My Louisiana Sky

Aunt Dorie Kay tries to teach Tiger’s father how to pay bills, and Tiger is ashamed when he can’t do it. She tries to volunteer, but her aunt points out that Tiger has her own responsibilities to worry about. Tiger and Aunt Dorie Kay go out to the movies and to a soda shop. Tiger is impressed by Audrey Hepburn, who is skinny like Tiger is. However, Tiger also begins to see the segregation beyond her immediate community, and she finds this disturbing. Aunt Dorie Kay asks if Tiger would like to come live in Baton Rouge with her.

Tiger is excited about the prospect of a new start with Aunt Dorie Kay in Baton Rouge, but she feels guilty and nervous about leaving behind her parents and her home. Aunt Dorie Kay arranges to have her maid, a Black woman named Magnolia, come to Saitter to help out for the summer. Tiger washes her mother’s hair with some convincing; her mother has been neglecting herself since Granny died.

Tiger and her aunt drive to Baton Rouge—farther from home than Tiger has ever been. Aunt Dorie Kay says that she goes by Doreen in Baton Rouge, and she encourages Tiger to make some changes in order to fit in there as well.