The Beautyful Ones Are Not Yet Born

Koomson and Estie arrive for dinner. The man is struck by Estella’s limp handshake and by how soft and flabby Koomson’s hands have become. At one point, the man takes Koomson to use the latrine, but Koomson is cowed by the state of the latrine and is unable to use it. Wordlessly, the man and Koomson rejoin the dinner party. They discuss the fishing boat deal, which turns out not to be the miraculous opportunity that Oyo and her mother had perceived it to be. Instead of making them money, Koomson and Estie only need signatures of civilians not working in the government. They imply that Oyo and the man will likely receive some fish from the venture, which will only become profitable after many years.

Oyo and the man take a taxi to Koomson and Estie’s house for dinner. The man remarks that when Oyo is traveling, she always acts the part of a rich, powerful woman. He refuses to play along, and Oyo is annoyed at him. The man tells Koomson and Estie that he cannot sign the papers, but Oyo decides to sign them.