SPM

Leaving is set in Tanzania. It is a story of a woman who raises her five children alone after the early death of her husband.After her two elder daughters get married and the eldest son acquires a job,the mother focuses on the two younger ones, Aloo and the youngest (the narrator). Aloo is in his final year in school and the girl is in university.She pins all her hopes on them that they will have a better education.She sells their store and moves them to Upanga.The place is quieter and provides a better environment for them to study.The return of Mr Datoo, a former teacher inspires Aloo to think of furthering his education in America. He wants study medicine. He starts writing to American universities to get the necessary information .He is not keen on studying agriculture in a local university.

He is offered a place with a scholarship in the California Institute of Technology. However,his mother would not allow him to accept the offer,citing finances and fear of losing him as the reasons.Finally,on the advice of a school officer,the mother relents and accepts the idea of allowing Aloo to leave home for a different sky.The narrator,for the first time,sees her mother as a person and not just as her mother-someone who has always thought only of the children's welfare.Aloo's first letter was a graphic enthusiastic account of London but to the mother,she is uncertain of his return.