Out of Darkness

One of the people Wash does a considerable amount of work for is Mr. Crane, superintendent of the New London School. While standing in Mr. Crane’s yard, he confides in Wash that the heating bill for the school was $300 in November, and that he is concerned it will only be higher in December. When Wash returns home, he approaches his father Jim to present a proposal. Wash’s school, over which Jim presides as principal, is in need of facility improvements and supplies. He wonders if, should he dig a line to service Mr. Crane’s school with natural, unregulated “green” gas from a bleed-off line to heat it for free, Mr. Crane might be amenable to providing Egypt Town’s school with financial support. Jim says he might think on it. An impatient Wash accuses his father of being unwilling to stand up for his fellow African Americans, and the latter forces him to take back his statement. Later that night, Jim tells Wash he should present his idea to Mr. Crane, but that he should be careful about how he does so.

While tidying up the house, Naomi reluctantly enters Henry’s room. Naomi wonders if Henry might have kept any mementos of her mother as she has in their seven years apart.