Summary

The first chapter of “Part One: Josephine, Lina,” is titled “Josephine” and is told in past tense. This chapter opens in Lynnhurst, Virginia, 1852. Josephine was sweeping the porch of the Bell Creek plantation where she was a slave in the home of Miss Lu Anne Bell and Mister Robert Bell. Mister said something to Josephine as he was walking onto the porch, but she did not hear what he said. He did not seem “urgent” or upset. He suddenly struck her without saying anything about the reason why. He reminded her that the doctor was to arrive that day to check on Miss Lu. and then walks away.

Josphine looked out over the nearby fields, noting that there were some rows ready for planting but Mister did not have enough seeds to plant them. Things had gone badly under...