Curtis gets into trouble at school for vandalism. Although administrators call the police, the officers aren’t allowed to arrest him because the school wants to handle the issue itself. Alma worries about the angry-looking cops because she knows that Curtis is flirting with trouble and that this moment can balloon into more trouble later: “She was afraid for him. Afraid of the effects of his age, his friends, his neighborhood” (124). Trouble like this happens often in the neighborhood to boys like Curtis, and she wonders if becoming a teacher was a bad idea. She’s gone during the day, so she can’t supervise Curtis. Now that he has received a two-week suspension, she needs to find a way to keep him out of trouble. Although she called her husband Bruce and told him not to worry, when she arrives home with Curtis, she sees Bruce’s car in the driveway.

When Bruce confronts Curtis, Curtis ignores him, angering Bruce enough to spin Curtis around and knock the milk carton out of his hand. Alma gives Bruce a look, and he immediately backs off. She then tells Curtis that part of his punishment is to look after Jimmy, who is Bruce’s sister’s (Estelle) kid.