Monday’s family was at Claudia’s house after Halloween. Mrs. Charles checked the children’s candy for razors or pills. April was happy, taking care of little Tuesday, the youngest Charles sister, over whom Ma fawned. 

The mother of Shayla, one of the popular girls in school, was being abused by her husband. The Ma and Mrs. Charles talked about the bruises they saw on her face when she opened the door for trick-or-treaters. Mrs. Charles thought they should intervene, but Ma disagreed. Their mothers didn’t always get along, so Claudia and Monday tried to extinguish the fires between them. 

Mrs. Charles ranted about the government spying on people through their computers, including keeping tabs on what books people were reading. Ma interrupted her, telling the girls to get ready for bed. Mrs. Charles watched her daughter closely and requested a kiss; Monday seemed rigid and uncomfortable. As Claudia climbed the stairs, she heard Mrs. Charles say to Ma, “Janet, that man is going to kill her one of these days! Are you going to be able to look yourself in the mirror when he does?” (90).

Monday wanted to go to a Halloween party at the rec center, to Claudia’s surprise.