Fall 1988-Winter 1989, Chapter 19 Summary

The children have a good Christmas holiday as LaJoe has been putting gifts on layaway for months to give them items they want. On December 30th Pharoah insists on staying up all night so the next night he'll sleep through the New Years Eve celebratory gun shots he knows to expect. In February Pharoah returns to the Chicago Stadium to make some cash for the Boys Club annual talent show. The show has been an annual event since the Boys Club first opened, with local children and young men and women singing, dancing and doing comedy acts. At the event, Lafeyette and Pharoah are in a top bleacher row where they can stand for a clear view of the stage. Porkchop is also with them. The master of ceremonies finally comes out and in preparation for singing the national...