Part 4 Summary and Analysis

The changes in Walker's parent's relationship begin when her mother moves a king sized bed into Walker's room and begins sleeping with her every night. Each night, her mother falls asleep, weeping. The young girl does not understand the tension in the home, but knows something is hurting her mother and offers her some comfort. Each night, Walker's father returns late and kisses both good night.

Then, one night, her father's future second wife visits while her mother is out of town. The white, Jewish woman brings marshmallows for Walker and visits with her father well into the night. Walker reveals that, within a year, the woman moves into the brownstone with her father, when Walker and her mother move to a much smaller apartment.

Walker receives the news of her parents divorce calmly, and pretends that everything is okay. However...