Angel Of Greenwood

From Isaiah’s perspective, Deacon Yancey doesn’t like him because, long ago, his mother used to date Deacon Yancey’s son Pete and was going to marry him. However, she met Isaiah’s father and married him instead. Looking through his notebook, Isaiah notices his college application essays are missing. It infuriates him that Muggy would take them.

Isaiah passes by a flower shop owned by Mrs. Turner. His father used to buy his mom a single rose from that store every Friday. He also passes a dry cleaner owned by Mr. Massey, where his dad used to get his clothes washed. Everything reminds him of his dad, and he decides he’s been a coward regarding Muggy, not how his dad would want him to be. He goes to Muggy’s house and bangs on the door, but Muggy won’t come outside.

Angel is grateful to live in Greenwood, which she considers an idyllic Black community, compared to where her grandmother lives, where the inequality is blaring, with Black women taking care of white women’s children while white women do leisure activities. She goes home and finds her dad already asleep. She’s relieved she doesn’t have to help lift him into bed tonight.