Summary

Part I is titled Kissing Summer Good-Bye. Chapter1 is titled “August.” Russell describes the situation in rural Indiana during a typical August. Some crops are ripening, including corn and tomatoes, and the days are becoming shorter. These are indications that “the jailhouse of school” is quickly approaching. Russell and the other youngsters in the community attend Hominy Ridge School. This is a one-room school with only one teacher for all the elementary grades. Her name is Miss Myrt Arbuckle. Russell says she is far “past her prime.” She has difficulty hearing and has arthritis in her elbow. Russell believes her hearing problems are the result of her own yelling. The arthritis means she is no longer able to “whup” with any real damage. One of the students had brought a book to read during a whipping the previous year – an indication that he...