Chapters 9-18 Summary

Chapter 9: Jubie becomes excited when she sees a sign for a traveling Carnival just outside Pensacola. There is a large sign advertising Bryson McCurdy's Traveling Carnival. Mary takes the children to the Carnival. During the freak show a young black man accidentally pulls down the curtain when Mary yells out to him. The boy, Leesum, blogs to Mary's church and had run away from home. Mary insists that Leesum go home with them to Taylor's house. Mary questions Leesum about his work with the Carnival. Leesum says that he ran away from home and that his mother most likely did not care because she was a 'ho' and a drug addict. Mary will not tolerate such disrespect.

That evening Paula realizes that something is out of order with Jubie and Stell. Paula asks Mary what is going on with the girls...