Chapters 1-6 Summary

Chapter 1-2: Aibileen, August 1962

Chapter 1 starts with Aibileen Clark talking about the birth of Mae Mobley Leefolt, daughter of Elizabeth Leefolt. Mae Mobley was born in August 1960. Aibileen refers to the girl as a church baby because she was born on a Sunday morning. The first day Aibileen laid eyes on Mae Mobley, she was suffering from colic and crying. Elizabeth had no idea what to do with the baby. Aibileen picked up the baby and had her calmed down in no time. Aibileen credits her touch to having raised 17 white children during her working life.

"Taking care a white babies, that's what I do, along with all the cooking and the cleaning."

(Chap. 1, p. 1)

Mae Mobley begins to follow Aibileen around from the first minute she can walk. Aibileen loves the little girl although the child is fat and not...