Out of Darkness

One of the people Wash does a considerable amount of work for is Mr. Crane, superintendent of the New London School. While standing in Mr. Crane’s yard, he confides in Wash that the heating bill for the school was $300 in November, and that he is concerned it will only be higher in December. When Wash returns home, he approaches his father Jim to present a proposal. Wash’s school, over which Jim presides as principal, is in need of facility improvements and supplies. He wonders if, should he dig a line to service Mr. Crane’s school with natural, unregulated “green” gas from a bleed-off line to heat it for free, Mr. Crane might be amenable to providing Egypt Town’s school with financial support. Jim says he might think on it. An impatient Wash accuses his father of being unwilling to stand up for his fellow African Americans, and the latter forces him to take back his statement. Later that night, Jim tells Wash he should present his idea to Mr. Crane, but that he should be careful about how he does so.

While tidying up the house, Naomi reluctantly enters Henry’s room. Naomi wonders if Henry might have kept any mementos of her mother as she has in their seven years apart. Looking around, she finds their wedding photo, thinking her mother looks apprehensive. Naomi then finds a tin of condoms, resentful that Henry is in possession of them now when he could have saved her mother’s life by using them. In his drawer is also a bottle of bourbon whiskey, evidence contrary to Henry’s assertion that he has changed. Most troubling to Naomi is a revolver. Frightened, she returns to her bedroom and holds her mother’s braid for comfort. Sensing the added layer of danger in the house, Naomi goes to the river and demands that Beto and Cari come home. Wash asks what’s wrong, and she lashes out, calling him a liar. She admits that not long ago, she saw Wash lending his arm to a girl, and she is incensed when he begins to laugh. Wash instructs the twins to tell Naomi about Fannie, and Naomi is embarrassed to learn that Wash was simply helping his blind neighbor. He offers the twins money to buy candy at Mason’s store, with the caveat that Cari allow Beto to have some regardless of the deal they made (regarding naming their kitten Edgar). Finally alone, Naomi brings Wash to the space in a hollowed-out tree she found. They begin meeting there in secret, talking and sharing kisses and embraces.

On Christmas, Naomi longs to travel back to San Antonio to spend the holiday with her grandparents, but Henry, who has to work, does not permit the children to go without him. They exchange gifts before Henry leaves for work, and Naomi is brought back to the day he gave her a doll when her mother announced her marriage to Henry. That evening, Naomi and the twins meet with Wash in the woods to exchange gifts, and Naomi lingers after sending the twins back. Wash gifts her a carved wooden ring, which he places on her left hand where a wedding ring would customarily be worn. It is engraved with birds in flight, a symbol of freedom. At home, Beto finds Cari staring at their mother’s guitar case underneath Naomi’s bed, and he warns his sister with a simple “Don’t” (170).

While Naomi is making a dress for herself from the yardage of fabric Henry gave her for Christmas, Beto appears and asks her to get rid of it. She is perplexed by the suggestion, but all he can say is that it gives him a bad feeling. Beto then asks if he can help with cooking; Henry overhears and scolds him for being interested in “women’s work,” threatening to drown Edgar if he doesn’t “start toughening up” (172).

Later, at a New Year’s bonfire, Naomi is happy to see Tommie with her long-time crush, Dwyane Stark, but becomes uncomfortable when Gil appears and suggests they would make a cute couple too. Attempting to deflect with self-deprecation, Naomi tells Gil that he could date any girl he likes, and that she is not good enough. Gil disagrees, praising her and denouncing those who see people of Mexican descent as lesser. He asks if she is seeing anyone, and she avoids the question, insisting that she would very much like to be friends. When Naomi meets with Wash later that night, they confess their love for each other as New Year’s Eve fireworks burst in the distance.