On Palm Sunday Jaja’s refusal to receive communion erupts into a violent clash with his father, Papa, who shatters figurines and storms out, while Mama remains steadfast, refusing to replace the broken pieces; the tension spikes when Jaja silently leaves lunch and the narrator later collapses, prompting Mama’s frantic care. The family’s fragile stability is further shaken by news of a military coup, the arrest and release of Ade Coker, and the death of Papa’s own father, prompting a trip to Nsukka to stay with Aunty Ifeoma and meet the new priest Father Amadi. A devastating turn occurs when Papa is found dead from rat poison, a crime Mama confesses to committing, leading to a police investigation and Jaja’s forced confession. As the household prepares to leave Nsukka after Aunty Ifeoma secures a U.S. visa, they endure a pilgrimage to Aokpe, watch Father Amadi depart for Germany, and confront the looming release of Jaja from prison, arranging his homecoming and future emigration. New characters such as driver Celestine and steward Okon enter the scene, highlighting the pervasive bribery, correspondence, and emotional strain that bind the family’s turbulent path toward a uncertain future.