Strength in What Remains

Deo moves in with the Wolfs. He inhabits Charlie’s old office, nicknamed the Black Hole. In the relative luxury of this new dwelling, he listens to a French radio news channel. He also scans the New York Times for information about Burundi, though the paper typically focuses on Rwanda.

As winter comes, Deo witnesses for the first time the shortening of the days, which did not happen in equatorial Burundi. He also sees snow and extreme cold for the first time. He realizes how fortunate he is, since he had no way to know that the winter would be so dangerous for someone living in the open.

Deo shows Charlie his small book collection, and Charlie decides that to further his house guest’s education, they should enroll Deo in an English class at Hunter College. Deo does quite well—partially because at dinner, he can discuss with Charlie the finer points of English usage.

A few months pass, and they decide that Deo should attend school at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he must live with a cranky old man. To earn money, he works at a nursing home but must quit the job because he does not take sides in an ongoing conflict between white and black employees.