Letters 36-42 Summary

Sofia returns home looking good with a big black man named Henry Broadnax, but Celie refers to him as the Prizefighter. The two of them sit down for a drink and the prizefighter makes a comment about Shug's gold dress, which is barely held up by the straps. She tells them the trouble she's had with the kids and that she now has six of them. They are with her sister. Celie is shocked at how good Sofia looks, and Sofia tells her that life does not stop when you leave home. Celie, though, believes just the opposite. However, she also believes that it started again when Shug came to stay. Harpo confronts Sofia and the Prizefighter about her responsibilities, but then they end up dancing. Squeak, Harpo's new girlfriend, tries to cut in, but she and Sofia get into it...