The Boy from Willow Bend Chapters seven to twelve

The Boy from Willow Bend by Joanne C. Hillhouse

Chapter 7: When the devil come calling – As usual Vere was telling stories to the Buckley twins in their shelter under the gallery. He thought he saw something and ran home to tell Tanty.

Chapter 8: You eat parrot bottom? – Here we find out that Vere was in the third grade at a Catholic Primary School. Mr. Goode was the only male teacher at the school. He did math drills every morning. During the recess, Vere would do impersonations of Mr. Goode. Vere was probably having nightmares because Tanty said he was knocking his head on the pillow. She even suggested going to see Appie the Obeah woman who recommended a bush bath. Vere said he was fine. Being the little boy that he was he always had bumps and bruises. Kim noted that he had scratched and comment on it. He told her “mind your own damn business”. Kim being the little girl that she was said that she was going to tell on him. This was the first and probably the only time that Vere put his hands in anger on a girl. Ms. Buckley came outside after she heard the ruckus. She compared him with Franklyn’s family stating that they were all bad, including his other and said that Vere must have had the devil in him. Ms. Buckley to him back home. This may be one of the few times that Tanty was the disciplinarian.

Chapter 9: Boomerang – Vere sent a Mother’s Day card to his mother who was living in the US at the time. Unfortunately, the letter came back with a red stamp: Return to Sender. Tanty told him that probably she had moved or something. Vere was feeling neglected at this point. Letters were the only way that he could communicate with his mother. That night Vere and Tany comforted each other.

Chapter 10: Report – Vere had made it to the end of third grade. Mr. Goode was informing Tanty that Vere was smart and suggested that he should skip the fourth grade and go straight to fifth for that he could receive a challenge that he needed. Tanty trusted that suggestion of the teacher. The only problem was that Tanty had no heard from Vere’s mother in a while. She had probably moved and had not sent her new address to them. Tanty was not sure if there would have Vere’s school fee moneys when the new school year started. Here is where we know that Tanty is getting down in age and not feeling well enough to do her little sewing or cleaning that would bring in some extra funds. Mr. Goode was suggesting a payment plan of sorts but Tanty was not even sure she could handle that. Vere did not want to leave the school even though he didn’t see himself particularly close to anyone there.

Chapter 11: The summer that didn’t come – This is where the first female leaves Vere’s life and where Tanty is starting to slip away because she is ‘getting down’. On like Vere, the Buckley twins had both their parents who were living in Canada and that summer they were going to visit them. The old white man’s nieces didn’t visit that summer. Vere did not really have anyone to spend time with that summer. Tanty was getting sicker as the summer went on. Franklyn showed no sympathy and would constantly bark at her when she moaned and groaned in pain and Vere would prefer when he was not in the house with them. Tanty tried the usual old time remedies to hopefully feel better. Ms. Buckley came to help around the house. In the end of the chapter Vere and Tanty celebrated with June for her birthday.

Chapter 12: Shake up – Vere’s mother sent his school fees by mid-September. She had gotten married and had moved to New Jersey. He was not in fifth grade but didn’t feel challenged. He just felt older and didn’t feel the need to do Mr. Goode impressions. His favorite part of the day was the last period where he could day dream about going home. He also looked forward to Monday where it would be his first day to raise the flag at assembly. Fifth graders raised the flag, sixth graders rang the period bell and acts as traffic monitors on the stretch of road outside the school. Art with Ms. Travaini was his favorite since she spoke to them about things outside of art and God. He painted a picture that he couldn’t wait for Tanty to see at the end of the school term. Kim and Kendell were not living in Canada with their parents. Ms. Buckley continued to do Tanty’s house duties and Vere would accompany her if need be. Franklyn still fussed about the money used to send Vere to school. Even though Tanty was sick, she was strong when it came to defending Vere and his education. Tanty started to indirectly talk to Vere about death but he didn’t want to listen. June had moved out after the forking incident she was now living with Reverend and Mrs. Quashie. When Vere saw her that October he informed her that Tanty was sick. That night June and Mrs. Quashie visited and brought food but as usual they had no electricity so it could not be stored in the fridge because the electricity was off. June continued to visit Tanty every day and she even began to show some improvement. Vere was hoping that she would be well enough to see his painting in December, but June had reminded him that a person cannot run from death. By early December Tanty was down again. She was physically smaller with the exception of her stomach which got bigger and bigger. Vere could not stand seeing her like this and his escape had become going to Dead End Pond.

Things to Consider:

What is the importance of death in chapter 12?

Tanty cannot run from death. Vere’s escape in running to Dead End Pond. They live in Dead End Alley.

Questions:

From reading, what is Tanty’s view on death and has she accepted her fate?

What is Vere’s view on death and has he accepted fate?

June is now a baptized Christian. What is her view on death?

(Be able to give explanations/reasons for you answer.)