How Dare the Sun Rise

Fed up with being teased about her hair, Sandra decided to get a wig. Her parents initially did not understand why she needed one, but they agreed to buy her one. They found a cheap, black, curly wig made from synthetic hair. It was itchy and gave Sandra rashes.

Sandra struggled with American concepts of beauty. Her father insisted that beauty was only in the mind, and while Sandra agreed, she still could not help feeling pressured by those around her. She did, however, make friends in church, and a woman from their congregation, Rosemary, threw Sandra a party for her 13th birthday.

That summer, Sandra practiced her English by watching more cartoons and spent more time with the church youth group. A girl named Mabel became Sandra’s best friend. They confided in each other and, one night during a sleepover, Sandra told Mabel about Deborah’s death.

Meanwhile, Rachel and Prudence labored hard in menial jobs at a factory, packing clothing. In Africa, Rachel had been a businesswoman and Prudence had always held decent jobs. Now, they were relegated to low-paying, back-breaking work. Similarly, Princesse’s degree in international relations was not accredited in the United States, requiring her to go back to college.