Raymie Nightingale

A nurse greets the three girls outside the hospital. Raymie goes in with Louisiana, but Beverly, still shaken, sits outside on the curb with Bunny. A kind and motherly nurse named Ruthie takes care of Louisiana and asks Raymie what happened. The magnitude of the recent events overwhelms Raymie, and, shivering, she tells Ruthie about the contest and that her father ran away, “and he isn’t coming back” (249). Ruthie wraps her sweater around Raymie, who starts to cry. Ruthie calls Ramie’s mother to tell her that Raymie is at the hospital and that she is fine and ready to be picked up. Ruthie also offers her sympathies to Raymie’s mother for being married to a “skunk.” 

Raymie’s mother arrives at the hospital and holds Raymie close. Beverly’s mother arrives and sits with Beverly and Bunny on the curb. Louisiana’s grandmother arrives and sits silently crying by Louisiana’s bed. Raymie tells the whole story in detail multiple times, including to a reporter from the Lister Press. The reporter takes Raymie’s picture.

During the day Louisiana develops a high fever and falls into a deep sleep. Beverly leaves with her mother and Bunny. Rather than go home, Raymie stays in Louisiana’s room and that night sleeps on a cot brought in by Ruthie.