After returning from Palm Sunday Mass, the family places wet palm fronds on the dining table. Papa, upset that his son Jaja did not receive communion, throws his heavy leather‑bound missal across the room. The missal shatters the glass étagère, scattering beige ceramic ballet‑dancer figurines onto the floor. Jaja explains his refusal, claiming the wafer gives him bad breath and nausea, and threatens to die if he cannot receive the “body of our Lord.” He answers Papa’s low warning, “Then I will die,” with grim determination. The missal misses Jaja but hits the figurines, breaking them. Mama enters, changes from her sequined Sunday wrapper to a plain tie‑dye wrap, and calmly begins picking up the broken figurines with bare hands while Papa pours tea. The family resumes a strained silence; Mama calls the narrator “Nne” and reminds Papa his tea is cold, then asks Jaja to help. During lunch, Papa serves fufu and onugbu soup, along with cashew juice produced by his factories. The narrator pretends to enjoy the watery juice, while Papa watches Jaja expectantly for a comment. When Papa asks Jaja in Igbo why he has nothing to say, Jaja mutters “Mba, there are no words in my mouth” and then abruptly thanks the Lord, Papa, and Mama before leaving the table before the post‑meal prayer. Papa collapses back into his seat, his cheeks drooping. The narrator, overcome by anxiety, chokes on the juice, coughing violently. Papa and Mama rush to his side, thumping his back and rubbing his shoulders. That evening the narrator stays in bed, develops a cough, vomits, and is given ofe nsala soup. He learns Jaja has retreated to his room and has not returned for dinner. Mama, polishing the broken figurines earlier, tells the narrator she will not replace them. The chapter closes with the narrator recalling that the family’s silence began earlier in Nsukka, where Aunty Ifeoma’s garden inspired thoughts of freedom.