Part 1, Chapter 8 Summary

Even before Willie had taken over the paper, he had heard a story about a black family that lived in the Lowtown section of Ford County. Calia and Esau Ruffin had been married for over forty years and raised eight children. Seven of their children had gone on to earn PhDs. Willie was fascinated with their story and called to schedule an interview. He met Mrs. Ruffin at her immaculate home, with its front porch, white picket fence and flower garden. She had prepared a meal for them to share at a table on the front porch and prayed when they sat down to eat. As the son of anorexic, Willie had never had home cooked meals, and he savored every bite of the amazing meal laid out before him. Callie, as she preferred to be called, had grown everything they...