New Territory Summary

Early one morning Gloria wakes to the sound of a big moving van pulling up to the vacant house across the street. Following the van is a car driven by a black man about fifty-years-old, and Gloria is happy that some more black people are moving into the neighborhood. Gloria makes a mental note to thaw a sweet potato pie from the freezer to take to her new neighbors and then heads to the Oasis.

Gloria checks her voice messages at the salon and learns that Phillip has a virus called shingles, which will keep him home for at least a month and possibly longer. Gloria takes a blood pressure pill and wonders whether this development means that Phillip has AIDS but does not know anyone who has any information on this new disease. Gloria's first appointment for the day is...