Chapter 3 Summary

A few days before Christmas, Milo goes to pick up Rato, who is coming home from Oklahoma for leave. Always a bit on the slow side, Rato has not changed in Rosacoke's eyes, and she wonders why she had thought an army uniform might have made him into something tough and unapproachable. Rato's innate sweetness is still intact, and even though it is still a few days until Christmas, his insistence on distributing his gifts early shows Rosacoke that her brother is still very childlike. Perhaps Rosacoke had thought Rato could be a confidant for her, but all hope of that quickly vanishes.

While the rest of the family heads to church for the Christmas pageant, Rosacoke remains at home under the guise of keeping company with Sissie, who is still in mourning. Her restless mind won't let her stay still very long...