Summary

The novel begins in the winter of 1944. Evelyn is an African-American resident of New Orleans’ Seventh Ward. She is about 19 years old and lives with her parents, her younger sister Ruby, and her younger brother. Evelyn’s father is the first African-American doctor in the state of Louisiana, and Evelyn is studying nursing at Dillard University. One day, on their way to school, they encounter two African-American men who are about their same age. The four converse, and one of the men introduces himself to Evelyn as Renard Williams. He says he lives in the Twelfth Ward (which is less prosperous than the Seventh Ward) and that he is a premedical student who wishes to be a doctor. Evelyn and Renard converse pleasantly before going their separate ways. The narrative then transition to the Friday evening of that week. Ruby leaves the house to...