Summary

The narrator, simply known as "sister," begins the story telling of how she had a fine relationship with her family: Mama, Papa-Daddy (her maternal grandfather) and Uncle Rondo. That is, until her younger sister returned home anyway. Stella-Rondo had recently separated from her husband – a man who, Sister points out, used to go with her until Stella-Rondo "stole" him. Stella-Rondo is the baby of the family by exactly twelve months and Sister says that is why she is so spoiled.

Sister is upset that Stella-Rondo always gets everything she wants and she just throws it away. This explains why, soon after getting married to Mr. Whitaker, she separates from him and comes home with a two-year old child, Shirley-T. Mama "pretends" to be upset with Stella-Rondo for not telling her about the baby, but Stella-Rondo claims that the baby is adopted...