Brown Girl, Brownstones

It is 1946, a year after Deighton’s death, and Selina is weighed down with grief and her growing desire for a relationship and sex with a boy. Selina’s desires are never quite fulfilled, however, because she keeps having visions of her father’s death on the way to Barbados. She is paralyzed with angst because she believes that she could have prevented her father’s death. Selina breaks her self-imposed isolation by going to a party at Beryl’s house. Ina is now dating a weak young man named Edgar Innis and spends the rest of her free time going to the Episcopalian church.

At Beryl’s party, Selina feels out of place. These young people are middle class, talk about the trips they will take back to Barbados, and chatter about the graduation gifts they expect upon exiting college. Selina spoils their conversation by being contemptuous when Beryl discusses joining the young people’s division of the Barbadian Homeowner’s and Business Association (a self-help and social group that implies status in their community). Selina is conscious that all her father has given her is something intangible—hope that change can happen. She regrets her angry tone and apologizes to Beryl, who seems self-satisfied once again.