Part Three: Chapters 14 & 15 Summary

Florence isn't sure how much time has passed before she realizes her mother isn't coming back home again, but it is a long time. The first thing she does after Mama drives off is wash all the mixing bowls and pans. Then she takes out the meal she prepared in case Mama gets hungry while she's baking. She sets out what few ingredients they have in the house, greases the pans, preheats the oven, then sits outside and waits. She waits for hours, full of hope that Mama will return her old self again. She runs through the recipes in her mind in case Mama has forgotten them while she was away. As Florence sits and waits, she notices the roaches creeping in after sunset. Worried that they'll be attracted to all the fresh food Mama brings home, Florence...