When the story begins, things might be looking up for Obinze. Of course, there’s also a sick pleasure in exercising such power to punish. Because Vincent has the power and only keeps the power if he uses it. Why, after all, would Vincent give up his weekly payments by reporting Obinze.
When Vincent called to increase his share to forty-five percent, Obinze thought he could simply ignore the request. He just had to pay Vincent forty percent of anything he got. Not long after he arrived it was agreed he could use the documents of a man named Vincent to secure work. He’s already learned that these people have absolute power over him. The basic premise is this: Obinze has left his native Nigeria and has been living in England for two years, most of that time undocumented, suffering from the draconian demands of those who, under the guise of being helpful, take advantage of his precarious situation. This piece is an excerpt from her forthcoming novel, Americanah. I don’t think it’s a successful short story, as readable and emotional as it may be, but I do get the sense that it will be a piece of a good novel. “Checking Out” leads me to believe that even more. Perhaps she’s a novelist who cannot really write short stories, so I should try one of her novels. I’ve never read her novels and in fact have wondered whether I’m approaching her work in the wrong way.
I’ve never really enjoyed Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s stories.
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