Alice Walker's "Everyday Use" begins with Mama and Maggie sitting out in the front yard. They await the arrival of the other daughter, Dee. The exposition goes through the mother's thoughts of how the day is going to progress. She knows exactly how Maggie will act once Dee arrives. Mama sits outside and waits for Dee, all the while she daydreams about the way she wants the rest of the afternoon to go. A television show comes to mind with the thought of Dee and her sitting in the kitchen hugging like a perfect mother and daughter. Mama also thinks of the other house, the one that burnt, and the way Dee hates the old house. The new house on the other hand sits in a pastor and Dee does not care much about it. Once Dee arrives one of the first rising actions is when she gets out of the car with her boyfriend, Hakimabarber. The family sits down to eat and the conversation turns to Dee wanting a churn lid. Dees next possession of taking is a hand carved dasher. She also fumbles through a trunk and picks out two hand made quilts. She begins to tell her mother about how beautiful the quilts are made, and how they mean so much to her. Mama tells Dee that she promises the quilts to Maggie for when she marries. This is the climax of the plot, because Dee argues with her mother about the quilts, but her moms insists that the quilts will go to Maggie. Dee exclaims that Maggie can keep the quilts and that she does not need them to remember her heritage. She then turns and goes to talk to Hakimabarber. Maggie smiles when Dee puts on a pair of oversized sunglasses. Dee and Hakimabarber leaves in a hurry due to Dee's attitude after Mama denies the quilts to her. The denouement finishes with Mama and Maggie sitting in the front yard until time to go inside and go to bed. .
