In 1933, Ted has gone to live in Colfax with his Aunt Gertrude and Uncle Andrew Tademy. He is staying with them while he goes to school; he has already skipped two grades due to his intelligence, especially in math. Aunt Gertrude has discovered that he has a crush on Willie Dee Billes and warns him against chasing her. While his uncle, Andrew Tademy, has done well as the principal of the school, Nathan-Green, Ted’s father, lacks passion for the work.

Aunt Gertrude thinks Willie Dee Billes is “another high-yellow gal with her nose in the air” and tells Ted that he cannot even be friends with her while living in her house (353). Ted’s anger gets the best of him and he responds, “then I got to go” (353). He leaves and returns to The Bottom but goes to see his grandfather before going home.

GrandJack (Jackson Tademy) is out working the fields but stops to ask Ted why he isn’t in school. When Ted explains that he doesn’t want to stay with Aunt Gertrude anymore, Jackson tells him that he has no choice if he wants to stay in school. Jackson also tells Ted that he calls him L’il Man because “that’s what you are, that’s what you always been.