He interrupts his thoughts to ask about PortiaÂ’s husband and brother, his son, Willie. She tells him they are playing horseshoes. She mentions the name of a woman there, Love Jones, but says that since Love is so ugly, she doesnÂ’t mind her men being around her. She tells him about her other brothers. Hamilton is working on his grandfatherÂ’s farm and Buddy (Karl Marx) is living in Mobile. They sit silently for a while. Doctor Copeland canÂ’t think of anything to say to her. He asks about her job. She makes three dollars a week and is often shorted on the money since the Kellys are so strapped for money. She talks in a preoccupied way about the children, especially Mick. Every once in a while, Doctor Copeland interrupts her to advise her to stand up for her rights in getting paid enough.

They hear the harmonica that signals the approach of Willie and Highboy. Doctor Copeland suddenly asks if they will come in for a moment. He has never met Highboy before. Portia is nervous but agrees to it. The two men come in and sit nervously at the kitchen table. They say nothing for a while and then Doctor Copeland begins to talk about this hopes for his family. He says he gave all that he had and all he got back from them was "blank misunderstanding and idleness and indifference." Portia gets up and the others follow her out the door. At the door, Portia tries once again to reconcile asking everyone to shake hands.

Back inside, Doctor Copeland thinks of Singer and how he will approach him to help with his deaf-mute patient named Augustis Benedict Mady Lewis. He remembers SingerÂ’s face and feels at peace.

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