Monday Evening
July 17, 1961
- Abyssinia asks permission to return the milk pails to Brother and Sister Jacobs, and her mother agrees, insisting she come home "before the lightning bugs come out."
- When she bumps into Lily on her way, Abby tells her friend she'd prefer to go alone. Abby likes being alone, observing nature as she walks, but when she reaches Trembling Sally's place, her mood darkens.
- For some reason, Trembling Sally particularly dislikes Abyssinia, and after the woman shakes her fists at Abby, her evening stroll goes from pleasant to ominous.
- As she reaches the Jacobses' property, Brother Jacobs calls out for her. She follows his voice to the barn and hands over the milk pails and cake.
- Brother Jacobs tells Abby to rest, and she asks after Sister Jacobs. Brother Jacobs tells her she's out of town, and then he stares at her hands and feet and calls out her name.
- Brother Jacobs' eyes change so Abby no longer recognizes him—she remembers being told "the eyes" are "the windows of the soul," and she wonders what's "wrong with his windows."
- As she tries to leave, Brother Jacobs grabs her, covering her mouth so she can't scream, and rapes her.
- When Abby doesn't come home on time, Patience goes looking for her and finds her with her dress up and dried blood on her body. She carries her home, and as she does, Mother Barker sees Patience carrying Abby and joins her, murmuring to Abby about how wonderful and loved she is.
- The doctor comes, gives Abby a shot, and leaves some meds for her to take.
- Patience and Mother Barker take turns standing vigil over Abby, thinking good thoughts for her and envisioning her healing, until one day, Abby dreams she is flying.