Maud Martha

Maud is 16 years old. As she leaves the Regal theater, she observes that the performance was only a temporary escape for the theatergoers: “For a hot half hour it had put that light gauze across its little miseries and monotonies, but now here they were again, ungauzed, self-assertive, cancerous as ever” (20). Maud’s thoughts go from the audience to the performers, and she decides she wants neither fame nor stardom: “She was going to keep herself to herself” (21). The chapter closes with Maud determined to vaguely better herself.

The novel skips to Uncle Tim’s funeral. Seeing her dead uncle brings Maud to reflect on her own mortality and eventual end. She ponders larger questions of faith, belief, and the meaning of life. Her mind briefly wanders when she recognizes that her aunt has applied too much powder but returns to thoughts of where people find answers in life.

Mama, Maud, and Helen sit on the porch waiting for Mr. Brown to return home. He’s on an errand to ask for an extension on the family’s mortgage payment. This is not the first time he’s had to visit the Home Owner’s Loan to request an extension. Mama tries to keep a positive mood by describing a nice flat they could live in instead. Neither Maud nor Helen point out that their father’s income could never afford such an apartment. Helen likes the idea of a pretty flat and admits that she has friends who won’t visit her at their current home. Maud doesn’t like to hear Helen put down their family home, but she’s too upset at the thought of losing their house to challenge her. When their father returns, he confirms that all is settled and the home is safe from mortgage collectors.

Maud is 17 years old. She thinks back to a time six years ago when a boy called out to Helen. Maud had given a flirty response, to which the boy replied, “I don’t mean you, you old black gal, I mean Helen” (34). The memory of the boy’s words still hurts Maud as she recalls the interaction.

Maud has graduated from high school, and she and Helen each have jobs at a local law office. Helen is still the prettier, daintier, lovelier sister. Maud considers herself to be the smarter sister, but she understands everyone’s fascination with Helen, although “her noble understanding of their blamelessness did not make it any easier to bear” (35). She recognizes that Helen is the favorite among the family and with the opposite sex, but that recognition doesn’t make Maud feel any better about being the ugly, overlooked sister. Even their father is impressed by Helen’s hair and worries about her constantly, despite Maud being the one who shares “his almost desperate love for this old house” (37). Maud thinks back to the memories held within each room of the home and cherishes them, while Helen remains more concerned about appearances and material ownership.