Summary

Chapter 28 begins with Cussy leaving a food carton from Doc at the schoolhouse. A few days later Doc pays her a visit and tells her he has figured out what is wrong with her - she has methemoglobinemia. It is a rare genetic blood disorder that means her blood is not oxygenated. Doc says he has a drug called methylene blue, and if it works, she will not have to go back to Lexington anymore. He injects the drug into Cussy’s veins and within a few moments she is white. She and Doc stares at her reflection in the mirror but almost immediately she gets a headache and vomits. Doc says the nausea disappears eventually.

When Cussy wakes the next day though, her skin is returning to its previous color. Doc comes by again, urging Pa to take the medicine in tablet...