The central violent episode in Maya's young life occurs significantly on a day following one of her mother's unheralded overnight absences. The atmosphere, a bizarre mix of menace and fantasies of comic strip rescuers, recedes into white after Maya faints from pain. Harsh, unpleasant physical sensations blend with pretense as she stoically conceals her hurt to save Bailey from certain death at the hands of the tormenter who transgresses her little girl trust. In a rapid, surrealistic flow of events, Maya, comforted by her dutiful navy blue coat with brass buttons, takes the stand and conceals from the court her first two sexual encounters with Mr. Freeman. Consumed by guilt, she screams, "Ole, mean, dirty thing, you. Dirty old thing" and is removed from the stand to Vivian's embrace. Appropriately, Mr. Freeman's ignominious demise behind the slaughterhouse ends with Grandmother Baxter's injunction against "that evil man's name." Fearful of spreading a curse on her loved ones, Maya stops talking to anyone but Bailey.
