Chapters 2, 3, 4 and 5 Summary

Chapter 2 - Blue Monday - The following morning, Laura comes to Essie in search of both coffee and some money to bet on the numbers. Essie tells her she's been thinking about the idea of starting a church, but at first Laura is too busy worrying about where she's going to get some gambling money and wine. When she realizes Essie is serious, Laura tells her they need to scrape some money together for a tambourine and a Bible, go down to a street corner, and start preaching. After she goes out to get dressed, Essie sits for a long time and imagines several things - her life as a preacher, a new life with her daughter, Marietta, and a new place to live. Her thoughts lead her to sing. Laura, on her way out to find someone to buy her...