Passage from Uncle Jed’s Barbershop

He used to come by our house every Wednesday night with his clippers. He was the only black barber in the county. Daddy said that before Uncle Jed started cutting hair, he and Granddaddy used to have to go thirty miles to get a haircut. After Uncle Jed cut my daddy’s hair, he lathered a short brush with soap and spread it over my daddy’s face and shaved him. Then he started over on my granddaddy.

Passage from The Gardener

Grandma told us after supper that you want me to come to the city and live with you until things get better. Did she tell you that Papa has been out of work for a long time, and no one asks Mama to make dresses anymore? We all cried, even Papa. But then Mama made us laugh with her stories about your chasing her up trees when you were both little. Did you really do that? I’m small, but strong, and I’ll help you all I can. However, Grandma said to finish my schoolwork before doing anything else.