Keesha's House

In Part 7 and 8, the symbolism of Keesha’s house extends to almost all the teen characters. Harris and Katie remain at Keesha’s house, so the home still represents a safe place. In Part 7, Dontay ends up at Keesha’s house, where Joe talks with Anthony and helps get Dontay back to his foster home. The acceptance Dontay experiences at Keesha’s house carries over to his foster home. Dontay admits, “I’m almost happy,” and “I’m behavin’ myself too” (106). Keesha’s house is a haven where teens can take breaks and calmly consider their options. It is a supportive environment where people encourage each other, even if another person has something they do not, like a safe family to return to. Katie’s observation about the house being obscured by a willow tree gives it a dream-like quality, as if it is a space separate from society where teens can go to heal. After Carmen stops drinking alcohol, she goes to Keesha’s house and finds a supportive community that accepts her exactly as she is. Stephie also visits Keesha’s house for a boost, stating, “These friends help me laugh / when I need laughter” (103). She brings Jason, who’s an outlier. Jason is suspicious of Keesha’s house and the safety it represents. He says, “Sure, / they're okay now, but things go wrong” (104). Jason observation is important in its objectivity: Keesha’s house is an unusual place that someone who doesn’t need a safe place can easily understand. The inclusion of Jason’s skepticism adds a sense of realism and depth. Jason has not personally felt desperation, and he is, in many ways, the teen with the brightest future. This contrast demonstrates the many kinds of circumstances people face, which Jason also acknowledges when he considers how unusual his own luck is. Jason’s freedom is basketball and college, but for others like Katie and Harris, freedom is a room in a safe home.

The Quest for Belonging doesn’t have a tidy end for every character. In Chapter 43, Stephie expresses exuberant relief that she won’t become a mother as a teen, but in Chapter 50, Stephie admits, “[S]omething’s torn / somewhere inside me” (103). Stephie grapples with the loss of her child while also observing that she is happy to have her normal life back, which reflects her cycle of grief. Additionally, the death of Tobias makes Keesha wish she could bring him back to life, and that they could be “safe in a car / with someone sober driving” (105). Keesha still doesn’t fit into a stable place, and she continues feeling like she must press forward on her own. She longs for a safe, sober adult because her own father is neither safe nor sober. Perhaps Keesha feels greater resentment toward her father after losing Tobias, but she does not explore these thoughts in the text. Instead, she smashes dishes in the kitchen before Joe pulls her back, assuring her that she is a good person. Jason, meanwhile, remains uncomfortable with his fortunate position, stating, “Sometimes I wonder if it’s fair, that’s all” (104). Jason can’t account for why he gets the privilege of a loving family and a scholarship while many of the other characters remain in fragile positions. Though Dontay behaves and is “almost happy,” his doubts persist. Dontay says, “I’m like a pet / they know they can get rid of if I get / ornery” (106). Dontay’s words offer insight into his complex feelings about being a foster child who will be reunited with his parents soon. Dontay’s parents love him, and his stay with is foster family is challenging: He cannot get too comfortable knowing he will say goodbye soon. Perhaps as a means of survival, Dontay keeps his distance even after returning to his foster family’s home.

The narratives of Carmen, Harris, and Katie conclude with a more straightforward sense of belonging. Carmen embraces her identity as a person who doesn’t drink alcohol, and she finds a supportive group at Keesha’s house. Katie cements her connection to Keesha’s house by painting her room blue and yellow—colors that represent home for her. Harris remains committed to Keesha’s house and graduating from high school. He declares, “There’s light ahead of me” (55). Harris believes the future has a place for him. Though Katie and Harris do not return to their parents’ homes, they embrace their new lives. The text highlights their hope rather than their regret or resentment, highlighting that people have different needs. Katie and Harris accept the reality of their parents’ extreme shortcomings, as both their parents enable abuse. Their senses of peace at Keesha’s house are a testament to the safety and security of the space itself, as well as the good character of both Keesha and Joe.

Adults continue to play a negative role in Parts 7 and 8. Joe helps Keesha grieve Tobias, and Carmen’s grandmother helps her confront her substance use disorder, but, mostly, the teens feel like they must constantly demonstrate resilience to survive. Harris sums up the self-reliant attitude when he declares, “If people we're supposed to count on can't / (or don’t) support us, it’s up to us to find / the friends who can and do” (108). Harris’s mother still won’t stick up to his dad, and Katie’s mother remains with her predatory husband. Their predicaments indicate that not all families can face and correct their flaws, and the teens take it upon themselves to seek happiness and peace outside of their traditional family structures. At the same time, the families of Dontay, Stephie, and Carmen show that adults can be helpful and thoughtful. However, as Frost lets the teen characters speak for six of the eight parts, the implication is that the teen characters survived through their own efforts, as well as the caring networks they organized together.