Summary

“Cleaning” switches focus to an 8th grade girl named Kayley Callaghan who had lost her father two years earlier. Since then, Kayley had made money cleaning houses to support her mother and earn some pocket money for herself. Her father had been passionate about his Irish ancestry, particularly the injustices the Irish had faced from the English, and now Kayley tried to carry on his views, bringing her into conflict with her English teacher, Mrs. Ringrose, a proud descendent of the pilgrims. Despite the tension this causes, Mrs. Ringrose asked her to clean her house.

Kayley’s father had taught her to play the piano and had loved listening to her play, but since his death Kayley had stopped playing. One night, Kayley’s mother and her sister, Brenda, suggested selling the piano, but Kayley promised she would play again.

When Kayley went to...