Sugar

The new season begins the next day—planting day. Sugar is both excited and nervous to see what planting day is like with new workers on River Road plantation. The two groups of workers still stand separated, which Sugar finds silly, considering they “are getting ready to do the same work” (109). Another change this season is Billy standing beside his father and Overseer Tom. As Billy will inherit the plantation one day, his father took him away from his studies to observe what happens on planting day. In this moment, Sugar feels the equality she shared with Billy on the raft slip away.

As the workers begin to plant, Sugar spies an eagle overhead. She imagines that from the eagle’s perspective, they all look the same, all “[s]pecks of people stuck to dirt” (110). When Sugar focuses on her work again, she notices that the River Road workers can’t match the pace of the Chinese men. The Chinese men are especially efficient, making the elderly River Road workers look slow. Mister Wills smiles, satisfied with the new group’s work.

The day progresses, and Sugar sees the River Road workers becoming exhausted. She remembers their fear of losing their jobs and homes should they fail to keep up with the new workers. Sugar decides to lift their spirits the only way she knows how, by inventing a new song. It works, and soon, everyone except the Chinese men join in.

Sugar catches the eye of the young Chinese man who first greeted her. She sings to him, “trying to make him hear, understand the worries of the River Road folks” (114). The young man seems to understand, and says something to the man beside him, and the message spreads down the line. When the message reaches the last man, the entire group slows down. Suddenly, all of the workers are moving in sync, none moving faster than the other. At this moment, they are one.

At the end of planting day, everyone is exhausted. The River Road workers don’t understand what the Chinese men did for them, and many are still skeptical about their intentions; Sugar is the only one willing to give them the benefit of the doubt. Reverend Thornton and Mister Beale warn Sugar to stay away from the men, but she persists, eventually asking what Mister Beale would do if he was her age. At this, Mister Beale admits, “If I were a boy, nothing could keep me away from those Chinamen” (119). Sugar hugs Mister Beale and dashes away to see the men.

When Sugar gets to the Chinese men’s side of the yard, she approaches the youngest man whom she refers to as her “first ‘Knee-how’ friend” (120). She thanks him for slowing down his friends so the older workers could keep up. The young man bows and thanks her back in Chinese. He then introduces himself in English—Beau.

Beau crouches in the dirt and writes his name in Chinese for Sugar to see. She looks at the new symbols with awe. The next name he writes is Master Liu, which he identifies as the dignified man whom Sugar knew must be the group’s leader. Beau asks Sugar for her name, and when she tells him, he writes her name in Chinese. Sugar is overwhelmed: “Even in the dirt, the markings look pretty. Seeing [her] name is magic” (122). Even though Sugar hates her name, she can’t help but admire the way it looks when Beau writes it.

Sugar asks Beau why the men refer to Master Liu as “Master”—as for her, the word has always been associated with enslavers. Beau explains that in China, much like the gesture of the bow, the word is a sign of respect. It is used to acknowledge Master Liu’s status as an elder of the group. Master Liu, who isn’t far away, joins their conversation.

Master Liu says something to Beau in Chinese. Beau translates for Sugar, saying that Master Liu thinks she seems strong, and was likely born 10 years ago “during the year of the monkey” (123). Sugar excitedly confirms that she’s 10; Master Liu tells her that the Metal Monkey has a strong, fighting spirit. The girl is pleased with her new friends and extends her hand to Beau. He takes it, and Sugar calls him her “First Chinamen friend” (125); Beau corrects her and tells her to call him her first Chinese friend

No Name the cat joins Sugar, Beau, and Master Liu. Beau picks him up and asks Sugar what to call him, but she tells him that he doesn’t have a name. The young man tells Sugar that No Name reminds him of the tale of the Cat and the Chinese Calendar. He tells her an elaborate story about how the Chinese calendar originated, and how Rat tricked Cat into sleeping in the day the Emperor Jade was to assign each animal a year—so now, there is no Cat on the Chinese calendar, just like No Name has no name. Sugar is enthralled by the tale. She realizes the men have stories about animals just like Mister Beale, with his tales about Br’er Rabbit and Hyena.

Master Liu and Beau tell Sugar that she should name No Name. She thinks for a minute, and then decides on Jade, after Emperor Jade from Beau’s story. From across the yard, Mister Beale calls to Sugar. She bows to her new friends and races home, her head filled with exciting new stories.

The next day, the River Road workers’ bodies ache all over. As Mister Wills, Billy, and Overseer Tom loom over them, the idea of matching the Chinese men’s pace seems too much to bear. After a moment of the groups looking at each other from opposite sides of the cane field, Mister Beale approaches Master Liu. He tells him, “We all have to make a living. All God’s children have to live” (131). Master Liu shows he understands, bowing deeply. Suddenly, the River Road workers and the Chinese workers line up and move in unison; the former realize that the latter are not a threat to their jobs.

After the day’s work has ended, the two groups of workers separate once more and go to their respective sides of the yard. Sugar thinks this is ridiculous, and schemes to trick Missus Beale into taking food to the Chinese men. Missus Beale and some of the other women eventually take food to them. For the first time, both groups are intermingled in the yard. The Chinese men try some of Missus Beale’s delicious corn bread, and introduce Sugar and the others to chopsticks and ginger.

Sugar sits with a man she hasn’t met before, Mister Zheng. He has a long scar across his eye from his brother throwing a rock. The scar reminds Sugar of a pirate, which makes her miss Billy. She tells Mister Zheng about her friend, and how she’s not allowed to play with him. Mister Zheng nods sadly, then pulls out a photograph of his family. Sugar studies the family, and tells Mister Zheng how lovely they are.

It's time to go, but Sugar pleads with Mister Beale to hear one of Master Liu’s stories. He agrees, and they settle down around him. Master Liu (with Beau translating) tells his listeners about the waves of the Changjiang river, the longest river in China. He uses the river to teach an important lesson: “‘Waves of the past help the future,’ […] ‘Like children. Each generation better than the last’” (138). Mister Beale nods, as this is what he was taught too.

Before they part ways for the night, Beau asks if he can tell one more tale—a tale about real life. He recounts how Master Liu, in bringing him and the other men across the sea to America, ended up saving their lives. Had they stayed, they would have remained poor and starving. As difficult as cutting cane in Louisiana is, it’s better than the life they had before.

Sugar takes in the sight before her: She is surrounded by people she loves and new friends. Master Liu tells Sugar that she is the wave he mentioned earlier, and “[f]or the first time [she] think[s] it’s fine to be new. To be young, not old” (141). She is starting to recognize her own power in bringing people together.

That night, as Sugar is counting the money in her money jar, she hears a whistle outside her shack. When she goes to investigate, she sees Billy. He has come to talk to her about the “Chinamen”—but Sugar corrects him, telling him to call them “Chinese”. She tells him about her night with them, and the kinds of foods they shared and liked. Billy hangs onto every word. However, Sugar realizes she can’t talk to him for long and tries to get him to leave.

Billy pouts, telling Sugar it isn’t fair that he isn’t allowed to spend time with the Chinese men. He tells her how his parents complain about the change that has come over the country since President Lincoln, but he knows the Chinese workers are the future, and he wants to understand them more. Sugar wants to continue their conversation out of the adults’ hearing range, so she races up an evergreen tree, with Billy not far behind.

From up in the tree, the pair feel free, just as they do on the river. Billy teaches Sugar about the constellations in the sky, which can be used to navigate while sailing. Then, he tells her a secret: One day, he wants to leave River Road and travel the world. As Sugar listens, her chest tightens, and she sees Billy in a new light. She starts to understand why she and Billy aren’t supposed to be friends. She tells him that his wealth and status as a white boy have opened, and will continue to open, doors that don’t even exist for her. Sugar recalls the day she broke Billy’s window. Billy will continue to be fine if they’re caught together again, but the Beales won’t. They, and Sugar, could be forced to leave River Road with nowhere to go.

Sugar asserts that she and Billy can’t be friends anymore. Billy is heartbroken and tries to stop her from leaving. He carves an “S” in their tree—for Sugar—and shows it to her. Sugar knows that “Billy’s trying to change the rules. Teach [her] to write. But [she] can’t risk hurting the Beales” (150). She climbs down their tree, saying she likes her name better in Chinese, and runs home. By the time she gets back, she hears Overseer Tom clanging a triangle, their signal to wake up. With a heavy heart, Sugar prepares to start another day of work.

On Sunday, just as the Reverend is leading everyone in prayer, Beau crosses the yard to announce New Year’s. At first, everyone is confused since New Year’s Day in America has come and gone, but he tells them that it’s Chinese New Year. He invites everyone to a special celebration after they finish prayer. Missus Thornton asks Beau if the men pray, and he tells her that they don’t, but they do honor their ancestors, practice good deeds, and “chant for human suffering to end” (154). Master Liu begins to chant, and Sugar is reminded of Ma.

To celebrate Chinese New Year, Sugar and the others learn how to make dumplings. Hidden inside one of the dumplings is a Chinese coin, said to bring its finder good luck all year. Once everyone rolls and pinches the dumplings closed, they place them over a fire to steam. As they wait for the dumplings to cook, Master Liu tells everyone the story he told Sugar about the animals on the Chinese calendar, and how each person shares personality traits with the animal that represents their year. Master Liu and Mister Beale are both Horses, Reverend an Ox, and Missus Thornton a Rooster. Mister Aires, a shy Black man, steps forward and asks what he would be if he was born enslaved and no one recorded his birth year. Master Liu tells him to pick an animal with which he identifies. After a moment of thinking, he settles on the Pig, causing everyone to laugh. Just then, Beau tells everyone that the dumplings are ready.

The dumplings are delicious, and Missus Thornton finds the lucky coin. Sugar pets Jade the cat and looks around, suddenly overwhelmed with sadness. Mister Beale and Master Liu check on her, and she tells them that although she loves Chinese New Year, it reminds her of her Ma, who died on New Year’s Day. Master Liu suggests they honor Ma’s grave. Sugar scoops up Jade, and Beau carries the two of them. In Beau’s arms, Sugar feels safe. They are all silent as they follow the Reverend to the cemetery.

The cemetery is crowded and disorderly, with over 200 graves dug wherever they could fit. Mister Beale points to his youngest son’s grave. Everyone in the group is hushed as they walk toward Sugar’s Ma’s grave. Mister Beale tells the Chinese men that sugar requires the strongest, toughest workers; it often killed those who were enslaved at a younger age. He remarks that he doesn’t know how he’s lived so long, as most who work at River Road never grow old.

When the groups reaches Ma’s grave, Master Liu leads them in honoring it. Sugar thinks back to her mother’s last words (“Do. See. Feel.”). Before dying, she said another word: “Survive” (163). As Sugar looks around at the people she loves, and who love her back, Sugar feels grateful to be alive, and more determined to fulfill Ma’s wishes.

After a while, Sugar finds herself missing Billy. As if on cue, he arrives with harmonica in hand. He doesn’t look well at all; his skin is blotchy and red, and his hair is slick with sweat. He starts to play his harmonica for Sugar, the music starting out slow and sad, then speeding up to a happier tune. Sugar “want[s] to jump up and dance, but [she] know[s] she shouldn’t” (166). Instead, she claps for him as he ends his song, and he bows weakly.

Missus Beale appears and tells the children they shouldn’t be playing together. Billy insists that he wants to play with “Pepper” (167), his new name for Sugar because she hates her name. Missus Beale gives Sugar a look, and she tells him that she has chores and can’t play. Billy gets uncharacteristically upset, and yells that the Chinese men will take their jobs. Sugar tells Missus Beale not to mind him, because he isn’t acting like himself. However, Missus Beale grimly replies that he’s right—they could lose their jobs yet.

During community dinner, Sugar hides in her room. She reflects on how the Beales seem to think they’re her grandparents, but aren’t blood relatives. She fixes two bowls of sticky gruel, one for herself, and one for Ma. Sugar asks Ma why she named her Sugar. As she dwells on the memory of her Ma, she gets angry and throws both bowls of gruel against the wall. She doesn’t care that she’ll have to clean up the mess, as she feels better now.

Outside, the fire bell clangs, and all rush out to see what is happening. There is no fire in the mill. Rather, Mister Wills is calling for help, shouting for Mister Beale to call a doctor: Billy is sick. Sugar rushes onto the porch, where Mister Wills catches her and won’t let her in. The Beales yell for her to come back, and she pretends to obey. At the last moment, she fakes out Mister Wills, just like Br’er Rabbit did Hyena, and sprints up the stairs of the main house to find Billy.

Billy is thrashing wildly in his bed, and he “smells sour. Smells like Ma did before she died” (174). Missus Wills tries to remove Sugar, but is too worried about Billy to focus on making her leave. Sugar whistles to try to keep Billy’s attention, and he looks at her. Mister Wills enters and tells Sugar to get out, but Billy begs her to stay. Sugar tells the Willses that she can help because she took care of Ma before she died. Missus Wills tells Sugar to whistle again, which calms Billy, and decides she can stay.

For three days and two nights, Sugar sleeps on a pallet in Billy’s room, never leaving his side. He is delirious, calling out for people who aren’t there and won’t eat. Finally, he wakes up and tells Sugar that she’s bad at whistling. Missus Wills cries, and Sugar feels both proud and relieved that her friend is alive. The Wills agree to let Sugar stay until Billy is fully recovered.

For a short time, Sugar gets to see what Billy’s life is like. Instead of losing pay, Billy is pampered when sick. His room is huge, with many toys and books that fill the space. The pair practice the harmonica and other instruments together. Billy even gives Sugar his Chinese finger trap, which she loves so much. Their friendship is renewed.

One day, Sugar tells Billy a Br’er Rabbit story, and the tale excites him. They begin to bounce on the bed as they act out the tale, and soon their giddiness leads to a pillow fight. The pair hit each other with pillows, causing feathers to fly everywhere. Missus Wills comes in and yells at them to stop. When the two children finally calm down, Missus Wills breaks down in tears. She doesn’t care that they are making a mess, as she is simply relieved Billy feels better. Billy asks if he and Sugar can play together even after he’s well, and Missus Wills allows it.