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1. How is Mama described in her youth in Chapter 1?

In Chapter 1, Florence's Mama was born in 1908 and grew up on a dirt road in Ballston. After her father died, Botetourt, her older brother, left Granny and Mama alone. Never interested in creating appearances, Mama quit school at age 15, went to work for the telephone company and joined their softball team.

2. How is Evelyn Cunningham described in Chapter 1? Why did she stay with Granny?

Since she could do nothing about Mama, Granny searched for a surrogate daughter which she could make into a Southern lady, and she found this in her niece, Evelyn Cunningham. Evelyn had mental and female issues, and when Aunt Nana tried to send Evelyn to an insane asylum, she ran to Granny and stayed for two years.

3. What attracted men to Evelyn Cunningham? Who was the one exception?

With her catatonic seizures and frequent disappearances, Evelyn became the most popular hysteric in Virginia, and the men were enthralled by her intense femininity. Only Preston Hunt, a man who was never manly enough for his father, was immune to her charms, and he began courting Mama because she met his emotional needs.

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