Chapters 22-24 Summary

The seeds finally come for Maxine's garden. As Vernon helps Miss Annie by planting them, he confesses what Jerry told him about Miss Murphy's phone call. Miss Annie immediately gets on the phone with connections she has with the children's services department. Miss Annie assures Vernon that there is nothing to worry about, yet. Vernon still feels a great deal of unrest.

When he visits Maxine, he finds her on edge from the lack of drink. She confesses that she feels she must be clean all the time, because Miss Murphy has paid some surprise visits. Vernon begins avoiding Maxine. He takes Robert for a walk alone. When Robert insists on staying at one house for a long time to stare at the garden statues, he notices that Robert can count, as he is counting the statues. This serves as another...