Mama Day

After visiting Ruby, Cocoa falls violently ill, and it quickly becomes apparent that Ruby did something to Cocoa as she was braiding her hair. While George tries to help the Willow Springs locals repair the bridge so that they can get professional help for Cocoa, a furious Miranda discovers the poison in Cocoa’s hair and does what she can to get it out. But Miranda cannot heal Cocoa completely, and “the rest was just about out of her hands” (437).

The men take a break from working on the bridge to attend a funeral for Little Caesar. One by one, the locals approach the front of the church and talk about when they first saw him. George seems surprised by the ritual; it is not like the traditional Christian funeral that “called for a sermon, music, tears—the belief in an earthly finality for the child’s life” (443). He remarks that Bernice and Ambush were not even crying. After the brief service, the coffin is buried, and the men return to their work on the bridge.

Meanwhile, Miranda goes to confront Ruby at her property. Upon seeing Miranda, Ruby locks herself in her home, but Miranda scatters a strange silver powder all over the property and leaves as quickly as she came.