Chapter 2 Summary

As the father and son return home to the dark and unkempt building, they pass by many unattended children and women quarrelling in the street. They soon meet Maggie, who is pulling on a reluctant Tommie. They are Jimmie's siblings. Maggie cries out to Jimmie when she sees that he's been fighting again. She reminds him of how their mother gets "put out" by the fighting and that they are likely to "take a poundin"' from her. Jimmie gets upset with her and warns her that he is going to hit her if she does not shut up. He follows through with his warning and hits her right there on the street. The father finally hears the two of them fighting and puts an end to it. They approach their door and enter into the room to find their mother watching them...