Plainsong

After a school day, Guthrie is at a disciplinary meeting with Principal Crowder, Russell, and Russell’s parents. As Crowder reads out the accusation against Russell, the boy’s mother interrupts to defend her son. She accuses Guthrie and Crowder of lying and refuses to accept the stated version of events. After a heated discussion, Crowder decides to suspend Russell for five days. Russell’s parents are furious, and his father threatens Crowder. After the Beckmans leave, Crowder turns to Guthrie and warns him to be careful: “You don’t want to mess with these folks” (125). He reminds Guthrie of his earlier warning about Russell, suggesting that Guthrie let the boy pass history class. Guthrie still seems reticent. 

Ike and Bobby visit Mrs. Stearns. They plan to make cookies, so she sends them to the store to buy the ingredients with her money, trusting them with a key to her house. When they return from the store, she is asleep, and they have to wake her. They prepare the recipe slowly.

They place the raw cookies in the oven. While they wait, Mrs. Stearns shows the boys an old photo album containing pictures of her son, Albert, who died in the Second World War.