Anna Goes to Canada Anna Hibiscus lives in Africa. Amazing Africa. In a country called Nigeria. She lives with her grandmother and her grandfather; her mother and her father; her aunties and her uncles; her many, many cousins; and her two baby brothers, Double and Trouble. But now Anna Hibiscus
is going far overseas.
“Is her suitcase in the car?” Grandfather asked.
“What about her photo album?” called Grandmother, hurrying over.
“Anna Hibiscus, are you ready?” shouted Uncle Tunde, standing by the car.
Anna Hibiscus came out of the house, holding her mother’s hand.
“Do you have the book we wrote your stories in?” shouted cousin Clarity.
“What about your phone money?” asked Anna Hibiscus’s father.
“Is your camera safe?” asked Uncle Eldest.
Anna Hibiscus nodded and nodded. She had her photo album and her book
and her phone money and her camera in her new handbag. And in her suitcase was the surprise present from her mother and the beautiful new warm red suit and the empty pot to bring back snow for Double and Trouble.
Anna Hibiscus was going to Canada. Today. Now! She was leaving her entire family and the big white house for one whole month.
Grandfather held up his hand. “Anna Hibiscus!” he said loudly. At once everybody was quiet. “Do not forget what I have told you!” Grandfather said.
Anna Hibiscus nodded again. Grandfather had told her many things. “Be good, Anna Hibiscus. And have fun. But remember, do not go near any dogs. People in cold countries allow dogs into their houses. This is because they do not live together with the whole of their family as we do here. Instead they have dogs for company.”
“Yes, Grandfather,” Anna Hibiscus said seriously.
Grandfather had been telling her the same thing since her tickets to Canada had come. But Anna Hibiscus was sure that he was wrong. Nobody would allow a dog into their house. Dogs live in packs and eat garbage and bite people. They are thin and angry and have worms.
“Granny Canada will look after you,” Grandfather concluded hopefully. “She will not allow you to enter any house that contains a dog. Of that I am sure.”
Anna Hibiscus’s mother looked as though she was about to say something. Then Double and Trouble started to cry.
Quickly Anna’s father put Anna into Uncle Tunde’s car. Her mother jumped in beside her. But too late. Everybody had joined Double Trouble in crying. Chocolate and Angel were the first. Then the aunties started loudly. It was so sad to say goodbye.
“Go! Go!” said Grandmother, dabbing her eyes.
Uncle Tunde started the engine.
“Goodbye, Anna!” sobbed Chocolate and Angel.
“Don’t forget us!” wailed Benz and Wonderful.
“Enjoy yourself!” called Thank-God and Sociable.
“Write about everything!” wept Clarity and Joy and Common Sense.
“Be careful!” sniffed Auntie Joly.
“Don’t forget to snap many photos!” called Uncle Eldest and Uncle Habibi.
“Come back soon!” sobbed Grandmother and Grandfather.
“Come soon! Come soon!” wailed Double and Trouble.
And they were off.
Anna Hibiscus turned around in her seat to wave. The gates closed behind them. The big white house where Anna Hibiscus had lived all her life was gone.
They turned the corner. The white walls around the garden were gone too.
A big lump came into Anna Hibiscus’s throat.
Anna’s mother put her arm around her. “Don’t worry, Anna,” she whispered.
But Anna did worry. She worried all the way to the airport.
Copyright © 2023 by Atinuke; Illustrated by Lauren Tobia. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
