Summary

Chapter 3. Richard’s mother becomes too ill to work, and he has to try and earn money to support the family. Richard and his brother are terrified when their mother suffers a severe stroke. His mother is partially paralyzed and very ill, and the decision is made to take her to Granny’s house in Jackson. They travel by train with his mother on a stretcher. All of his mother’s siblings are summoned to come help, and to try and figure out how they will deal with this calamity. Eventually the decision is made that Richard’s brother will go live with Aunt Maggie in Detroit, and he chooses to go to his Uncle Clark’s in Greenwood, because it is the closest to Jackson and his mother.

From the beginning Richard is uncomfortable at the home of his Uncle Clark and Aunt Jody...