Summary

Chapter 10 is titled “Stony Lonesome.” Russell and Tansy ride in silence. Tansy is wearing her new hat which makes Russell see her as “Teacher Tansy.” “I felt like I ought to put up my hand to be called on” (103). Russell is shocked when they turn up Stony Lonesome Road where the Tarbox family lives. Tansy needs at least one more student in order to keep the school open. She says the Tarbox family has a lot of kids. Russell tries to talk her out of it. There is a foul odor before they even reach the house. They see the map from the school is being used as a tablecloth. Mrs. Tarbox says they have few visitors other than the sheriff. Tansy says there is a law that children between six and 16 have to attend school. Mrs. Tarbox says the children have chores...