Mary's mother had been living on welfare since Mary's little brother Terrell was born. .
At the tender age of five, Terrell began showing signs of mental retardation. Mary remembered how her mother would scream at Terrell when he ate paint chips claiming how he would end up like those kids at the children center around the corner. Terrell's symptoms included sluggish speech, unsystematic violent strokes, and the swelling in his head the doctors would soon declare it as a tumor. Mary didn't exactly understand Terrell's situation, she highly anticipated walking to school with Terrell. Because of his problem, Terrell was not able to attend school, and maybe someday be home-schooled. .
Mary's mother Jackie was a struggling woman of the mere age of twenty-six. She had trouble finding work because of her early departure from high school due to pregnancy. She had two different fathers for her two kids, both of whom walked out on her when she couldn't provide half of the abortion money. She hadn't ever held a job long enough to even receive a full check; she often made visits to the brothel on the first floor of the apartment, looking for quick cash. Jackie was fired from her last job because of the much-needed attention of Terrell. He couldn't stay at the children center because Jackie couldn't afford to send him there, much less provide insurance for his arbitrary seizures. Jackie was in desperate need of money to pay for the medicine Terrell severely needed. Money had been scarce, and it would be a few more days until Jackie's check came from the government. .
Mary finally arrived from the bathroom, with it apparent that her underwear was stuffed with tissue; she even had a tissue strip dancing around her legs as she walked by. Mary was going to outside to get some cool air, the alleys between the apartments provided great shade despite its terrible smell. As Mary sat catching the breezes that snuck up the alley, a group of high school boys passed by.