Out of Darkness

One night in the kitchen, Henry declares that he and Naomi should marry. She declines, but he misinterprets her response, and she is forced to repeat herself. Unwilling to respect her decision, Henry lists all the reasons why he believes God supports their union. When Naomi doesn’t change her mind, Henry goes to Pastor Tom, who tells him to have patience. Henry decides to write a letter to Naomi’s grandmother. During their next meeting at the tree, Naomi can’t bring herself to tell Wash what Henry has proposed. Wash can tell she is troubled but does not push her to reveal why.

Naomi is crushed by the contents of her grandmother’s letter. Her grandfather Abuelito’s health has taken a turn: He is no longer able to run the grocery store which has been her grandparents’ livelihood. Naomi is further dismayed to read that her grandmother Abuelita encourages her marriage to Henry. Abuelita says it would be impossible for Naomi and the twins to return to live with them in San Antonio. She emphasizes that Henry is the twins’ father, and that Naomi must do what is best for them, even if it means sacrificing herself (as both grandparents know of Henry’s treatment of Estella). At the tree, Naomi finally discloses Henry’s proposal, her sexual abuse, and her stopping the abuse by biting Henry. Wash plans for them to run away together and create a new life with the twins.

At school, Naomi confides in Tommie that Henry proposed. Naomi is disappointed when Tommie is immediately excited for her, claiming “Everybody knows you’re in love” (258). The former asks why she would think such a thing, and Tommie repeats Muff’s reasoning: Henry is considered handsome and charming by the women in town who don’t know the truth about him. Naomi learns that Tommie convinced her eager boyfriend Dwayne to delay marriage until high school graduation. She decides to buy time for her and Wash’s escape plan by accepting Henry’s offer on the condition that she be allowed to finish high school first.

Wash researches places for his and Naomi’s next move. He scours the national newspapers in his father’s possession, seeking information on communities in which a Black man, a Mexican woman, and two white-passing twins might live free from hostility. Wash takes a trip to the nearby town of Tyler to speak to his uncle Lewis, hoping that he might have some advice on where to go (as his profession takes him all around the country on the railroad lines). Lewis is direct with Wash, explaining that there is no such utopia.

Wash leaves Naomi a note in their tree suggesting that their destination should be Mexico. At work, Wash helps the maintenance man at the New London School, Mr. Stine, check the heaters to ensure no gas is leaking; some students have begun to complain about headaches. When Mr. Stine suggests they go home, Wash still has heaters to check, but he wants to see Naomi, so he does not protest. While waiting at the river, the twins, especially Cari, begin their familiar refrain of pestering Naomi for more stories about their mother. Cari lashes out, reminding Naomi that all they know of their mother is superficial; the twins know nothing of her death or why Henry left. When alone together, Naomi tells Wash about her plan to accept Henry’s offer. Wash tells Naomi his plan to get a job as a railroad porter to ride the train for free, purchase three tickets for Naomi and the twins, board in San Antonio, and disembark in Mexico.

Angry with Naomi for keeping secrets she feels entitled to, Cari violates Naomi’s most cherished boundary and opens the guitar case under her bed, taking note of everything inside: their mother’s red dress and shoes, religious ephemera, a worn piece of a nipple from a baby bottle, pieces of Naomi’s broken doll (gifted and broken by Henry), and their mother’s braid.

Naomi informs Henry that she is willing to marry him if he is willing to wait until she graduates from high school. Three days later, on their mother’s birthday (March 18th), Naomi enters the cafeteria supply closet and happens upon Beto and Cari hosting a séance for their peers with their mother’s braid and dancing shoes at the center of a circle of candles. She is incensed and calls out Cari’s audacity. Cari asserts that Estella was their mother too. Naomi snaps that she lost her mother the moment the twins were born, implying it is their fault. She orders the children back to class, but not before insisting that Cari put on her own shoes, as she refuses to let her wear their mother’s dancing shoes. Cari tells Naomi that she hates her. Back in class, an angry Beto asks a girl he likes, Deenie, to sit with him at the tandem desk he usually shares with Cari. Cari begrudgingly goes to Deenie’s desk. Angry at herself for the way she reacted, Naomi thinks about how she might make it up to the twins when the school explodes.