Chapter 12

Summary

Katie insists that the family move to another house, largely because Johnny has revealed his drunken ways to the neighbors and she feels embarrassed. As soon as they move into their new residence, Katie nails the tin bank onto the closet wall. In addition, Katie's mother comes and sprinkles holy water around the house, in order to ward off evil spirits.

In the new house, there is again happiness and laughter. Katie feels like the family is off to a good, new beginning. Leaving the children with Johnny, she goes over to the grocery store and convinces the owner to let her buy things on credit. She can now provide her family with food. To pay her debts and the rent, Katie becomes a house maid. Johnny is not pleased with her job, but Katie is firm about it. She knows there has to be an income.

Katie's pride is seen in this chapter. She is so embarrassed by Johnny's drunken behavior in front of the neighbors that she insists on moving to a new house. Although the new place is still in Williamsburg, Katie feels good about it, for there is again happiness and laughter in the house. Mary, Katie's mother, comes for a visit and blesses the house with holy water, trying to ward off the evil spirits.

When it comes to taking care of her family, Katie is willing to swallow her pride. In order to feed her children, Katie goes to the grocery store and convinces them to sell her food on credit. Then she takes a job as a maid in order to have the money to pay the rent and her debts. Although Johnny is not happy about the job, Katie stands firm, for her husband is not working and there is no money. She again proves that she is determined to succeed in spite of all odds.

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