A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

Francie arrives at the library, which she likens to “church” for its sanctity and ability to bring her peace and joy. As soon as she gets inside, she looks for the bowl that always sits on the librarian’s desk; it is a pottery jug whose contents change with the seasons, and she is pleased to see that it is holding nasturtiums today. Francie is reading all the books in alphabetical order and is currently in the Bs. She brings a book home and sits on the fire escape with some candy and water, intermittently reading and people-watching. She sees her neighbor and his horse, Bob, come home and spends some time watching Bob, another of her favorite activities. Some boys grouped near Bob throw a rock at him, but his owner, Frank, wards them off. Francie then watches one of the downstairs neighbors, Flossie, try to flirt with Frank, but he gives her the cold shoulder. Francie muses to herself that Flossie acts too desperate and therefore will never get Frank or any other man.

By late afternoon, Francie has finished her book, and her father has returned home from his job search. He is jovial since he has found work at a wedding party for the evening. He eats his leftover dinner and talks to Francie while she irons his work uniform. He tells her how grateful he is to be part of a union; they have done so much to help him secure good work. Francie thinks back to the one time she visited her father at Union Headquarters. He seemed to be in good company and proud of her. However, she overheard two men talking about his drinking habits and for a moment questioned her father’s worth. She then quickly dashed that thought aside, assuring herself that “everyone loved her father” (33).

Back in the present, Francie listens to her father talk about his parents’ lack of education and difficult life as Irish immigrants. He tells her he wanted to be a “real singer” but gave up that dream when his father died. He blames his drinking on his failure to make enough money as a “singing-waiter.” Francie is used to this speech, as he often gives it on Saturdays, but she is startled when he reveals that he “never wanted a family” and is “not a happy man” (35). She takes this comment personally. He goes on to talk about how he fell in love with Katie.

During this discussion, Francie admonishes herself for preferring her father to her mother. She knows that her father is right when he calls Katie “a good woman,” but she can’t help but like her father better (35). Her father catches a glimpse of Francie ironing his clothes and starts to feel badly about his choices as a father. In hopes of cheering her up, he tells her he plans on betting on a horse, winning, and taking her for a trip down South. He then sends her out to fetch some items he needs for work that night. Francie helps him get ready for work and feels “proud” when she sees him off to the trolley.

After Francie leaves her father, she heads to Flossie’s so she can see Flossie’s costume for the masquerade ball that night. Flossie is the sole supporter of her mother and brother. Her brother, Henny, is ill and believes he is dying. When Francie gets to Flossie’s, she spends a few uncomfortable seconds with Henny and then moves on to admiring Flossie’s costume. Flossie designs a new costume for the ball each week and always wins first place. Her right arm is deformed from a childhood accident, so the costumes are one way she is able to hide her abnormality. While Francie is taking in the gorgeous purple outfit Flossie has devised for the evening, she gets the distinct sensation that death is lurking somewhere near her.

Back at home, Aunt Sissy and Katie have returned from their show. Francie is excited because Aunt Sissy is her favorite aunt, as she is rather “exciting” and “wild,” having already been married three times. She brings Francie a toy to play with but tells Francie she can’t stay for dinner, since she needs to get home to her husband. Francie tries to tell her mother about the epiphany she had about getting older earlier that day, but her mother brushes it off, saying death is just a fact of life. Francie sees the accuracy in this but still can’t subdue the fear. Francie then thinks about her mother’s ability to make the staples the family can afford—stale bread and potatoes—taste so good in so many ways. She does admit to herself that sometimes eating the same food so often gets tiresome. During those times, she often treats herself to a pickle, which she will eat slowly over the whole day.