A Long Way Gone: Chapter 19 Summary & Analysis

Two weeks later, Beah is to begin living with his uncle. He says goodbye to his friends and Esther. He will never see any of them again, except for Esther, who he will see once more. Beah is astonished by Esther’s fortitude and her capacity to care for trauma-stricken children, and comments in the book that he loved her, even though he never told her.

Beah moves in with his uncle’s family, staying in Allie’s room. He’s given a welcome home feast, with chicken, a rare occasion. He misses Benin Home, but already feels himself adjusting to being around such a happy family. Allie takes him out dancing at a pub, where Beah dances with a girl who approaches him without him having to do anything. The dancing triggers a memory of attacking a town during a school dance.

Beah dates the girl briefly, after seeing her at the pub again, but feels he cannot yet be intimate, as sharing his past is a too much for him.

Not long after, Leslie comes to see Beah and tells him that he has an opportunity to interview for the chance to go to New York and speak on behalf of child soldiers at the United Nations. At the interview, Beah finds himself among city boys who dress better and understand modern conveniences, such as elevators. However, he is, as far as he can tell, the only boy there to be interviewed who isn’t from the city and actually has been at war. He comments on this fact during the interview and is chosen to go to the UN. His uncle, half jokingly, doesn’t believe it will actually happen, yet despite the complicated process for getting his passport and visa, they do eventually come through.