Chapter 12 Summary

Fast forwarding to her new life, Ellen is woken up by her new mama for school. As she lies in bed, Ellen mentally lists what she likes about her new life: 1) she doesn't plan to leave until she is old: 2) she doesn't owe anyone money; 3) she can count on food to eat; and 4) her new mama's "saying good morning like she means it."

Stella, who is in 7^th grade, is Roger's mother and he cries when she leaves for school with Ellen. Despite the fact she is already a mother, Stella fools around with boys in the back of the school bus. On her way to music class, Ellen passes Starletta's classroom and muses over how much she misses her old friend and how much she has grown and matured in Ellen's absence. Starletta even has a crush on a white boy, Tom...