I Will Always Write Back

When Martin returns home to Mutare, he finds out that Wallace has been struggling in the US. He is delighted to hear that Caitlin’s family has been taking care of Wallace. Moved by the kindness of Martin’s American friends, Wallace’s parents, Tecla and Phanuel, invite Martin to stay with them in Victoria Falls, where they own a bed-and-breakfast. They offer to let him work there during his stay to make some money. When Martin arrives at their home, he is surprised to find that despite their wealth, they remain humble people.

Working at the bed-and-breakfast, Martin encounters many white tourists. He has access to a computer, which allows him to communicate with Caitlin and her family. There is no news yet of any scholarships for him, which worries him. In the meantime, he sees an advertisement in the newspaper for an orientation at a US embassy in Harare for Zimbabwean students planning to study abroad in the US. Martin asks Tecla and Phanuel permission to go and they encourage him to do so.

At the US embassy, Martin encounters Rebecca, Caitlin’s contact. He is surprised to find out that she is white, as she speaks Shona so fluently. Rebecca recognizes Martin’s name and expresses hope that he gains the scholarship he needs to attend school in the US. During the orientation, Martin learns about the various American customs that differ from life in Zimbabwe. He learns that the sharing of food and other property are not as liberal in the US as they are in Zimbabwe. He also finds out that US college students drink alcohol, which surprises Martin, as there was no alcohol during parties at Marist Brothers. Finally, he meets the American ambassador who tells him about Edson Zvobgo, the first Black Zimbabwean to go to Harvard University, and who eventually became a professor. The ambassador shares this story to inspire the students to believe in the “American dream” (350).

Martin does not want Caitlin’s family to lose hope in him, so he writes them a letter, signing it in all caps, “MARTIN (2003 UNDERGRADUATE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY STUDENT)” (350). He hopes that this will help Caitlin’s family feel more positive about his prospects.

By the end of April, Martin has received five acceptances from US universities. Three universities have offered him partial scholarships and two have offered him admission without any financial support. When the last rejection letter, from New York University, arrives, Caitlin is devastated that her family’s efforts to help Martin secure a full scholarship have failed.

As a last resort, Caitlin’s mother writes to Father Dobbin, the president of Villanova, sharing the story of Martin’s economic circumstances and their efforts thus far to bring him to the US. Together, Caitlin and her mother pray over the letter before sending it.

In the meantime, Caitlin and her mother try to raise money in other ways through bake sales and waitressing. They manage to only make a small portion of money to help Martin. While they don’t want to consider it, they begin to think of ways to let Martin know that his dream to attend a US university may not be possible.

Martin has not heard from Caitlin or her mother in a while. He assumes they might be busy. Through Rebecca’s help, Martin has been completing forms at the US embassy in the attempt to acquire a visa to the US without a financial benefactor for his education. One day, Martin receives an email from Villanova and opens it.

Caitlin wakes up one day to her mother screaming. When she goes to find out what has happened, her mother tells her that she has been on the phone with Villanova. Father Dobbin has received their letter and has secured a full scholarship for Martin to attend the university in the fall. Caitlin and her mother are overjoyed.