I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Chapter Summary & Analysis - Chapter 21 Summary

Chapter 21 Summary

Bailey builds a hideaway with branches and an old blanket behind the store. He takes girls inside to experiment with petting. He tells Maya they are playing Mommy and Daddy and she is the baby lookout. Six months into playing these games with the girls in town, he meets Joyce, a fifteen year old girl. She is a very mature fifteen year old and is much more experienced than Bailey. She hangs around the Store frequently and runs errands for Momma. He takes her into the hideaway and is confused when she tells him to open his pants. Maya tells Joyce not to do that to her brother. They send her away and continue the game. She is Bailey's first love, and when she begins complaining of being hungry and not feeling well, Bailey begins stealing food for her. One day, she disappears and Bailey loses interest in everything else....
(read more)