Chapters 11, 12 and 13 Summary

Chapter 11 - Ethiopian Eden - This chapter documents the transformation of the first floor of an old brownstone building from an abandoned apartment into Laura and Essie's church. Narration reveals that, in response to a bribe from Laura and a promise of three months rent in advance, the landlord evicted a family from the southern United States and allowed the church to move in. Narration also recounts that Laura hired an artist to create murals of Biblical stories with a black Jesus, a black Adam and Eve resembling popular celebrities, and a serpent with eyes that sparkle like diamonds. Laura's dialogue in this section is similar to traditional dialogue ascribed to God in the Bible story in Genesis of how the world was created. Narration also recounts that Laura found the artist very attractive, and that Essie forbade any kind of...