A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Francie adores all the shops that surround her new house, especially the pawnshop, the coffee and tea shop, and the laundry, where Francie is filled with a sense of “mystery” every time she does business with the Chinese owner. 

Once they have settled in, Katie contacts a neighbor about piano lessons. She swaps services with her, cleaning her house in exchange for lessons. Katie hopes that Francie and Neeley will learn to play piano, too, by being in the room during the lessons. The piano teacher catches onto this ploy quickly but tells Katie she is willing to let it slide. Soon, all three of them have become adept piano players. Johnny tries to strike a deal with the piano teacher’s partner, who gives voice lessons, but he isn’t successful.

In preparation for entering public school, a much-anticipated event by Francie, Francie and Neeley must get vaccinated. Unable to bear the pain of watching them, Katie insists they go down to the health center alone. When they get there, a fear-filled, mud-covered Francie overhears a doctor calling her “filth” and saying that people like her should be “sterilized.” Francie becomes so consumed by shame she doesn’t even feel the shot. Getting out of the chair, Francie tells the doctor not to say the same things about her little brother that he did about her because Neeley is “a boy and he don’t care if he is dirty” (147). The doctor is shocked that she understood his comments but ultimately shrugs it off. Back at home, Francie’s arm gets infected. Her mother tells her not to scratch, but Francie can tell it is getting worse anyway. Afraid of angering Katie, Francie hides her painful wound until her father gets home. Johnny helps her clean it up, leaving Francie feeling “peaceful.” Johnny, on the other hand, stays awake all night, staring into the nothingness.

School turned out to be a disappointment to Francie. She is beat up on the first day and quickly learns that while she sits in the same classroom as the richer students, she will always be treated differently. The school is overpopulated and run by indifferent teachers. Bullies run rampant as the teachers take little interest in the children. One day, Francie pees herself because neither the teacher nor the bullies will let her get to the bathroom. As Francie heads home that day, she runs into Aunt Sissy, who has been plotting a way back into the Nolans’ lives. Francie tells Aunt Sissy what happened, and Sissy promises to take care of it. Sissy then sends Francie on her way and approaches Francie’s teacher. She lies and says she is Francie’s mother and that Francie has kidney problems, so she needs to use the bathroom during the day. The teacher accedes, but only after Sissy insinuates that Francie isn’t as poor as the teacher thinks. Sissy then attempts to contact Katie, but Katie only rebuffs her. She later learns that Sissy lost another child. Katie feels ashamed when she finds out and, as a result, reinstates Sissy’s presence in the family (159).

Every week at school, the girls’ heads are checked for lice. Anyone with lice is publicly admonished and sent home for the day, which leads to further admonishment from classmates. Katie is aware of the dangers of lice and thus rubs Francie’s hair in kerosene. Katie also acts proactively when she hears about mumps, tying garlic to Francie and her brother when they go to school. Reeking of garlic and kerosene, Francie remains friendless but healthy.