July, Chapters 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Summary

Reverend Anderson has sent a letter to Joyce to inform her that the Sewing Circus may no longer use the church hall for its meetings due to the appalling scene witnessed by Mrs. Anderson during Joyce's lesson on condom usage. Irritated but undaunted, Joyce vows to continue the group meetings, because there has been much progress in the girls in the six months the Sewing Circus has been operating. Finding a new location is an inconvenience, but Joyce will persevere in her mission.

Imani's presence in the house is taking different tolls on the two sisters. Ava begins to be annoyed at the baby's constant whimpering to be held, while Joyce lives in fear that the birth parents will come to claim the child, to whom she is growing very attached. Meanwhile, as Ava settles into her second month...