Silver Sparrow

While one of the popular girls from Chaurisse’s town is celebrating a decadent sweet sixteen, Chaurisse is getting paid to work it, both as a stylist in her mother’s salon and as an “attendant” for her father’s limousine company. Waiting for the party to end, James, Raleigh, and Chaurisse eat at an IHOP restaurant. While there, Chaurisse contemplates a question many of the women in her town often ask: Why is Raleigh still single? People muse over whether he is gay or guilty of adultery, but Chaurisse assumes it is because “he had us” (231). She did once witness him on a date while she was skipping school with Jamal, but while they acknowledged each other, neither spoke to the other nor gave away the other’s secret. Chaurisse is upset she wasn’t invited to the popular girl’s party despite having grown up alongside her.

As they eat, Raleigh and James decide to throw a 20th-anniversary party for the Pink Fox to celebrate Laverne. James then suggests Raleigh consider adding photo packages alongside the limo rides again, but Raleigh says he wants to use his photography for more serious purposes. James reminds Raleigh that Chaurisse will be going off to college soon and could use the money. At this point they ask Chaurisse where she plans to apply. When Chaurisse tells them Mount Holyoke, they both appear uncomfortable. They finish eating and drive to the hotel where the party is taking place. They send Chaurisse upstairs to check the party’s progress. She grabs a piece of cake and eats it downstairs, licking her fingers clean. Just as she is sucking the last of the frosting off, Dana and Ronalda appear, explaining that they tried to get into the party but were not allowed. Dana explains to Chaurisse that Ronalda is her best friend and asks Chaurisse if she is attending the party. Chaurisse explains that she isn’t a guest but a worker and invites them to see her father’s limo. Dana and Ronalda decline and quickly leave after Chaurisse’s invitation. Dejected, Chaurisse returns to Raleigh and James, who promise to throw her a party “ten times bigger than this” (242).

Chaurisse has a “brush with Negro history” in 1974, when she lies sick on the lap of Laverne’s last customer of the night, Mary—the same Mary who later that night throws “hot grits on Al Green” (243). Her mother is about to close shop when Mary comes in asking for “help.” She has Laverne fix her hair as she confesses that she is about to leave her husband and three children for a singer who has “God in him” (247). Chaurisse has a fever, and Mary lets her sweat onto her shirt as Laverne fixes her hair and listens to her nonjudgmentally. Chaurisse quickly grows attached to Mary and is upset when she has to go—so upset that James grows disconcerted when he arrives and sees his daughter clinging to her.

Later on, Laverne expresses her disgust for how rudely James dismissed Mary, saying he is preventing her from friendship. He defends his actions, saying, “There was something wild in her face” (250). James later shows Laverne an article describing what Mary did to Al Green so that she will admit he was right.

Laverne rarely talks about that evening and tries to use it as a warning for Chaurisse about what not to do.  

Raleigh and James proceed with planning their party, which they book at the same hotel where the popular girl held her sweet sixteen. Dana returns to the Pink Fox not long after seeing Chaurisse at the hotel birthday party and is quickly apprised of the party James is planning for Laverne. Chaurisse explains that the party is meant to honor Laverne’s “hard work,” which upsets Dana, who says her mother never received similar treatment (253). As she fixes Dana’s hair, Chaurisse says that Dana will be invited to the party for Laverne, unlike the party for the popular girl. Dana declines, but Chaurisse continues to push, saying Dana can bring Ronalda. This brings a great anger and sadness over Dana, who explains that Ronalda has been sent back North after she let her little brother, Nkrumah, get hurt in a parking lot. Laverne defends Ronalda’s parents’ decision, but this doesn’t change Dana’s mind.

Dana stays at the salon even after Chaurisse finishes her hair, talking to Laverne, asking her questions about her preferences and if she is a “happy person” (257). They invite her to dinner, but Dana declines, so Chaurisse walks her to the bus stop. On the way there, Dana confesses that she is lonely and that she loves Chaurisse. This confession excites Chaurisse, but when Dana’s bus pulls away, Dana is upset because Chaurisse did not say she loved her back.

James and Raleigh continue to plan the party for Laverne, although Chaurisse insists her mother won’t like it. They have her approach Laverne with flowers and an invitation to the party. When Laverne reads the “expensive” invitation, she tears up and hugs Chaurisse, convulsing with gratitude.