The Mighty Miss Malone

Deza and Mother are excited and shocked to see the pretty house at the address back home in Gary that Father rented. It is “a beautiful little house with a porch and a green door” (282), and Deza thinks each room is perfect. They have no furniture yet, but she knows they will purchase and sleep in real beds soon. Deza is sad to discover that both Mrs. Needham and Clarice no longer live in their houses. She thinks of visiting Dr. Bracy but opts to wait. Mrs. Ashton, the public librarian, allows Deza to check out four books although Deza needs a new library card.

When she gets home, Mother greets her from inside a waiting cab, calling Deza to get in. Mother reveals shocking news: A man in a poorhouse in Lansing, Michigan might be Father. Mother tells Deza all the letters could not have been from Father; none ever asked about Jimmie, and the tone and language simply were not representative of Father’s personality. Mother tells Deza the letters were a lot like the fake note Deza wrote as Mrs. Carsdale; Deza is surprised that Mother knew about her forgery. Mother says she spent time all year writing to poorhouses, hospitals, and morgues trying to find Father.