Summary

Barnes feels personally betrayed when he learns Wood Mountain went to help Patrice, after all the time Barnes has spent on the boy’s training. Wood Mountain explains he only went because his sister told him how Cal and others prey on girls new to the Cities. It was not an important experience, and Patrice would not have been interested even if he had tried. Barnes tearfully asks whether he has a chance with someone as pretty as Patrice, and Wood Mountain awkwardly corrects him: “Hell on wheels sharp. That’s what she is” (208).

Barnes tries to solve the equation of himself versus Wood Mountain, but there are too many variables: is being white good or bad? Does the baby figure in?

Ever since Wood Mountain held baby Archille in his arms, he has been thinking about the future. After boxing practice, he...