The Flower Sisters

Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of racism.

Fence is impressed with Daisy’s work on her first obituary and suggests that she write a regular column: a retrospective that examines the news from 50 years ago on different days in the town’s history. Daisy is disappointed by this suggestion, but Fence insists that he wants a column that makes people feel nostalgic and “showcases [their] history” (98).

While Daisy is walking home from The Picayune, Joe, who is riding a bicycle, accidentally knocks her down. He apologizes profusely and introduces himself, but a fuming Daisy rejects his apology even as Joe walks alongside her to Rose’s. Rose, who spots them coming, teasingly thanks Joe for walking her granddaughter home, which only irritates Daisy further.

As an annoyed Daisy pushes past Rose and storms into the house, Rose reminisces about her memories of raising Lettie. She reflects that Lettie was spoiled and doted upon by the four adults in the house: Rose’s husband, George Steinkamp; his parents, Hermann and Gladys; and Rose herself. However, Lettie was “smart and headstrong and perpetually discontent” with her life in Possum Flats (105), and she always sought power and control in her relationships with boys and men.