In 2000, William's family is unable to afford fertilizer for their maize crop. Adding to their problems, the country experiences flooding followed by a prolonged drought. Harvest that year brings in only five bags of maize.
When William is nine, his family experiences the sad and unexpected loss of Uncle John. Uncle John collapses in the tobacco field from untreated tuberculosis, and Trywell rushes to get a doctor from the hospital in Kasungu. Uncle John passes away before Trywell can return. It is the first time that William has ever seen his parents upset. Geoffrey is distraught at the loss of his father, and William does not know how to comfort him. William is also ashamed that he does not cry loudly to properly show his grief, and he forces tears to come before he goes to talk to his cousin.
Another difficulty of survival in rural Malawi is access to health care. The closest hospital is in Kasungu, and many people cannot afford to travel so far, or pay for any services once they get there. Death is a somewhat common occurrence in William’s village, but still incredibly tragic when it affects William’s family directly. Kamkwamba describes the mourning rituals of Malawians, describing how important it is to display the right emotions and support the family during this hardship.
