Summary

In “Ginger,” Lydia, a woman who lived down the block from Velvet, called Ginger wanting to know if Ginger was Velvet’s godmother. She said Velvet had come to her house crying because her mother was abusing her. Lydia said there were no bruises but she believed Velvet because she was so upset. She described Velvet as being like a puppy, a good deal younger than 15. Ginger stopped her and told her that Velvet was 12. The woman’s voice became harder when she learned Velvet’s true age. She said she was going to take Velvet home but thought that Ginger should know what was happening.

In “Velvet,” Velvet overheard Lydia’s conversation with Ginger. She thought Ginger would believe how her mother treated her because an adult had told her.

In “Ginger,” Lydia told Ginger that when she took Velvet home her mother...