Summary

In Chapter 37, Roy comes home with a bunch of expensive presents. Marva questions how he can afford all of this, and Roy says that an upcoming police operation is going to earn him a promotion. The initial happiness of this interaction dissolves when Roy reveals gifts he bought for Tru as a belated birthday present, though he has not gotten anything for Kenny. Marva asks Roy where he got all this money from, and it turns out Roy has been gambling on horses. Marva says Roy is risking all their savings and tells Roy he should be ashamed. She tells him to take all the gifts back, to which Roy responds, "Ah taking all di gifts an' giving dem to someone who deserve dem" (328). When Marva asks Roy who he means, Roy says, "Nuttin' yuh don't already know" (328).

Marva approaches Roy like...