Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands

Reesa and Ren are caught in the post office trying to pick up the letter they are expecting from J. Edgar Hoover. In the process they are trapped by the nosy postmistress Maybelle who asks why they are not in school. After Maybelle understands that the two siblings are on spring break, she reminds Reesa that Maryvale, her niece from Virginia, will be coming and expecting to play dolls with her. When Maybelle finally lets the two go, they quickly open their post office box and pull out Doto’s package. Racing home, they discover the disappointing news that no letter from Hoover has arrived. 

Luther comes tapping at the McMahon’s front door the way he did the morning when Marvin had been killed. Lizbeth tells him to come in, and he and Warren perform their ritual of playing the piano. Warren plays “Rhapsody in Blue” carefully for Luther and then Luther plays it back, heavily improvised. Reesa remembers how Marvin had planned to teach her to dance.

Then Luther mentions his second piece of business: his wife, Armetta, won’t go back to work for the Garnets. He asks Warren if he will give her a temporary job, and Warren agrees.