Chapter 1 Summary

The story opens with Cassie, Stacey, Christopher-John and Little Man all packed inside a wagon as Papa drives them to the home of the Page Ellises and Mrs. Lee Annie Lees. Along the way, Cassie thinks she sees Wordell scurrying out of one edge of the woods and into another across the street.

After reaching their destination and greeting Son Boy and Don Lee Ellis, Papa exits through the house, leaving his children on the front porch with the Ellis boys, along with Willie and Maynard Wiggins, who are waiting on Clarice.

The children's conversation soon turns to TJ Avery, and it is slowly revealed that he is currently in jail, after he is accused of killing Mr. Barnett while robbing his store in Strawberry. He claims that RW and Melvin Simms actually did it, and he just went along with them, but...