Where The Watermelons Grow

Della recalls how, prior to Mama’s father’s death, Mama never had to go to the hospital, but that didn’t mean she was always well. She had days where she’d stay in bed all day and other days when she wouldn’t sleep at all. She also occasionally heard voices. However, overall, Della feels Mama did fine until her father’s death. After her stay in the hospital, Mama did so well that Della sometimes forgot she wasn’t like other moms. However, Mama changed after Mylie came along, and the summer’s drought causing stress on the family is only making things worse. Della now feels Mama is much worse than she was four years ago.

Daddy tries to stop Mama. He pulls her to her feet and asks how long Mylie’s been screaming. Mama isn’t paying attention. She’s focused on the cabinets where she was scrubbing. She insists she must do it to keep the girls safe, adding that her daddy told her so. Daddy tells Mama that she’s the one hurting the girls. He leaves to fix the tractor, unable to handle the situation.

Della stands there with Mylie, wondering why Daddy would leave them like this. She wants to cry, but Mama and Mylie are already crying. Della dumps out Mama’s spray bottle, which she suspects is pure bleach. She cleans Mama’s hands while carrying a whimpering Mylie on her hip.

In bed, Della thinks about what happened. She feels like a failure because she couldn’t get magic Bee Lady honey for Mama, and she failed to give Mama the rest she needed. She thinks Mama is losing herself. Della wonders what the Bee Lady meant when she said she had honey to fix Della. She also wonders why Daddy just left her there with Mama and Mylie crying. She overheard Daddy tell Arden’s father that he’d be ashamed if he lost Grandpa’s farm. Della wishes she could talk to Arden. She decides she must keep trying to cure Mama.

Della wakes up soaked in more sweat than usual. The power has gone out, and the house is full of hot, sticky air. Della gets dressed and tends to Mylie. Mama is in the kitchen with a blank look on her face.

Della fetches watermelon from the fridge. Mama snaps at her to close the door. Della wishes she could cook breakfast for Mama again, but there’s no electricity, so she prepares cereal for Mylie and Mama.

Della tells Mama she plans to help her much more today and even suggests taking Mylie to the farm stand later. She also suggests scrubbing the house the way Mama likes while Mylie naps. Mama asserts she doesn’t need rest. Della wants to tell Mama that she needs Mama to take care of her and Mylie. Instead, she reminds Mama of what Dr. DuBose said about her needing rest to heal her brain. Mama snaps that nothing is wrong with her brain, but Della knows that’s not true.

Della starts cleaning the faucet, but Mama tells her to stop and eat breakfast. Daddy comes inside. He calls the power company and learns that they are working to restore power. Della grabs some watermelon and hands a slice to Mylie. She’s thankful for the cold, juicy fruit. However, Mama snatches Mylie’s watermelon away and demands Della put hers down. Daddy tries to calm Mama, to no avail. Daddy asks if Mama has taken her pill, and she shakes her head. Daddy hands Mama a pill, but both Daddy and Della notice Mama wiping something from her shorts as she takes the pill. Daddy discovers the pill in Mama’s pocket. Mama admits she hasn’t been taking them for several months now. She doesn’t think she needs them, and she feels better without them. Daddy pleads with Mama to take the pill and come with him to an appointment with Dr. DuBose, but Mama asserts that the pills are making her sick. Daddy loses his temper and curses at Mama—the first time Della has ever heard him do so.

Mylie begins crying and Daddy sends Della outside to the farm with Mylie. Della hears Daddy continue to yell as she leaves. He mentions the stress of potentially losing the farm on top of dealing with Mama.

Mama and Daddy don’t speak for the rest of the day. Della finds Mama lying in bed, holding a book but not reading. The power comes back on. Della takes Mylie to the farm stand, which makes the day much more challenging as Mylie is a very mischievous baby. Miss Lorena and Thomas pull up to shop at the farm stand, having been impressed by the butter beans Thomas brought home from work last week. Mylie gets into all the fruits and vegetables, so Arden distracts her. Della acknowledges that everyone loves Arden. Ladybugs flit past the girls.

Della calculates Miss Lorena’s total in her head. Thomas and Miss Lorena compliment Della’s math skills. Della is flattered and feels good about herself.

Della and Arden take Mylie to their playhouse after their shift. Arden asks Della what’s going on with Mama. Della tries to lie that Mama is getting better, but Arden calls her on it. Della confesses that Mama is getting worse, but she begs Arden to continue keeping it a secret. Arden doesn’t want to. She thinks Della and Daddy can’t handle Mama by themselves. Della begins to feel panicky. She confesses that Daddy is acting different too—more anxious and angrier. She fears Daddy will decide he’s had enough and leave them all alone. Arden doesn’t think Daddy would do that to them. Arden promises only to keep it a secret a little longer.

That night in bed, Della listens to Mama and Daddy’s low murmurs from the next room. She wonders if Daddy has forgiven Mama for the pills, and she wonders if she’ll be able to forgive Daddy for forgiving Mama.