Summary

Chapter six finds Tashia returned from college and forcing Casey to move into a two-bedroom apartment with her in Section 8 housing, at first against his will. Casey quickly overcame his reluctance and the siblings enjoyed a degree of security and freedom that they never had before, buying a Christmas tree and sugar, taking long showers and running the air conditioner interminably. Casey found Debra’s checkbook and learned to forge his mother’s signature so that he could withdraw money from her bank account in order to supplement Tashia’s welfare checks; Debra had been receiving $700 monthly welfare payments . Casey experienced anxiety and guilt at first but ultimately felt justified cashing the checks in light of the fact that Debra had abandoned them.

Chapter seven begins with sixteen-year-old Casey and his first boyfriend, a boy of indeterminate age named Red. Red was Casey...