Diamond Boy Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis

Patson goes to the tobacco sheds. He finds Prisca, Kuda, and Jamu sleeping, but he sees no sign of his father or the Wife. He finally finds Grace sleeping on a mat in the corner. When she wake and asks where their father is, Patson tells her he’s hiding. Changing the subject, he shows Grace his two girazis and tells her to keep their existence a secret. Excitedly, she shows Patson her Girl Guide uniform, which Determine bought for her with $20. She clearly has no idea that’s a fortune, and she tells Patson that Determine wants to take the troop to South Africa. Patson tells her not to give Determine any more money, hides $30 in Boubacar’s tie for her, and takes the rest of his money. Grace says she isn’t happy: Prisca and Kuda are mean, the Wife is at the farmhouse, and everyone is afraid of the soldiers.

This interaction with Grace is both disheartening and concerning for Patson. Though he’s likely trying to protect Grace’s feelings by insisting their father is hiding, it also begins to heavily suggest that their father is dead—something Patson himself doesn’t want to admit yet. Then, the news that Determine is both spending Patson and Grace’s money, and that he wants to take Grace to South Africa, is extremely suspicious. Patson, however, seems more focused on keeping the family’s money in the family than on any possible threats to Grace’s safety, signs of his youth and naivety.

Active Themes

Jamu appears behind Patson, surprising him. Patson tells Jamu to go outside, swears Grace to secrecy about the girazis, and tells her to keep texting him. He promises to come back soon and hurries to meet Jamu. Jamu shares that Patson’s father was shot on the first day and was buried in a mass grave. Patson refuses to believe it. The boys argue more—Patson says Arves is wrong that he found a girazi, and Jamu tries to say he wasn’t at the mines when the soldiers came because he was sick. Patson tells Jamu to watch out for Grace and hurries away. He peeks in the farmhouse window on his way out and sees the Wife dancing for Commander Jesus in her underwear. Feeling sick, Patson throws a rock through a window and runs.

Though Jamu has always been somewhat wishy-washy, changing his behavior to stay in powerful people’s good graces, he’s becoming increasingly insufferable to Patson. Jamu, Patson realizes, is coasting on his privilege—he’s not imprisoned at the mines—and he doesn’t really seem to care about his friends. His selfishness contrasts immensely with Patson’s selflessness as he checks on Grace. The Wife, too, seems selfish and morally bankrupt, as while it’s certainly likely Commander Jesus is forcing her to stay with him, she also has always craved power and prestige—which he represents.

Active Themes

A safe distance from the farm, Patson checks his messages. He returns one of Grace’s messages and then checks the ones from Sheena. Sheena writes first that she enjoyed their kiss, and then that she and her family are coming to Marange to search for diamonds. Patson realizes that Sheena has no idea what’s actually happening here. Her last text is from three days ago, so she could be close by now. Patson knows he’s been lying about life here. Hopefully, Sheena’s family has been stopped at a checkpoint. He tries to text her that it’s too dangerous to come, but he can’t tell if the message sends before his phone dies.

Active Themes

Diamond Boy: Chapter 18 Summary & Analysis