Summary

Prologue

The prologue takes place in 1929 in North Carolina.

The reader is introduced to an African American family. James, older than his sister, Alice, by 15 months, has developed a game for him and his sister to play. Since they always seem to be ‘of one mind’ as their grandparents have said on more than one occasion, they want to test it. Sitting on the floor, the flats of their feet touching, each holds a chalk board. Alice writes a simple word, and James will draw what comes to mind. They are right every time. However, when they excitedly go to tell their mother about their new game, she becomes angry with them and tells them to stop conspiring with the spirits. They children continue to play the game in private nonetheless.

The family lives with their mother’s parents, because their father has died...