Roll of Thunder, Hear my Cry

David leaves his bed a week after the attack. The Logans assess their finances. Since David can no longer work on the railroad, they will run out of mortgage money after June. David feels frustrated and angry at the Wallaces. Mary says that Mr. Morrison has been trying to help by finding a job. She wonders if Mr. Morrison should leave to avoid consequences for fighting off the Wallaces, but Mr. Morrison wants to stay. Just then, Mr. Morrison returns to the Logans’ home. He retrieves a farming tool that a neighbor wants to borrow. The Logan children ride with Mr. Morrison to deliver the tool. On their way home, the Logans see the Wallaces’ truck. Kaleb Wallace shouts a racial slur and threats at Mr. Morrison. Mr. Morrison climbs from the wagon and lifts the Wallaces’ truck to the side of the road so that it no longer blocks the wagon’s path. Kaleb continues to threaten Mr. Morrison as the wagon drives away. Mary worries about Mr. Morrison, but he and David insist that Mr. Morrison should stay.

In August, Jeremy visits the Logan children. He tells them that some people feel glad about David’s injury. Cassie wishes the Wallaces could face legal action for hurting David, but Mary has explained to her that “things didn’t work that way” (228).