Summary

Just after her father leaves for the hardware store, Cecelia watches as her great aunt pulls into the driveway and can barely bring herself to answer the door. Tallulah Caldwell introduces herself and tells Cecelia to call her Aunt Tootie. When her Aunt Tootie tells her that she’d sure love to have her, Cecelia bursts into tears and Aunt Tootie warps her in her arms, holding her until she cries herself out.

Aunt Tootie asks if Cecelia has everything she wants, incredulous that her life amounted to a box of clothes and a box of books, and while Cecelia is tempted to ask about taking more books, she says yes. They load up and asked if she is ready to go, Cecelia asks about her father. Aunt Tootie is sympathetic when she gives her the two line note from her father, and...