Fall on your Knees

Content Warning: This section contains violence, incest, and rape.

James, recovering from two strokes, gives Kathleen’s New York journal to Frances. Frances reads it and, realizing its emotional import, places it in the hope chest in the attic. James begins to open up to Frances.

On April Fools’ Day, Frances shows Lily the photograph of Kathleen from the hope chest, telling Lily that Kathleen, not Materia, was her mother. Frances tells Lily that Kathleen had gone to New York to become an opera singer, but that something had happened that caused James to bring her home. Frances tells Lily that her twin brother died by accident in the creek. She does not tell Lily about trying to baptize the twins.

Frances has the baby in a distant hospital. James and Lily only get a telegram telling them that it is a boy, healthy. When Mercedes and Frances return days later, however, they tell James and Lily that the baby, named Aloysius, died from crib death.

Mercedes tells Lily that the bishop wants to meet with her about her gift to heal the sick. Determined to save Frances from the pain of coming across the baptismal gown in

Unlock all 58 pages of this Study Guide

Plus, gain access to 8,450+ more expert-written Study Guides.

Including features:

+ Mobile App

+ Printable PDF

+ Literary AI Tools

Unlock Full Library