Summary

Chapter 7 is titled “Keeping Pact,” and it covers the period from 1977 through the summer of 1980. One day, Cookie begged strangers for enough money to get a tank of gas and took the children to their grandparents' home. Cookie's parents did not welcome them but reluctantly allowed them to use the bathroom. After they left, Cookie went around town and introduced herself as “Mike and Rose's daughter” (130). She also introduced the children, and the merchants soon handed out items to the obviously destitute and desperate family. They had to move again after a short time, partly because of a lice infestation. They began to attend another school and an official took pity on them, registering Regina, Norm, and Rose without the official documents for them to get credit for their attendance. By this point, Regina knew her future depended on her education.

They lived above...