Summary

In Chapter 7, Grandma lists three rules. They will rise at 7:30 to do chores; they will attend church on Sundays; and, they must always be near enough to return by the time Grandma yells at them five times. One of the chores Ernie and Genie perform is getting rid of the dog poop. They are busy at that when a man arrives. Grandma calls him Crab, and he is later identified as Marcus Crabtree, Tess's father. Marcus goes inside to see Grandpop. Grandma shows the boys how to pick peas. They hear Marcus shooting a gun nearby as they work. When they finish, Genie goes inside and Grandpop takes him to the locked door. Inside, Genie finds a sun room. The roof is made of glass and plants fill the room. There are five birdcages in a semi-circle, each housing a barn swallow, and...