• Persons:
  

Tish = Clementine Rivers: (19) Black girl. She lives in Harlem with her family. Her thoughts about white people are pretty negative. This is very understandable, because in her neighborhood white people are very racist to black people. She also thinks these days people are not honest and she has a bit a negative view of most people. To earn money she works in a perfume counter. The biggest change of her life in the book is that she gets a baby.

Fonny = Alonzo Hunt: (22) Black boy. He is a cook. As sideline he is a sculptor. Fonny worries a lot about things and Tish thinks that that is the biggest reason why he is in jail. Fonny is proud when he hears that they are going to get a baby, but now he also worries about it a lot. I think that is very comprehensible because at that moment he is still in jail.

Frank Hunt: (almost 50) Fonny’s father. He runs a tailor shop (makes clothes). He likes Tish and he likes that she and Fonny are going to get married. He drinks a lot. In the end of the book he becomes depressed and commits suicide.

Joseph Rivers: (48) Tish’ father. He’s a sailor.

Sis = Ernestine Rivers: Tish’ sister. She works with children.

Sharon Rivers: (43) Tish’ mother. She tried to be a singer.

Alice Hunt: Fonny’s mother. Not very nice. She doesn’t like Tish. She’s Christian. She got sanctified in the church. = “speaking in tongues” = speaking God’s language

Adrienne Hunt: (27) Fonny’s sister. Not very nice.

Sheila Hunt: (24) Fonny’s sister. Not very nice.

Arnold Hayward: Lawyer Tish’ parents hired. He helps Tish out in Fonny’s case. First they disliked Mr. Hayward, later when they see he’s really involved in the case, they start to like him.

Victoria Rogers: Puertorican woman who accuses (=beschuldigen) Fonny. She has left the country to Puerto Rico, cause for her the case is over. Fonny did it. She seems to want to come back to talk about the case, but only if she gets money for it. She’s the only one who can prove officer Bell is wrong. She’s the crucial witness.

Officer Bell: (in the 30) Lazy cop who accuses Fonny. He’s a racist and a liar. He’s a white man. He’s a typical bigheaded cop. He has framed(made a case) Fonny. He has got Fonny into this case. He felt affended by Fonny immediately because Fonny is black.

Daniel Carty: Fonny’s friend and alibi. He was involved in the fight when they were little kids. He’s also in prison for something he didn’t do.

Levy: Owner of the loft. He’s very nice, he even wanted to give the rent-money back when he heard Fonny had to go to prison.

Geneva: Tish’ old friend, she says she hates Fonny, but she is in love with Fonny. She said those awful things to separate Fonny and Tish.

Pietro Thomasino Alvarez: (22) Mrs. Rogers’ common-law husband. He’s in Puerto Rico too.

Pedrocito: the guy who works in the Spanish restaurant

Jaime: (18) the taxi driver in Puerto Rico.

• Story
  

In the opening scene of the book, Tish is standing in front of the mirror.
That night Tish is going to see Fonny in prison. She tells him she’s pregnant. They communicate through a phone. They can see each other, but they can’t touch each other. When Tish told it, she wanted to touch him. Fonny didn’t say anything, he walked away. The first thing he said was: “my baby?” But yes, it is his. He worried about it, because he would still be in prison if the baby gets born. But then he laughed.

Fonny had to say goodbye.

Tish takes the bus home, because that takes longer, so she can think about the troubles she has.

Tish tells the readers how she met Fonny.

It was in a fight. Geneva and Daniel were fighting. Tish wanted to get them separated. So she pulled. Fonny pulled on Tish, because he wanted her off of them. Then Tish smacked Fonny. He was bleeding. Geneva said that she would go to prison or something.

Tish knew Frank already. She went to him in the tailor shop, when there was nobody. She asked him if Fonny is ok. Frank told her that he’s ok. Fonny is in het buitenland voor een week want zijn moeder had hem daarheen gestuurd omdat hij hier te veel kattekwaad uithaalde. When he came back, the friendship started. Tish and Fonny became friends.

Fonny tells to Tish about his parents’ sex.

They have a very performiaraly sort of sex. They play a sort of game. He is like a evil rapist (=verkrachter)

Ik snap hier niet veel van maar ik zal mn best doen haha.

Moeder kwam bezweet thuis van de kerk, deed of ze bekaf was en plofte op bed neer met alle kleren nog aan. Haar tas dumpte ze neer. Ze zei dan dat god haar ziel gezegend heeft. Het spel lijkt op het spel dat katten in steegjes spelen. Moeder wilde vader naar de Here brengen maar vader geeft de Here aan haar?? Moeder smeekt de Here haar te helpen en vader zegt dat dat alleen kan als ze een klein kindje word, helemaal bloot. Moeder huilt en vader vraagt waar hij haar moet zegenen. Waar Moeder Here’s hand wilt, waar Here’s tong en waar Here naar binnen moest. Moeder blijft om hulp schreeuwen.

Tish went to the Sanctified Church with Fonny. It was their first date. It was not nice. It was a long time ago. Daar raakt de moeder van Fonny Sanctified en ze is ‘speaking in tongues’, ze raakt in een soort van wazige trans ofzo. Het was vlak voor pasen (Easter).

Tish decided to tell Mama, Sis, Daddy and Frank that she’s pregnant.

First she told her mom. Her mom was very nice, she didn’t saw any problem.

After that: Mom’s cooking dinner, Tish is with Sis and Daddy in the living room. Tish’ baby felt real to her. Her daddy had his hand in Tish’ hair and it felt nice. Then Mom told Daddy and Sis that Tish is pregnant (for 3 months). They laughed and cried. Joseph did saw problems, but it’s ok.

They decided to ask family Hunt over, to tell them. Joseph called Frank. They had to come quick.

Tish is telling the readers how Fonny and she had sex the first time.

They walked a lot. Tish felt uncomfortable for the first time (with him). They went to a restaurant to drink. Tish really liked it because of the people. After that, they walked to a building with no people in there. Fonny opened it with a key. Fonny had his own room there. There were pictures of his family.

There was family Hunt. They talked about Fonny and about white people. And than This told it. Frank was glad :). Mrs. Hunt said something awful about Tish. She also said: “You have a demon in you”. Frank smacked Mrs. Hunt and she fell down on the floor. Joseph and Frank left. They left outside. Somewhere. To talk.

All the sisters started a fight. The family left. Ernestine shouted at hem. Really not nice. Tish went to bed so that Sis and Mama could talk.

They told each other that they love each other when they were laying on the mattress. He started kissing her, everywhere. Then is happened. They talked a lot. Fonny even asked her to marry him. She did want to. They came at Tish’ house at 7 a clock. Fonny also got in the house. Sharon was really worried about them. But it’s ok now. Fonny and Tish told Sharon that they want to get married. Sharon yelled to Joseph that he had to come very quick. They had to discuss something important. Joseph wanted to talk to Frank alone. They left to the other room. They got permission to marry.

Tish and Mama went to Mr. Hayward, the lawyer. But there’s a big problem. Mrs. Rogers disappeared. And to find her costs a lot of money. She might be in Puerto Rico.

Tish was with Fonny and Daniel at the time the crime happened. Daniel can help then but he has just been arrested. The lawyer had not been allowed to see him.

Mr. Hayward will do anything to get Fonny’s freedom.

IK DENK DAT SHARON HIER VERTELD DAT ZIJ WEL NAAR PUERTO RICO GAAT, MAAR WEET DAT NIET ZEKER…

Tish is telling about the appointment with Fonny and Daniel, which was on the moment of the crime.

The boys were children again. They’re talking about racism. Fonny told Daniel that he’s going to marry Tish. Daniel was 2 years in prison, but he did not steal that car. They went to somebody’s home (ik weet niet welke). Tish was cooking dinner. Daniel was really nice to Tish.

Daniel came by very often, and he cried a lot about his problems. Sometimes Fonny and sometimes Tish gave him a hug.

Tish visited Fonny again in prison (after speaking to the lawyer/the same day)

Fonny was very upset. Fonny yelled at Tish, but he didn’t meant to. He’s sweet again.

That night, Tish had a nightmare about Fonny. (blz 120 stuk overgetypt:)

“That night I dreamed, I dreamed all night, I had terrible dreams. In one of these dreams, Fonny was driving a truck, a great big truck, very fast, too fast, down the highway, and he was looking for me. But he didn’t see me. I was behind the truck, calling out his name, but the roar of the motor drowned my voice. There were two turnings off this highway, and they both looked exactly alike. The highway was on a cliff, above the sea. One of the turnings led to the driveway of our house; the other led to the cliff’s edge and a drop straight down to the sea. He was driving too fast, too fast! I called his name as loud as I could and, as he began to turn the truck, I screamed again and woke up.”

Bell swears that he saw Fonny “ran from the scene of crime”. But it is not possible to run from Orchard to Bank.

Tish is having a conversation with Ernestine (in a bar) about Fonny, Hayward, Daniel and Bell. Ernestine: “If Fonny were white, it wouldn’t be a case at all”.

Writer/Tish: we might very well be sitting here, cool, very cool, discussing ways and means of having Bell’s head blown off.

Tish tells us what happened between Joseph and Frank in the time that the 4 sisters had a fight.

They were in a bar. They were talking about money and what would happen. (They probably mean with Fonny.) Frank doesn’t know what to do. He doesn’t know if he was a real father to Fonny. Joseph is reassuring (=geruststellen) him.

~Tish: I am not really what you can call a distrustful person.

~favella: something more worse than a suburb (=buitenwijk) or a slum (=krot). They call this favella in Puerto Rico. Sharon has to go to there to find Mrs. Rogers. It’s a little beyond Santurce. Mrs. Rogers might be there.

Sharon gets information from Mr. Hayward about Mrs. Rogers and Pietro.

Tish remembered Levy. ↑ look at ‘Persons’


Some information about the Loft:
- it’s a little apartment
- was off Canal Street
- big
- in pretty good condition
- two big windows on the street, opened onto a roof, with a railing
- there’s a room for Fonny to work
- it is the top, up three of four stories (=verdiepingen)
- the stairs were steep
- there was the door at the top of the steps, which looked us away from the rest of the building.
- the neighbors are murder (Levy told this funny, so you don’t know if it’s true)

After saying yes to the Loft and Levy, they went to buy 3 milkshakes. Levy left. Fonny and Tish went to a vegetable stand. Fonny left to buy some cigarettes, just around the corner. A white, small, young, greasy, Italian punk or junkie touched Tish in a wrong way. She wanted to smash her tomatoes in the boy’s face. But Fonny will be right back and he will get into a fight if he knows this. There also walked a cop (Officer Bell) outside. She realized she’s black and the other people are not. The boy grabbed Tish’ arm and Tish slapped his face and spat in it. Exactly at that moment entered Fonny the store. Fonny got him bleeding the cop came running to the store. The cop is going to take Fonny down (=noteren).

The Italian lady helped them. She said that Tish told the truth. She said: “What would you do if a man attacked your wife?”

It was over.

Fonny asked Tish if she will never protect him anymore. Tish had to cry. Fonny kissed her and said to her he loves her. They went to the Spanish restaurant. Where Pedrocito works. Tish thinks that the baby was conceived that night.

Sharon just arrived in Puerto Rico. She asked the young lady behind the desk where she could find a taxi. The lady came back with Jamie.

Sharon says she has an appointment in the nightclub, so Jaime brings her there. Sharon is about to enter a nightclub in a strange town, alone.

She said she is waiting for a friend. His name is Mr. Alvarez. In a moment Pietro Alvarez came to her table. Sharon told him why she was here (she’s honest). Pietro doesn’t want to put Victoria (Mrs. Rogers) through this shit again. He almost had to cry. Sharon gave him this picture with Fonny and Tish on it. She asked Pietro to ask Victoria if she could really think about it, really study it. And he asked if Pietro could call her tomorrow about is. She gave the hotels number. Pietro said “No” an he left.

The baby starts kicking, Ernestine and Joseph are taking care of Tish now.

Tish is afraid to quit her job, because they need money. This means that she very often miss the six o clock visit. Fonny understand it, but doesn’t like it at all.

Tish doesn’t recognise her body anymore. Shirt do not fit the every next morning.

Sharon is in the favella by nine thirty. She’s going to see Mrs. Rogers at her house. Jaime is going with her. Sharon knocked on the door. A woman was there. She said her name is Sanchez. But it is the woman on the picture. The woman says she has nothing to do with it. Sharon keeps trying. She’s asking her questions. Victoria starts crying and screaming and left the building. Everyone is watching Sharon. She doesn’t say a word and drives away with Jamie.

In the evening, Sharon goes to the club. But, the doorman informs her, Señor Alvarez will not be there this evening, that there a no tables for single women, and that anyway the club is full.

Tish is telling the readers about Bell and her. They met each other on time. Tish never told Fonny. Tish was wearing packets and her handbag. Bell asked her to carry it for her. Tish didn’t want him to. Bell was standing in het way. She felt his sex stiffening against her. Bell says he isn’t a bad guy. That she can trust him.

On the night Fonny was arrested, Daniel was at the house. He was al little drunk, he was crying. He was talking, again, about his time in prison. Fonny held him.

And then they came knocking at the door.

Fonny is working on the wood. He does not want to defile the wood. He looks terrified. Then Fonny woke up, it was a dream. He is in a cell by himself, at the top of the prison. Soon, he will be sent downstairs, to a larger cell, with other man.

Fonny is afraid, up here, alone. He doesn’t know which day it is anymore. He smells. The heavy tears drip down Fonny’s face.

Tish is visiting Fonny. Fonny does not look good. Tish tells Fonny how his family is. Hayward and Frank will visit him tomorrow in the morning. The man appears behind Fonny, this is always so awful. We have to rise and turn.

Sharon got back from Puerto Rico.

Jaime and Sharon were being followed everywhere. Sharon couldn’t go around anymore.

Pietro carried the chick (Mrs. Rogers????) down the steps. She had already started to bleed. She was carried to the mountains, some place called Barranguitas. Jaime says that she will never be seen again.

We still have a slim hope, in Daniel. Hayward is checking it out.

Sharon went to bed, she’s tired.

Frank and Joseph are talking. About Fonny. They’re getting mad and upset because they think they can’t get Fonny out of jail. They have to do something about it!! Frank also yelled at his daughters. But Joseph sees that Adrienne does love her father. Adrienne would soothe (=verzachten) her father’s pain, if she could, but she doesn’t know how. Frank puts his head in his hands. Then Joseph sees that Frank loves his daughters.

Tish told Fonny about Victoria Rogers. All he says is: “Okay”

Fonny promised he will get home any time.

Tish is home alone. She has pain because de baby kicks. It’s very heavy. Then Adrienne called panicky (=paniekerig). She asked if Tish had seen her daddy. Tish did not see him.

Adrienne: “Tish- my Daddy was fired from his job, two days ago-they said he was stealing, and they threatened to put him in jail-and he was all upset, because of Fonny and all, and he was drunk when he came home and he cursed everybody out and then he went out the door and ain’t nobody seen him since-Tish-don’t you know where my father is?”

Adrienne said: “Tish I know you don’t like me”

Tish said she didn’t mean she doesn’t like her (because of the fight). It’s Fonny’s sister, so Tish has got to love her.

Adrienne is scared. She hung up.

Tish told her mom. Than the doorbell rang. It is Joseph. He told that Frank was found, dead, he committed suicide. Tish has to go to tell Fonny but Joseph says she can’t, she has to wait till morning.

Tish’s baby is about to be born, but it is still not known whether or not they will win the trial and that Fonny is to be proven innocent.

• Other things
  

What can be said about the title?