Summary

Janice declines Chester Dexter’s invitation to join him in Ohio, and breaks up with him. Grandma is supportive of her decision, telling her that she should never follow a man anywhere. Claude receives his acceptance letter from Missouri. When his family questions why he would ever want to leave, Claude responds that “Chicago doesn’t want us” (123). Grandma contends that they do not belong anywhere, not just Chicago.

Paul comes home one night with a bruise on his face, which he sustained in a fight with a man named Charles Doyle. He grabs his staff to practice for his next fight, while Janice questions Claude about his decision to move to Missouri. While continuing to train for his fight, Paul tells Claude that his parents will not want to see him in Missouri.

Paul takes Claude with him to fight Charles Doyle, who...