Summary

Phyllisia reaches Edith’s apartment building, but hesitates to go in, as it is a bad neighborhood and she feels she might be in danger. Phyllisia also remembers hearing that Edith’s older brother had been shot trying to run away from the police. She was afraid that if the police were canvassing the apartment, they would surely tell Calvin that she had come to Edith’s house. Too afraid to proceed, Phyllisia turns and heads home. When she reaches their apartment, she sees Ruby’s boyfriend outside, obviously beaten. Inside, Calvin is beating Ruby, berating her for being out with a boy. Later that night, Ruby defends Calvin, insisting that they need to explain things to him. Phyllisia, on the other hand, says she would rather put up with his torture than beg him for forgiveness.

While the two girls are cooped up in...