Zeudu describes his family tree, his village, and the local history. His parents divorced when he was a child and he moved with his younger brother and his mother to her parents’ house. A short while later, his grandmother and brother died. His mother remarried, as was traditional. His step-father abused Zeudu, so, out of fear, his older brother sent him to live with his father’s sisters in Dankaz. There, he herded the family’s sheep and cattle. He learned to read and write from his father’s books.

After two years, his father contracted a pestilence that was epidemic in the area of Belessa. Zeudu’s brother took him to their village, where he was treated in isolation, but he died of the disease. Zeudu describes the customs of burial and mourning. He also describes the disputes with the Christian neighbors about his father’s grave.

Twelve-year old Zeudu continued living with his brother. He worked in agriculture and blacksmithing. As a blacksmith, he made tools such as ploughs, hoes, and axes. After a while, he went back to live with his mother, who was now alone and earning her living as a potter in Jaja. There he learned to sew and found work as a tailor. He describes the work, methods of pricing, and the mutual assistance among members of the community. He also talks about the racist attitude of the Christians toward the local Jews.

When he was 21, a marriage was arranged for him. He married a year later. His wife, who was eight years old, moved to live with Zeudu, his mother, and sister. Two years later, his mother and sister moved to live with his mother’s grandfather. Zeudu and his wife remained alone. Zeudu relates how his young wife did not yet know how to do the housework and prepare food. He describes with amusement how he secretly helped her.

When his wife grew up and the couple tried to have children, they experienced several stillbirths. In the end, they agreed that Zeudu will have children with another woman, but they will be brought up as the couple’s children. Zeudu explains about the customs connected to surrogacy and how they brought up their two surrogate children. Concurrently, Zeudu and his wife travelled to Gantava (a holy site) where they fasted and prayed for children. A year later, his wife became pregnant and the couple their own child.  

The rise to power of the Derg party, led by Mengistu Haile Mariam who deposed Emperor Haile Selassie, significantly improved Zeudu’s condition and that of the other Jews. They were allowed to own land and became citizens with equal rights.

Zeudu was sent to Amba Giorgis Warda, where he was appointed as a legal assistant in court. His job was to resolve disputes on topics such as real estate or family law. As part of his work, he was sent to distant villages to explain the reforms under the new regime to the residents. He served as a court representative. Zeudu relates that the public was reluctant to accept the new laws. Several times he was the victim of violence, including gun fire. He notes that some of the criminals he caught and brought to trial were hung on market day in Warda, to deter potential criminals.

Alongside his official work, Zeudu rented land for his family and hired a worker. He explains what agreements and wages were standard at that time.

After eight years in his public position in Warda, Zeudu was selected for another position in Awraja. At this time, the immigration of Ethiopian Jews to Israel via Sudan began. Zeudu took advantage of his governmental position to help smuggle them. Concurrently, the civil war raged. The EHAPA rebel organization captured territory and pursued governmental employees. Zeudu describes how his life was in two-fold danger – from the authorities because he helped Jews, and from the rebels, because he was a government worker.

Eventually, Zeudu secretly sold all his possessions and set out with his family in a group of 11 people to Sudan. On the way, they encountered robbers and Zeudu almost lost his daughter. When the group arrived in the city of Mereba, Zeudu returned to take care of his affairs and to inform the rest of his family that the trip had been successful. When he returned, he discovered that the authorities were searching for him because he was suspected of stealing property and escaping to Sudan. He managed to regain his property and to escape from the authorities. He set out on a trouble-filled journey from Mereba to Sudan in a group of 366 people. From Sudan, they continued to Israel.