Chapter 4 Summary

Winter comes to town. School is let out early enough for children to start working in the fields again. More importance is placed on working than on education, because "cotton sustains life."

With the trial of TJ Avery behind them, the town finds it best to keep from speaking about him. The only news that people discuss is that his appeal was rejected. There will be no new trial.

Mama is teaching again, but not at a school. With exams nearing, Cassie and Stacey's classmates start having study sessions at home, led by Mama.

With work starting up in the fields again, Moe begins planning for his family's future freedom from sharecropping. This is an agreement where the landowner rents out pieces of land to farmers. After paying the landowner for the use of his land, and accruing debt by buying supplies on...