Summary

In Chapter 8, “Holiday Excavations, December,” Ray’s orchestra teacher refused to hear him audition for regionals. Ray knew it was because he was a “Black kid with a school violin, [and] no private teacher” (73). He turned his instrument in before break, as it was a rental.

At Grandma Nora’s for Christmas, Ray told Grandma Nora he could not play for her because he no longer had an instrument. She let him search the attic for PopPop’s fiddle again. He found nothing. When he went to the mall to look for a new violin, they were too expensive. That afternoon, Grandma gave Ray PopPop’s fiddle for a Christmas present. It was in disrepair, but Ray was thrilled. His mother, aunts, and uncles, scoffed, insisting the instrument belonged in the family.

Aunt Rochelle took Ray to the music store to...