
- He did not have a relationship with his daughter before she passed her Common Entrance Examination.
- He is extremely proud of her accomplishment, gaining a place at the secondary school in La Puerta, and brags to everyone.
- He wants a relationship with his daughter but goes about forming that relationship by trying to control her.
- He does not foster a healthy relationship with his nuclear family because he is not at home a lot and does not parent, cohesively, with his wife.
- Orville Cephas' wife.
- Laetitia's stepmother.
- She supports Laetitia in her academic endeavors because she was pulled from secondary school to accommodate her brother.
- She is accommodating to Laetitia until she starts to misbehave at school.
- Her relationship with her husband is strained and conventional. She is always waiting for him to come home and serve him.
- Laetitia's uncle, who is like a father and big brother, simultaneously, to her.
- He is Charlene's father and Ma's son.
- He speaks to Laetitia like an adult and opens her eyes to the reality of her extended family's financial situation.
- Laetitia's little half-brother.
- Initially, he is rude, disobedient, and messy, but with Laetitia's help, he transforms into a loveable little boy, at least for her.
- Laetitia's little cousins.
- Laetitia and Anjanee's Math teacher.
- She is very unprofessional in the classroom.
SUMMARY
These chapter summaries are organized in the 'natural' chapter breaks in the book. Since there are no formal chapters, we recommend that you create them and follow along with us.
Chapter 1. Laetitia and her father travel along the Trace in his car. Her father is very proud because she is to attend a government high school based on her performance in the Common Entrance Examination. They passed a lady who asked for a ride and Laetitia felt ashamed when they passed her because she knew that they were going to the same destination. Laetitia's father was taking her to La Puerta to stay with his family. His wife, Velma, would help her with school. Laetitia was the first in her family to go to secondary school and the family celebrated when her name appeared in the newspaper, on a Sunday.
Chapter 2. Laetitia did not have a relationship with her father. It was a surprise when he visited her home, requesting that she stay with his family in La Puerta, since she would be attending secondary school there. Ma questions him and says that she will consult the family, including Laetitia's mother, and get back to him.
Chapter 3. The family meets to decide if Laetitia should live with her father and his family. Everyone gets a say, even her mother in New York, as well as Laetitia herself. It is a yes, all around.
Chapter 4. Ma takes Laetitia to register at her new school. Mrs. Lopez, a teacher, is very unprofessional to her, and another teacher, a male, had to take over the registration. Mrs. Lopez's issue is that Laetitia does not have her father's name and address. Laetitia and Ma visit Ma Zelline, where Ma gets to vent about her bad experience at the school. They leave with gifts of cake, plants, flowers, and a book for Laetitia, to pass her exams.
Chapter 5. Ma allowed Orville, Laetitia's father, to pick up Laetitia a week before the start of school. Uncle Leroy ensured that she cleaned up her garden before she left. The younger children helped Laetitia for a while but then moved on to the big garden, then vice versa. Uncle Leroy encouraged her to pack some of the produce, from her little garden, to take to her father's home. They pack the box of produce and Laetitia basks in the love of her family.
Chapter 6. Laetitia meets Miss Velma and she is to share a room with her little brother, who is very messy. After organizing the room, she finally meets Michael, who behaves very ill-mannerly and calls her lettuce. Miss Velma, Michael's mother, does not appear to be able to control Michael, but Laetitia intends to straighten him out. Orville leaves after he drops Laetitia to her new home.
Chapter 7. Orville came home late that night and Velma waited up for him, with her Daily Word as her companion. She wakes Laetitia early Sunday morning to walk to church with her. They sneak back into the house because the males in the house are still asleep. Aunt Velma then heads to the kitchen and all other activities surround Mr. Cephas, one of which is the radio being turned down until he wakes up. Mr. Cephas leaves and they have to wait for him to return so that everyone can eat lunch. Michael is unsupervised and comes home to eat. Mr. Cephas returns home, accompanied by friends, and shows off his daughter to his friends, while his wife is ignored. Laetitia helped Miss Velma to clean up the next morning.
Chapter 8. Miss Velma took Laetitia shopping for school supplies and materials for her school uniform. She had money left over and bought material for extra dresses. Miss Velma also took Laetitia to different parts of town to familiarize her with her new setting. Laetitia began to train Michael on how to share his space and even got him to bathe. His reward was a story.
Chapter 9. It is the first day of school and the principal addresses the students in the big hall. The students are partnered and Laetitia is partnered with Anjanee Jugmohansingh, who reminds her of her cousin's (Charlene) mother, Tara. They are introduced to the school by their form teacher and the girls stick together, they even eat lunch outside together. Anjanee is ashamed of her lunch because it is roti and takari, but Laetitia makes her feel better about it because they are from similar economic backgrounds.
Chapter 10. Anjanee is late for school and has no Geography or Spanish book. Mrs. Lopez, from the registration day, is their Math teacher and their Spanish teacher is Mr. Lopez, both are bad teachers. Anjanee was too tired to participate in Math class and she had no P.E. clothes, but she tried to participate despite this setback. Heavy rains fell this morning, so many children were late, including Anjanee. The friends found a spot outside, despite the wetness. Anjanee insisted that they eat outside because she remained ashamed of her lunch. The girls then returned to class, where Anjanee fell asleep.
Chapter 11. Anjanee missed school on Thursday. Social Studies class consisted of learning about different types of families, but there was no sensitivity, in the teacher's instructions, about the different types of families that her students were a part of, in her class. Laetitia did not appreciate this class because the teacher insulted her extended family, but she enjoyed Literature class, where they were introduced to Anansi, instead of Greek mythology. The teacher exposed the students to their culture and forced them to see why they would laugh at La Diabless and not at Cyclops.
Chapter 12. Laetitia is very happy that she is going home. She asked Anjanee why she was absent on Thursday and she said that she missed the bus. They walk to the bus stop after school, but Anjanee is sad. She believes that the men in her family don't want her to go to school and they don't want to spend money on her. Laetitia proudly returns home and is greeted with joy and love, even by the animals. She stays up late, telling her family all about her life at school and living with the Cephas'. The rest of the family visited on Sunday and took pictures of Laetitia in her uniform. As she is getting ready to leave she gets sad. Ma questions her regarding the treatment that she receives at her father's house.
Chapter 13. Anjanee didn't talk about herself anymore. Laetitia's response is to tell her that she is ashamed of being poor. Anjanee finally spoke: the men in her household won't give any money to attend school and her mother had no money to give her. The men in her family believe that she has had enough schooling and should stay home and help her mother. Her mother cannot help her because she is uneducated and invisible in her household.
Chapter 14. Michael behaved himself for Laetitia. She controls him through stories, but he still does not stay home a lot. The reader learns that Michael cannot read and Mr. Cephas tries to help him, with disastrous results. He also took an interest in Laetitia's education, but he could not help her so he just observed her with satisfaction.
Chapter 15. Laetitia thought that the weekends were too short and wanted to stretch it out by leaving on Mondays. Ma said no, she had to leave on Sundays. Laetitia received a letter from her mother on Friday. Patsy wanted assurance that Laetitia was being treated well and informed Laetitia that she too was attending school. Patsy used to help Ma to make the products as well as sell them, but Ma did not want Laetitia to help her, she wanted Laetitia to study.
Chapter 16. The students were banned from visiting the plaza, but some students from Laetitia's class were disobedient and Doreen Sandiford's gang and Marlon Peter's gang made significant contributions to the class, regarding disruptive and entertaining behaviour. The reading of The Year in San Fernando was intriguing for the class because it was a story about them, but the Math class was the opposite. The class received a tongue-lashing because Anjanee dared to request an explanation and Laetitia tried to help.
Chapter 17. The students displayed their anger in the next class and their teacher, Mr. Tawari, had to quiet them down. Then a student disrupted the class, due to a dead cockroach, and Marlon Peter's gang was blamed for it, except for the Indian members.
Chapter 18. Laetitia taught Michael to read and encouraged him and he became a neater and quieter boy over time. Laetitia was teaching him to wash dishes one day and Mr. Cephas made a serious fuss about it. He threatened to hit his wife and instructed Michael to disobey his mother if he was asked to wash the dishes again. He ended up beating Michael when he did not read well for him that day. Later in the day, Miss Velma called Laetitia into her room to look at pictures and told her that a woman's role was to please her husband. She refuses Laetitia's help and tells her to complete her schoolwork. She then told Laetitia that she was pulled from secondary school, despite being a bright girl, so that her brother could attend school.
Chapter 19. Anjanee's classmates had a special love for her and tried to protect her, especially from their Math teacher, Mrs. Lopez, who bullied her. She tried really hard at school, but things were getting very difficult for her and she was thinking of giving up. The class was very angry at Mrs. Lopez's treatment of Anjanee, which compounded her feelings of inadequacy regarding her school work and put up a last stand, which was led by Laetitia. She threatened to call the principal, but it never happened.
Chapter 20. Mr. Tawarie did not go to the principal but went to Miss Hafeez, who came to speak to the class. She was alarmed by the racially charged arguments/discussions that occurred.
Chapter 21. Mr. Cephas refuses to give Laetitia bus fare to go home. She was told on Friday morning and a message was already sent to her extended family. She decided to visit Ma Zalline, since she could not go home, and they discussed Anjanee's situation. Ma Zalline sympathized with Anjanee's plight and Laetitia made plans to help her friend catch up and prepare for her test.
Chapter 22. Laetitia is at home the following Friday and Mr. Cephas arrives home early. Laetitia believes that he is there to ensure that she stays home. He finally leaves on Saturday and she plans to visit Ma Zalline again.
Chapter 23. Laetitia visits Ma Zalline and tells her all about school. Ma Zalline sympathizes with Anjanee's situation and Laetitia vents her frustration at having to stay with her father on the weekends. Ma Zalline offers good advice about persevering in the face of trials.
Chapter 24. Mid term tests begin. Anjanee was late and the Spanish teacher was not paying attention, so Laetitia let Anjanee cheat from her paper. Anjanee was so afraid of the Math test that she vomited before the test started. Mrs. Lopez returned with the test papers and shamed her failing students, including Anjanee, and praised Laetitia for doing exceptionally well.
Chapter 24. Mr. Cephas usually arrives home late, but he came home early on Thursday. He asked to speak to her, but he was verbally rough and told her that he would no longer be sending her home on the weekends and she had to help Miss Velma around the house.
Chapter 25. Laetitia is at home for another weekend. She deliberately failed her Math tests and Anjanee was threatening to drop out of school. Laetitia stayed back and tutored Anjanee and she slowly improved.
Chapter 26. Laetitia realizes that her dad did not intend to give her bus fare to go home again. She wrote a letter to Ma, who told her to stay until the Christmas holidays, and enclosed an emergency bus fair. She got in trouble at school and articulated her complaints to a teacher. The teacher warned her to straighten up or her parents would be informed. Mr. Cephas spotted her at the bus stop with Anjanee and told her she is stop associating with coolies and left school on time.
Chapter 27. Laetitia still tried to help Anjanee, even though they had to study in Spanish class and during lunch. Laetitia also succeeded in frustrating her Math teacher, but not Mr. Cephas because he refused to let her go. She decided to buckle down, near the end of the term, so that she could take home a good report for Ma.
Chapter 28. Christmas was in the air and Mr. Cephas was in high spirits. He asked Laetitia if she would be spending Christmas with him and she said no, then he offered to drive her home. A class party was organized and Anjanee almost didn't go because she had no money to contribute an item. The teacher told her to take limes, so she went and they all had a great time. Anjanee and Laetitia giggled about the party, at the bus stop, and made plans to study because, according to Laetitia, she would be living with her extended family so she would be taking the bus with Anjanee. Mr. Cephas sees Laetitia's report card, when she gets home, and is very excited. The only thing that upset him was the fact that the report was addressed to Laetitia's grandmother and not him.
Chapter 29. Laetitia sees her home with new eyes, she realizes that her home is shabby and that she is poor. Her uncle Leroy solidifies this fact when he declares that Laetitia is a fool to want to stay at their home and leave the luxuries of her father's house. The family cleans up the house and Ma refuses Laetitia's idea of returning home.
Chapter 30. All the family gathered at Ma's house, even if they had to walk. The family cleaned the house and all the children got a washout. This is a family tradition. Ma leaves for La Puerta, all the while mumbling about Leroy's half-Indian child that he cannot see.
Chapter 31. Ma returns with Charlene. She arrives with news that Ma Zalline had a fall and probably would not be at her house/ batchie anymore. The children went to bed and listened to the adults celebrate.
Chapter 32. Christmas was wonderful, but sadness overcame Laetitia at the thought of returning to La Puerta.
Chapter 33. Mr. Cephas comes to pick up Laetitia and Ma and Papa speak to him about his responsibilities, regarding Laetitia and they give him produce to take home. Orville's response was to lecture and curse Laetitia all the way home. The 'discussion' was about ungratefulness and respect.
Chapter 34. Laetitia learns that the Cephas' holiday was awful, due to her absence. Miss Velma updates Laetitia about her father and brother's sadness. Her father's sadness was based on his lack of control over her and the relationship between Laetitia and Velma seems to have changed.
Chapter 35. Anjanee is absent on the first day of the new school year. She was absent on the second day of school as well and Laetitia was sad. She was also sad about the thought of not going home on the weekend and only the thought of going home for carnival makes her happy. In Anjanee's absence, Laetitia ate with the rude girls. Then Anjanee returned.
Chapter 36. Anjanee is overworked at home and cannot function at school. She tries to help her friend by suggesting that they cut Spanish class to study, and Laetitia starts to deliberately arrive home late, in protest. In order to be late, Laetitia either stayed late at the bus stop, with Anjanee, walked past Ma Zelline's house, or both.
Chapter 37. Laetitia began 'skulling' or absenting herself from class, not submitting work, and going to the plaza with Doreen's gang. She thought it would be good to teach her father a lesson if she failed, but she also had it in mind to 'catch up' for mid-term, to have good grades to take home to her grandmother.
Chapter 38. Laetitia and the members of Doreen's gang were at the plaza and nearly got caught by Mr. Tewarie. After that near miss, she decided to straighten up and started to study.
Chapter 39. She was suspended, based on her visit to the plaza, and decided to take the letter to Miss Velma. She convinced Miss Velma to go to the meeting, as her guardian, and to not tell Mr. Cephas.
Chapter 40. Mrs. Cephas goes and signs the letter, but Mr. Cephas comes home early and confronts them about the deceit. Miss Velma talks to Laetitia and tells her to go home before anything worse happens.
Chapter 41. Anjanee was very disappointed in her friend. She thinks that she failed the midterms and did not go home for the carnival because she had disappointed them. She did not join the carnival festivities or the street festivities.
Chapter 42. Anjanee encouraged her friend to do her work and attend classes, but Anjanee was the one to worry about because she looked ill. She was taking her medicine but could not get the rest of the medication that was recommended. She fainted in assembly one morning.
Chapter 43. Laetitia was very worried about Anjanee's absence from school and Mrs. Lopez chose the wrong day to critique her relationship with Anjanee. Laetitia was very disrespectful to her, by telling Mrs. Lopez about her mother. She got another letter to take home. She had to give this letter to her grandmother because Mr. Cephas refused to deal with any shameful, or disgraceful, school matters. As Laetitia was leaving school, she heard the terrible news that Anjanee drank poison and died.
Chapter 44. Miss Velma gave Laetitia medicine for her runny nose, then left for the market. Laetitia told her that she would bathe, and then she searched for the pills. She realized that it was the first day of her period, coupled with a second suspension and the death of her friend. She started screaming in the bathroom until she passed out.
Chapter 45. Laetitia had a mental breakdown. She came from the hospital and Ma and her family took care of her by talking to her. She shook herself out of her depression slowly and really came around when she heard that Charlene might not be able to visit for Easter. Everyone was shocked when she got up and left her room.
Chapter 46. Plans were made for Laetitia's return to school. Her father would pay tuition and buy her books, and nothing else. The extended family made plans for the Thanksgiving holiday and Laetitia felt as if she was taking up Anjanee's life.
These chapter summaries are organized in the 'natural' chapter breaks in the book. Since there are no formal chapters, we recommend that you create them and follow along with us.
Chapter 1. Laetitia and her father travel along the Trace in his car. Her father is very proud because she is to attend a government high school based on her performance in the Common Entrance Examination. They passed a lady who asked for a ride and Laetitia felt ashamed when they passed her because she knew that they were going to the same destination. Laetitia's father was taking her to La Puerta to stay with his family. His wife, Velma, would help her with school. Laetitia was the first in her family to go to secondary school and the family celebrated when her name appeared in the newspaper, on a Sunday.
Chapter 2. Laetitia did not have a relationship with her father. It was a surprise when he visited her home, requesting that she stay with his family in La Puerta, since she would be attending secondary school there. Ma questions him and says that she will consult the family, including Laetitia's mother, and get back to him.
Chapter 3. The family meets to decide if Laetitia should live with her father and his family. Everyone gets a say, even her mother in New York, as well as Laetitia herself. It is a yes, all around.
Chapter 4. Ma takes Laetitia to register at her new school. Mrs. Lopez, a teacher, is very unprofessional to her, and another teacher, a male, had to take over the registration. Mrs. Lopez's issue is that Laetitia does not have her father's name and address. Laetitia and Ma visit Ma Zelline, where Ma gets to vent about her bad experience at the school. They leave with gifts of cake, plants, flowers, and a book for Laetitia, to pass her exams.
Chapter 5. Ma allowed Orville, Laetitia's father, to pick up Laetitia a week before the start of school. Uncle Leroy ensured that she cleaned up her garden before she left. The younger children helped Laetitia for a while but then moved on to the big garden, then vice versa. Uncle Leroy encouraged her to pack some of the produce, from her little garden, to take to her father's home. They pack the box of produce and Laetitia basks in the love of her family.
Chapter 6. Laetitia meets Miss Velma and she is to share a room with her little brother, who is very messy. After organizing the room, she finally meets Michael, who behaves very ill-mannerly and calls her lettuce. Miss Velma, Michael's mother, does not appear to be able to control Michael, but Laetitia intends to straighten him out. Orville leaves after he drops Laetitia to her new home.
Chapter 7. Orville came home late that night and Velma waited up for him, with her Daily Word as her companion. She wakes Laetitia early Sunday morning to walk to church with her. They sneak back into the house because the males in the house are still asleep. Aunt Velma then heads to the kitchen and all other activities surround Mr. Cephas, one of which is the radio being turned down until he wakes up. Mr. Cephas leaves and they have to wait for him to return so that everyone can eat lunch. Michael is unsupervised and comes home to eat. Mr. Cephas returns home, accompanied by friends, and shows off his daughter to his friends, while his wife is ignored. Laetitia helped Miss Velma to clean up the next morning.
Chapter 8. Miss Velma took Laetitia shopping for school supplies and materials for her school uniform. She had money left over and bought material for extra dresses. Miss Velma also took Laetitia to different parts of town to familiarize her with her new setting. Laetitia began to train Michael on how to share his space and even got him to bathe. His reward was a story.
Chapter 9. It is the first day of school and the principal addresses the students in the big hall. The students are partnered and Laetitia is partnered with Anjanee Jugmohansingh, who reminds her of her cousin's (Charlene) mother, Tara. They are introduced to the school by their form teacher and the girls stick together, they even eat lunch outside together. Anjanee is ashamed of her lunch because it is roti and takari, but Laetitia makes her feel better about it because they are from similar economic backgrounds.
Chapter 10. Anjanee is late for school and has no Geography or Spanish book. Mrs. Lopez, from the registration day, is their Math teacher and their Spanish teacher is Mr. Lopez, both are bad teachers. Anjanee was too tired to participate in Math class and she had no P.E. clothes, but she tried to participate despite this setback. Heavy rains fell this morning, so many children were late, including Anjanee. The friends found a spot outside, despite the wetness. Anjanee insisted that they eat outside because she remained ashamed of her lunch. The girls then returned to class, where Anjanee fell asleep.
Chapter 11. Anjanee missed school on Thursday. Social Studies class consisted of learning about different types of families, but there was no sensitivity, in the teacher's instructions, about the different types of families that her students were a part of, in her class. Laetitia did not appreciate this class because the teacher insulted her extended family, but she enjoyed Literature class, where they were introduced to Anansi, instead of Greek mythology. The teacher exposed the students to their culture and forced them to see why they would laugh at La Diabless and not at Cyclops.
Chapter 12. Laetitia is very happy that she is going home. She asked Anjanee why she was absent on Thursday and she said that she missed the bus. They walk to the bus stop after school, but Anjanee is sad. She believes that the men in her family don't want her to go to school and they don't want to spend money on her. Laetitia proudly returns home and is greeted with joy and love, even by the animals. She stays up late, telling her family all about her life at school and living with the Cephas'. The rest of the family visited on Sunday and took pictures of Laetitia in her uniform. As she is getting ready to leave she gets sad. Ma questions her regarding the treatment that she receives at her father's house.
Chapter 13. Anjanee didn't talk about herself anymore. Laetitia's response is to tell her that she is ashamed of being poor. Anjanee finally spoke: the men in her household won't give any money to attend school and her mother had no money to give her. The men in her family believe that she has had enough schooling and should stay home and help her mother. Her mother cannot help her because she is uneducated and invisible in her household.
Chapter 14. Michael behaved himself for Laetitia. She controls him through stories, but he still does not stay home a lot. The reader learns that Michael cannot read and Mr. Cephas tries to help him, with disastrous results. He also took an interest in Laetitia's education, but he could not help her so he just observed her with satisfaction.
Chapter 15. Laetitia thought that the weekends were too short and wanted to stretch it out by leaving on Mondays. Ma said no, she had to leave on Sundays. Laetitia received a letter from her mother on Friday. Patsy wanted assurance that Laetitia was being treated well and informed Laetitia that she too was attending school. Patsy used to help Ma to make the products as well as sell them, but Ma did not want Laetitia to help her, she wanted Laetitia to study.
Chapter 16. The students were banned from visiting the plaza, but some students from Laetitia's class were disobedient and Doreen Sandiford's gang and Marlon Peter's gang made significant contributions to the class, regarding disruptive and entertaining behaviour. The reading of The Year in San Fernando was intriguing for the class because it was a story about them, but the Math class was the opposite. The class received a tongue-lashing because Anjanee dared to request an explanation and Laetitia tried to help.
Chapter 17. The students displayed their anger in the next class and their teacher, Mr. Tawari, had to quiet them down. Then a student disrupted the class, due to a dead cockroach, and Marlon Peter's gang was blamed for it, except for the Indian members.
Chapter 18. Laetitia taught Michael to read and encouraged him and he became a neater and quieter boy over time. Laetitia was teaching him to wash dishes one day and Mr. Cephas made a serious fuss about it. He threatened to hit his wife and instructed Michael to disobey his mother if he was asked to wash the dishes again. He ended up beating Michael when he did not read well for him that day. Later in the day, Miss Velma called Laetitia into her room to look at pictures and told her that a woman's role was to please her husband. She refuses Laetitia's help and tells her to complete her schoolwork. She then told Laetitia that she was pulled from secondary school, despite being a bright girl, so that her brother could attend school.
Chapter 19. Anjanee's classmates had a special love for her and tried to protect her, especially from their Math teacher, Mrs. Lopez, who bullied her. She tried really hard at school, but things were getting very difficult for her and she was thinking of giving up. The class was very angry at Mrs. Lopez's treatment of Anjanee, which compounded her feelings of inadequacy regarding her school work and put up a last stand, which was led by Laetitia. She threatened to call the principal, but it never happened.
Chapter 20. Mr. Tawarie did not go to the principal but went to Miss Hafeez, who came to speak to the class. She was alarmed by the racially charged arguments/discussions that occurred.
Chapter 21. Mr. Cephas refuses to give Laetitia bus fare to go home. She was told on Friday morning and a message was already sent to her extended family. She decided to visit Ma Zalline, since she could not go home, and they discussed Anjanee's situation. Ma Zalline sympathized with Anjanee's plight and Laetitia made plans to help her friend catch up and prepare for her test.
Chapter 22. Laetitia is at home the following Friday and Mr. Cephas arrives home early. Laetitia believes that he is there to ensure that she stays home. He finally leaves on Saturday and she plans to visit Ma Zalline again.
Chapter 23. Laetitia visits Ma Zalline and tells her all about school. Ma Zalline sympathizes with Anjanee's situation and Laetitia vents her frustration at having to stay with her father on the weekends. Ma Zalline offers good advice about persevering in the face of trials.
Chapter 24. Mid term tests begin. Anjanee was late and the Spanish teacher was not paying attention, so Laetitia let Anjanee cheat from her paper. Anjanee was so afraid of the Math test that she vomited before the test started. Mrs. Lopez returned with the test papers and shamed her failing students, including Anjanee, and praised Laetitia for doing exceptionally well.
Chapter 24. Mr. Cephas usually arrives home late, but he came home early on Thursday. He asked to speak to her, but he was verbally rough and told her that he would no longer be sending her home on the weekends and she had to help Miss Velma around the house.
Chapter 25. Laetitia is at home for another weekend. She deliberately failed her Math tests and Anjanee was threatening to drop out of school. Laetitia stayed back and tutored Anjanee and she slowly improved.
Chapter 26. Laetitia realizes that her dad did not intend to give her bus fare to go home again. She wrote a letter to Ma, who told her to stay until the Christmas holidays, and enclosed an emergency bus fair. She got in trouble at school and articulated her complaints to a teacher. The teacher warned her to straighten up or her parents would be informed. Mr. Cephas spotted her at the bus stop with Anjanee and told her she is stop associating with coolies and left school on time.
Chapter 27. Laetitia still tried to help Anjanee, even though they had to study in Spanish class and during lunch. Laetitia also succeeded in frustrating her Math teacher, but not Mr. Cephas because he refused to let her go. She decided to buckle down, near the end of the term, so that she could take home a good report for Ma.
Chapter 28. Christmas was in the air and Mr. Cephas was in high spirits. He asked Laetitia if she would be spending Christmas with him and she said no, then he offered to drive her home. A class party was organized and Anjanee almost didn't go because she had no money to contribute an item. The teacher told her to take limes, so she went and they all had a great time. Anjanee and Laetitia giggled about the party, at the bus stop, and made plans to study because, according to Laetitia, she would be living with her extended family so she would be taking the bus with Anjanee. Mr. Cephas sees Laetitia's report card, when she gets home, and is very excited. The only thing that upset him was the fact that the report was addressed to Laetitia's grandmother and not him.
Chapter 29. Laetitia sees her home with new eyes, she realizes that her home is shabby and that she is poor. Her uncle Leroy solidifies this fact when he declares that Laetitia is a fool to want to stay at their home and leave the luxuries of her father's house. The family cleans up the house and Ma refuses Laetitia's idea of returning home.
Chapter 30. All the family gathered at Ma's house, even if they had to walk. The family cleaned the house and all the children got a washout. This is a family tradition. Ma leaves for La Puerta, all the while mumbling about Leroy's half-Indian child that he cannot see.
Chapter 31. Ma returns with Charlene. She arrives with news that Ma Zalline had a fall and probably would not be at her house/ batchie anymore. The children went to bed and listened to the adults celebrate.
Chapter 32. Christmas was wonderful, but sadness overcame Laetitia at the thought of returning to La Puerta.
Chapter 33. Mr. Cephas comes to pick up Laetitia and Ma and Papa speak to him about his responsibilities, regarding Laetitia and they give him produce to take home. Orville's response was to lecture and curse Laetitia all the way home. The 'discussion' was about ungratefulness and respect.
Chapter 34. Laetitia learns that the Cephas' holiday was awful, due to her absence. Miss Velma updates Laetitia about her father and brother's sadness. Her father's sadness was based on his lack of control over her and the relationship between Laetitia and Velma seems to have changed.
Chapter 35. Anjanee is absent on the first day of the new school year. She was absent on the second day of school as well and Laetitia was sad. She was also sad about the thought of not going home on the weekend and only the thought of going home for carnival makes her happy. In Anjanee's absence, Laetitia ate with the rude girls. Then Anjanee returned.
Chapter 36. Anjanee is overworked at home and cannot function at school. She tries to help her friend by suggesting that they cut Spanish class to study, and Laetitia starts to deliberately arrive home late, in protest. In order to be late, Laetitia either stayed late at the bus stop, with Anjanee, walked past Ma Zelline's house, or both.
Chapter 37. Laetitia began 'skulling' or absenting herself from class, not submitting work, and going to the plaza with Doreen's gang. She thought it would be good to teach her father a lesson if she failed, but she also had it in mind to 'catch up' for mid-term, to have good grades to take home to her grandmother.
Chapter 38. Laetitia and the members of Doreen's gang were at the plaza and nearly got caught by Mr. Tewarie. After that near miss, she decided to straighten up and started to study.
Chapter 39. She was suspended, based on her visit to the plaza, and decided to take the letter to Miss Velma. She convinced Miss Velma to go to the meeting, as her guardian, and to not tell Mr. Cephas.
Chapter 40. Mrs. Cephas goes and signs the letter, but Mr. Cephas comes home early and confronts them about the deceit. Miss Velma talks to Laetitia and tells her to go home before anything worse happens.
Chapter 41. Anjanee was very disappointed in her friend. She thinks that she failed the midterms and did not go home for the carnival because she had disappointed them. She did not join the carnival festivities or the street festivities.
Chapter 42. Anjanee encouraged her friend to do her work and attend classes, but Anjanee was the one to worry about because she looked ill. She was taking her medicine but could not get the rest of the medication that was recommended. She fainted in assembly one morning.
Chapter 43. Laetitia was very worried about Anjanee's absence from school and Mrs. Lopez chose the wrong day to critique her relationship with Anjanee. Laetitia was very disrespectful to her, by telling Mrs. Lopez about her mother. She got another letter to take home. She had to give this letter to her grandmother because Mr. Cephas refused to deal with any shameful, or disgraceful, school matters. As Laetitia was leaving school, she heard the terrible news that Anjanee drank poison and died.
Chapter 44. Miss Velma gave Laetitia medicine for her runny nose, then left for the market. Laetitia told her that she would bathe, and then she searched for the pills. She realized that it was the first day of her period, coupled with a second suspension and the death of her friend. She started screaming in the bathroom until she passed out.
Chapter 45. Laetitia had a mental breakdown. She came from the hospital and Ma and her family took care of her by talking to her. She shook herself out of her depression slowly and really came around when she heard that Charlene might not be able to visit for Easter. Everyone was shocked when she got up and left her room.
Chapter 46. Plans were made for Laetitia's return to school. Her father would pay tuition and buy her books, and nothing else. The extended family made plans for the Thanksgiving holiday and Laetitia felt as if she was taking up Anjanee's life.
Contributor: Leisa Samuels-Thomas
Hodge, Merle. For the Life of Laetitia. (Canada) Harper Collins Canada Ltd. 1993.
Hodge, Merle. For the Life of Laetitia. (Canada) Harper Collins Canada Ltd. 1993.