Blackbird House

Maya Cooper voices this chapter, which is set in the early 1980s. She recounts her family story, beginning in 1969 when her parents, John (who calls himself Risha) and Naomi fall in love with Blackbird House. Even though it’s tumbling down, and the locals consider it haunted, they deem the blackbirds on the roof a good omen, so they buy it and start a family there. Before arriving, the couple moved around a lot. After Vietnam, Risha experienced post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and struggled to maintain a job. However, when he fell in love with Naomi, they left the city and ended up in Cape Cod. During this time, Risha became a devotee of Maharishi, a Hindi leader known for transcendental meditation.

Both Maya and her older brother, Kalkin (Kal), are born in the summer kitchen, a shed separate from the house. They don’t have a typical upbringing. Their father rarely works, while their mother supports the family through her weaving. This income is insufficient, so the children endure the hardships of poverty: few possessions, little food, tattered clothing, and minimal heat. Angry with their parents, Kal doesn’t let their circumstances deter him. Both kids often visit the Lanahans’ house when invited for dinner and stay there to watch television.