Power: A Novel

Omishto’s mother takes her to her fundamentalist Christian church to seek forgiveness for her part in Ama’s crime. The women at the church lay hands on Omishto to pray for her. Omishto doesn’t believe in forgiveness or a Christian God, but she lies to her mother, saying that she feels better afterward.

On Monday, Omishto returns to school, where her classmates have written “killer” on her locker. The teachers are disappointed in her, and even Omishto’s best friend, Jewel, feels betrayed and abandons her. Omishto is not too surprised because she realizes that their lives are going in two different directions. Only Donna is sympathetic, sitting with Omishto at lunch and offering encouragement before returning to her own friends. Omishto decides that she doesn’t want to be an obedient student anymore, and the next day she skips school and returns to Ama’s house instead.

Days later, Ama’s trial in the Western court system begins. Omishto testifies that she saw Ama kill the cat but keeps her promise to not reveal that it was sickly, though she feels that it would help Ama’s defense. She considers telling the court about the time that Ama saved