Call Your Daughter Home

Retta continues to write letters to Odell and worries about his safety. Gertrude and the girls have been living in her home since the roof of the Walker house collapsed during the storm. When Retta is convinced that Gertrude has recovered enough, she stirs her out of her sickbed by blowing pepper in her face. Though sullen, Gertrude is strong enough to cope now.

When Retta goes outside, she finds that the women in her neighborhood are holding a prayer meeting. The conversation turns to Retta’s house guests. Mabel, a particularly intrusive neighbor, is worried that white people will move into Shake Rag. Retta reminds Mabel that trouble is universal. Helping people in trouble is the Christian thing to do. The neighborhood women agree. The confrontation with Mabel clears the air, and Retta shrugs their harsh words off as a family squabble.

Gertrude goes back to the Walker house to assess the damage. The mean-tempered rooster that Retta inherited from Mrs. Walker follows her inside. It begins pecking at the floorboards where Mrs. Walker concealed her money. The box is still intact, and Gertrude takes the money and the note that was meant for Retta. She goes into the back bedroom to see if any of the bedding or clothing is salvageable. At that moment, she hears a car drive up. It’s the sheriff again.

He enters the house, but Gertrude keeps still in the back room. She assumes that he has come to arrest her. As he is about to move through the house, the rooster attacks him. The sheriff backs out the door, injuring the bird in the process. After he leaves, Gertrude realizes that the rooster can’t be saved, so she wrings its neck and brings it back to Retta. Gertrude apologizes to her for killing it, but Retta says they can prepare it for dinner.

Annie watches in amused silence as Edwin now carries a pistol wherever he goes. He tries to force her to eat, but she refuses. Even Retta tries to tempt her with her favorite dishes, but two weeks go by, and Annie continues her hunger strike. Edwin is determined to go ahead with Homecoming Camp to keep up appearances. Worried that Annie might not appear, he calls the doctor to examine her. The doctor finds nothing wrong other than her refusal to eat. Both men realize that they can’t force Annie to live.

Retta frets about the preparations for camp without Mrs. Coles supervising, and Edwin tells her to hire whomever she pleases to assist. He knows that her culinary skills always draw a large gathering of civic leaders, so he doesn’t interfere with her plans. Retta goes upstairs to try to get Annie to eat again. While there, she reads the paper and notes that Molly’s employer will be attending Homecoming Camp. Possibly, Molly will be there, too. Retta hopes to spark some interest in Annie at the prospect of seeing her daughter again.

At that moment, the women hear a racket outside. The wagons have finally returned. Retta is distressed to see Odell’s team being driven by Lonnie. He tells her not to worry. Odell remained behind because Preacher got ill, and he didn’t want to leave him. Lonnie also gives Retta a packet of letters from Odell, one for every day that he’s been gone. Retta then informs Lonnie that his mother is starving herself to death, and he rushes off to see Annie.

That evening, Retta notices a bonfire in the Walker backyard. Gertrude is outside burning the water-damaged furniture. Retta goes to her and offers her the job of camp assistant. She also offers odd jobs to Alma and Mary since Edna is already working for her. Gertrude is shamefaced and declares that she isn’t a good person. She hands Mrs. Walker’s money and letter to Retta, explaining that she cut up the dress to make clothing for her daughters. Retta takes the news in stride, telling Gertrude that she needs the resources more.

Gertrude then goes on to confess that she killed Alvin and will be punished for her sin. Retta has a ready answer for this, too: “If not him, it was gonna be you” (271). Retta refuses to take back the money and walks home. She sees all her Shake Rag neighbors on the porch, waiting to hear news about Odell and Preacher. Retta tells them what she learned, and they resolve to make the four-day trip and bring the men back.