Summary

Chapter 9

It had been nine years since Baby Suggs died; Sethe wanted to go to the Clearing to be near her. The Clearing was a place in the woods where the coloreds came to be with Baby Suggs. They listened as she prayed and together they would dance, laugh and cry.

In the Clearing, Sethe sat on the rock where Baby Suggs used to preach. Sethe remembered how lively the place had once been. The people she met had taught her how to be a person out of slavery. Sitting there she began to feel fingers rubbing her neck; gently she relaxed thinking of Baby Suggs caring for her from another place.

The hands on her neck were getting tighter and gripping her under her chin; Sethe could no longer breathe. Denver ran to her and pulled the invisible hands from Sethe. Sethe knew those...