Plot Summary
Luke and his grandfather, Pappy go to town in search of workers who can help them harvest their cotton this September. In town they fortunately bump into the Spruill Family, who are looking for work as they are hill people. They immediately take the opportunity to hire them and a couple of other Mexican workers.
With the two groups of migrant workers ,the Chandler's farm is fairly busy with everyone working hard in the fields. Until their visit to town, where Luke witnesses the fight between Hank and the dangerous Siscos. As a result one member from the Sisco family is severely we wounded and dies. Later when Hank is accused of the murder, he forces Luke to support his side of the story and being a young boy he is afraid of Hank, so he lies to the police.
Luke is again exposed to violence when he spots Cowboy killing Hank and tossing him into the river. Luke is caught trying to sneak away and Cowboy threatens Luke by saying "and I will kill your mother"(Grisham,334) if he tells anyone about what he witnessed. The following morning the Chandler's discover that Tally Spruill and Cowboy have eloped to the North since they knew their relationship would not be accepted by their families. He is also informed that his uncle Ricky who is fighting in the Korean war is the father of Libby Latcher's baby, the daughter of a poor share-cropping family.
The people of Black Oak continue their daily routine of working in the fields, going to town and gossiping about latest events. Until one morning Luke noticed that someone has furtively painted the Chandler's farmhouse clap boards with a glimmering white. He continued with this project after the Spruills left the farm due to a storm.
The house is almost completely painted until Luke is informed that his mom,dad and him are moving to the North, to achieve bigger and better opportunities. He is told that he going to be a big brother soon.
With the two groups of migrant workers ,the Chandler's farm is fairly busy with everyone working hard in the fields. Until their visit to town, where Luke witnesses the fight between Hank and the dangerous Siscos. As a result one member from the Sisco family is severely we wounded and dies. Later when Hank is accused of the murder, he forces Luke to support his side of the story and being a young boy he is afraid of Hank, so he lies to the police.
Luke is again exposed to violence when he spots Cowboy killing Hank and tossing him into the river. Luke is caught trying to sneak away and Cowboy threatens Luke by saying "and I will kill your mother"(Grisham,334) if he tells anyone about what he witnessed. The following morning the Chandler's discover that Tally Spruill and Cowboy have eloped to the North since they knew their relationship would not be accepted by their families. He is also informed that his uncle Ricky who is fighting in the Korean war is the father of Libby Latcher's baby, the daughter of a poor share-cropping family.
The people of Black Oak continue their daily routine of working in the fields, going to town and gossiping about latest events. Until one morning Luke noticed that someone has furtively painted the Chandler's farmhouse clap boards with a glimmering white. He continued with this project after the Spruills left the farm due to a storm.
The house is almost completely painted until Luke is informed that his mom,dad and him are moving to the North, to achieve bigger and better opportunities. He is told that he going to be a big brother soon.