Lay That Trumpet in Our Hands

Luther sets out for his friend Horatio’s house, but before leaving, he offers a Negro spiritual prayer asking God to watch over the men tonight. In it, he asks God for their mission to be successful and for the “trumpet” to be laid in their hands. Doto takes the boys to a movie, and Armetta brings her famous snickerdoodle cookie dough to occupy Lizbeth and Reesa with cookie-making while the men are gone. She herself proceeds to darn socks.

While they wait for the men to return home, Armetta tells them what happened in her hometown, Ocoee, when she was young. On Election Day, members of the Black community came out to vote. The White Dixiecrats were afraid that all the Black community members were going to vote Republican, so they began to set fire to their homes and drive them out. This incident explains why there are no longer any Black residents of Ocoee. After the harrowing tale, Reesa notices that the delicious snickerdoodles have not been touched.

At nine minutes till 11:00 pm, Luther’s truck pulls into the driveway. He quickly tells everyone that Warren and Robert should be close behind, but they finally arrive a little after 11:30 because they had to change a flat tire.