The Stars Beneath Our Feet

Lolly goes over to Rose’s house where he meets her grandmother, Dr. Betty Green. Their apartment is full of books, magazines, and old newspapers. Dr. Green is clearly very educated, as there are multiple degrees framed on the wall. She is partial to poetry, particularly poetry written before the 19th century. She gives him The Collected Works of Phillis Wheatley, but Lolly knows he will never read it.

Rose and Lolly take the subway to Rockefeller Center and visit Tuttle’s Toy Emporium, the three-story toy store where Yvonne works. Lolly’s parents have been taking him there since he was little. Yvonne is surprised to see them at her work. She takes a short break, but she seems twitchy and anxious.

Later, Lolly tries sketching some buildings. On the subway, he reads the Phillis Wheatley poem “On Imagination” and surprised to enjoy it. He feels like the lines “Imagination! who can sing thy force? Or who describe the swiftness of thy course?” (183) are speaking to him.

Vega’s mom sends Vega and Lolly after dusk to a bodega to get plantains. While they walk, Vega agrees that it’s messed up that Lolly has to take down