Kin

Vernice’s first word was “mother,” which she said at age two. Her parents died when she was only six months old; her father killed her mother, Arletha, and then died by suicide. People often gossip about Vernice being haunted by her parents, especially given her first word.

Vernice was raised by her maternal aunt, Irene, who could not have children of her own. Irene had left home at a young age to move to Dayton, Ohio. She’d had a relationship with a wealthy, married man, who bought her a home and gave her money. Irene returned home to Honeysuckle, Louisiana, because her mother was sick, but ended up staying after Arletha was killed.

Vernice thinks fondly of her childhood. Although Aunt Irene often struggled with parenting, she cared and provided for her. Still, Vernice regrets the fact that she was bottle fed and never had the opportunity to meet her mother. Her best friend, Annie, is also motherless; Annie was raised by her grandmother after her mother abandoned her after giving birth.

One night, when Vernice and Annie are around nine years old, Annie asks Aunt Irene about her mother. However, Aunt Irene urges her to forget about her. Although Vernice thinks that Annie is lucky because her mother is still alive, Aunt Irene insists that Annie will spend her entire life missing her, whereas Vernice should be grateful to know her mother’s fate.