Where The Watermelons Grow

The week is unbearably hot. Della’s family uses fans because the air conditioning broke earlier in the year, and Mama refused to get it fixed, worried about all the chemicals it uses. Della overheard Mama say that and tried to pretend she didn’t. She doesn’t like noticing Mama’s quirks and the way she’s different from other moms.

Daddy expresses his concerns about the crops dying in this heat and drought. He, Mama, and Della have been working extra hard to get as much out of this growing season as possible despite the conditions. Daddy worries they won’t break even because of how much the drought is costing them.

The heat makes Mylie extra fussy, making it difficult to put her to bed. On Thursdays, Mama puts Mylie down so Della and Daddy can watch detective shows. Mama emerges from the bedroom, frustrated with Mylie. She joins Della and Daddy watching detective shows. Della is proud of herself whenever she figures out the culprit, but before she can say who did it, Mama says it and declares she doesn’t want Della watching those shows because the woman in the show hurt children. Mama worries about the people who keep trying to hurt her little girls.