Evette: The River and Me

Sunflowers

After school, Evette and Bud are picked up by Gran E. They all drive back to Gran E’s home on the other side of the Anacostia River. They plan to stop by the house to get some vegetables, and then head over to the Riverfront Community Center food pantry. Evette runs upstairs to grab a butterfly scarf to send a photo to Makena, who she only knows from online.

As Evette passes by a photo of Grandpa Paul, who passed away before Evette was born, she heads into Gran E’s closet. She discovers a bright yellow one-piece swimsuit, covered with sunflowers. She excitedly brings the swimsuit back down to show Bud and Gran E. Gran E tells Evette that when she was little, she tried to go swimming in a public pool. But a few White children told her she wasn’t welcome because she was Black. When Bud and Evette invite Gran E over to Grandma and Grandpa Peeters’ house to go swimming, she says grumpily that she wouldn’t go swimming in their pool if someone paid her.

Evette doesn’t push Gran E with questions, and instead they pick out a nice bouquet to bring to the Riverfront Community Center.