Louis to see their mother. Maya was unsure about this trip because she didn't want to leave Momma behind. But in the end she had no choice but to accompany her father, and the eager Bailey to a trip to St. Louis. This event was very important in Maya's life because she hadn't seen any of her parents since they left California. Maya also thought that her parents had died because they hadn't heard from them. She started to feel like she didn't belong because her father nor her mother wrote to her or called to see how they were doing. So when her father comes to Stamps without notifying anyone, this puts more love into Maya's heart because she thought that her parents didn't love her and didn't want to see her. She was amazed because she hadn't seen him in a long time. She wanted to make other people in Stamps jealous of her father since he was so different and good looking, but she then started to think that people would start comparing her with her father which wouldn't be a good thing to her. Since Maya thinks of herself as ugly and her father was very good looking, people might not believe her when she says that this man was her father. .
When Maya and Bailey arrive at St. Louis to meet their mother, neither Maya nor Bailey could believe that Vivian was their mother. She was so beautiful. They seem to forgive her immediately for having abandoned them. Their mother was beautiful, smart, and willful. She was a trained nurse, but earns a living playing poker games in gambling parlors. Before Maya and Bailey had a chance to settle in, Father Bailey announced that he was leaving them behind for a second time. Knowing that, they stay with their mother and her boyfriend, Mr. Freeman. Vivian doesn't know how to be a good mother and is unable to meet the children's needs. Both Bailey and Maya pick up bad habits in St. Louis. Maya starts to have nightmares and Bailey starts to stutter. Vivian tries to be a good mother lets Maya sleep in her bed.