A Thousand Never Evers

Eleven days later, Addie Ann’s community is still upset about the civil rights meeting. She decides to bake a cake to help improve her mother’s mood.

She goes and gets her brother from his work so that they can go to the corner store for honey. However, because she has her cat, Flapjack, with her, she waits outside while her brother goes in.

Addie Ann comes face-to-face with a white woman in high heels with a large hat, Mrs. Worth. As Mrs. Worth enters the store, Addie Ann cannot hold in her laughter. Two boys nearby—Buck Fowler and Mrs. Worth’s son, Jimmy—hear her and confront her and pull Flapjack from her arms.

Addie Ann is thrown to the ground as the boys begin to throw Flapjack back and forth. Just as Jimmy is about to kick Flapjack, Elias comes out of the store. He throws a jar of honey at Jimmy, hitting him in the head and knocking him backward to the bayou’s edge.

Buck chases after Elias as Addie Ann remains on the ground, unable to move.