Chapter 1 Summary

A Long and Happy Life is the story of Rosacoke Mustian, a young woman searching for love and a purpose for her life in rural North Carolina of the early 1960's. As the story begins, Rosacoke is riding on the back of Wesley Beaver's motorcycle; she is on her way to the funeral of a childhood playmate, Mildred Sutton, who has died in childbirth. As it is the day of the Delight Baptist Church picnic, Rosacoke knows that she will be the only white person at the funeral.

Choosing not to accompany her inside, Wesley sits under a tree outside the church and polishes the dust off his motorcycle; Rosacoke wonders why, after six years of dating, Wesley cannot even commit to sitting with her through a one-hour service. When Wesley later roars off on the motorcycle in the middle of the funeral...