Summary
Highlights
Stella and her brother Jojo, dressed in nightshirts, hide behind an oak tree, fearfully observing nine robed figures in white hoods burning a wooden cross on Kilkenny Pond. They realize it's the Ku Klux Klan and Stella senses the acrid smell of kerosene.
Jojo asks who the figures are, and Stella whispers, "The Clan." She explains they are practicing for something bad. As the horses become agitated by the fire, the robed men raise their arms and cry out. Stella and Jojo decide to leave, and Stella holds Jojo's hand and runs back home.
The family huddles around their sturdy elm table. Stella recounts what she and Jojo saw to her parents. Her father confirms the presence of the Ku Klux Klan, noting the red fire, black cross, and white hoods. The year is 1932 in Bumblebee, North Carolina, a time when the Black community relied on each other for safety.
Papa repeatedly asks if Stella and Jojo were seen. Jojo admits to sneaking out after hearing voices and discovering the fire. Mama angrily scolds them for their recklessness. Papa emphasizes his role in keeping them safe and warns them against bringing trouble.
Mama recalls the last time the Klan was active, mentioning 'Billy Odom's accident' at the lumber mill, which Papa confirms was a KKK warning against Odom starting his own business. Jojo describes the men as looking like ghosts.
Stella nervously reveals that some men had horses and she might have recognized one because its saddle and harness sparkled, unlike the others. Mama suggests it might be Doc Packard's horse, known for its fine tack. Papa expresses concern, realizing this new knowledge gives them a small amount of power but also signifies immense danger.
Papa tells Stella and Jojo to wake the men down the lane, splitting up to cover both sides of the road. Mama reminds them to be "swift and silent" and to take their dog, Dusty. They first inform John Steve, who quickly understands the gravity of the situation (the KKK at Kilkenny Pond). They continue alerting other Black households, including the doctor and schoolteachers. Within half an hour, Stella's home is filled with angry Black men from Bumblebee, some carrying shotguns.