Mrs. Nelson, November’s mother, comes back home and finds her daughter sitting in front of the TV. She turns on blues music and asks November about her day. She is surprised to see November home, because usually on Fridays afternoons she tutors at the YMCA. November explains that she did not feel like going there because she does not feel well. Trying to cheer up her daughter, Mrs. Nelson offers to take November shopping the next day. November explodes with anger and blames her mother for being shallow and for trying to fix every problem with shopping. Mrs. Nelson is surprised at November’s reaction and looks “both hurt and angry—a combination look that only mothers know how to do” (30). 

November realizes that she has overreacted and apologizes to her mother. Mrs. Nelson explains to her that it is the time spent together that’s important in their shopping trips, and not the actual buying process. They share fond memories of the time when November was in middle school, and her mom would get her out of classes by saying that she had a doctor’s appointment, and the two of them would go shopping or to the movies.