Book 1, Chapter 2 Summary

The next morning, Atie makes cinnamon rice pudding for breakfast. Sophie forces herself to eat, though she does not want to. Atie tries to cheer her up by telling her a funny story, but neither her nor Sophie's mood permits much laughter. After they eat, Sophie washes the dishes, and Atie talks to her from the table. She tells her that the only reason Atie has been living in Croix-de-Rosets is for Sophie's schooling, and once Sophie leaves, Atie will go stay with Sophie's grandmother. She tells Sophie that her mother really loves her, and the only reason she left Sophie with Atie was that she did not know anything about New York and did not want to take any chances. She tells Sophie they are a family with dirt under their nails, explaining that the only way they could live...