Taunt Atie and Sophie embarked for the city of Port-a-Prince for the airport, she was leaving Haiti for the United Stated to be re-united with her mother. On the way they encountered a riot in progress between government soldiers and some students, they witnessed the students being beaten. There was a fire that impeded the traffic and as a result they were late catching the flight. At the airport the farewell between Tante Atie and Sophie was rushed and abrupt because of their lateness, this compounded the heartbreak and devastation of their separation.

When Sophie arrives in New York she is greeted by her mother, they hug and kissed. After this brief reunion her mom took her to her new home on Flatbush Avenue. On the way there Sophie noticed her mother was very haggard and unhealthy looking, an appearance far removed from the pics Tante Atie had of her back in Haiti. She also realizes that her mom holds the same ideas about education as Tante Atie. That she needed to get a good education to elevate herself out of poverty and make them proud. Her success was going to be their success.

She is introduce to Mark, her mother’s boyfriend. Them her mom gave her the history of her existence and the fact that she was conceived through the terrible act of a violent rape.