Chapter 4

As a trader, Trywell worked at a huge bazaar in a town called Mangochi with goods and people from all over Southern Africa. Gambling and prostitutes were a constant temptation for traders, but Trywell resisted these money-draining activities. His friends began calling him the Pope (Papa in the Chichewa language) and teasing him for his virtuous lifestyle.

Trywell was a large man, and liked to fight while he was out drinking at night. He became legendary for his strength. On July 6th, the Malawian independence day that William compares to America’s July 4th holiday, Trywell wanted to see his favorite reggae singer Robert Fulumani sing. Fulumani was so popular with Malawians that the line for the concert stretched out the door of the hall. With everyone pushing to get inside, Trywell pushes past a policeman and makes it into the concert.

At Fulumani’s concert, Trywell is ecstatic to hear the beautiful music. He begins dancing like a man possessed, until even Fulumani notices from the stage. Fulumani and the surrounding concert-goers ask for Trywell to be removed as he is a distraction. Trywell, crushed that his hero doesn’t like his dancing, tries to reason with the security guards that everyone should be allowed to dance on independence day. For half an hour, policemen try to arrest Trywell, only succeeding when Trywell gets tired of fighting and agrees to spend the night in jail because he respects the law. After that night, Trywell is famous in the district for defeating 12 men with his strength.

Trywell begins to watch a particular girl who comes to the market each morning, who William reveals will become William’s mother, Agnes. Agnes notices Trywell staring and asks about his reputation. The stories of Trywell’s fights excite her, but she refuses to be an easy catch and ignores Trywell. After months of staring and ignoring, Agnes loses patience and goes to talk to Trywell. Nervous, but determined not to let this chance slip away, Trywell tells Agnes that he wants to marry her. Agnes says she needs time to think.

After the initial meeting, Trywell asks Agnes each day to marry him. Agnes’ older brother, Bakili, warns Agnes about Trywell’s reputation for fighting, but Agnes says she is in love with Trywell and his strength. Bakili tells Agnes’ parents about Agnes’ courtship, and their parents reveal that they were married after meeting in much the same way. The parents give their blessing and Agnes and Trywell marry six months later and have their first child, Annie.

The first years of marriage are a dark time for Trywell. Trywell’s lifestyle of drinking and fighting begins to anger Agnes, and many of Trywell’s friends die or are put in jail. One of Trywell’s clients, Reverend JJ Chikankheni, tells Trywell to turn his life over to the Lord, but Trywell doesn’t listen. A few nights later, Trywell gets into another bar fight and is arrested.

While in jail awaiting trial, the prosecutor Mister Kabisa tells Trywell that he will let Trywell go if Trywell becomes a Christian and dedicates himself to God. Trywell agrees to get out of jail, but has a dream the next night where he hears the voice of God telling him to live a better life. Trywell rebuilds his life from that night on, becoming a wonderful husband and father.

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