July Saturday by Jacqueline Woodson Summary

While watching the Williams' house go up in smoke, the narrator sits with Claytena Smalls who is concerned with the fact that Chuck Williams would have asked her out if his house had not caught fire today. Claytena notes a teenage girl down the street who does not seem to belong in their neighborhood. The narrator and Claytena discuss how life seems to stop and speed up uncontrollably at times. Mama tells the narrator to get their house ready for the Williamses to stay with them. As Mama comforts Mrs. Williams, the narrator sees Mr. Williams talking to the strange teenager from her window, but Mama regains her attention as they walk down the street together. Back outside, the narrator confides to Claytena that she suspects the teenager of starting the fire, but Claytena is...