Summary

The fifth chapter of “Part One: Josephine, Lina” is titled “Josephine” and is told in past tense. The doctor arrived. Josephine had met him before but she tried not to think about it. Miss Lu said she felt “right as rain” (63). Dr. Vickers said he needed to examine her anyway and was annoyed that Mister Robert did not make time to talk with him afterward. Memories rushed over Josephine. She had ignored signs of her pregnancy until she no longer could. She ran away but was too near her date and returned to the plantation where she gave birth in a bed, possibly in Miss Lu's bed, with Dr. Vickers in attendance. She did not hear the cry of the newborn and thought it was appropriate the her child was born dead. She again pushed the memories away.

Josephine...