However, he is glad that the world brought Melody into his life. He reflects on finding out about Iris’s pregnancy and admits that 'there's so much in this great big world that you don't have a single ounce of control over' (49). He is conflicted by both the joy he feels at having Melody as a granddaughter and the childhood that his daughter Iris gave away while so young. After this, the scene changes to Melody's grandfather, Po’Boy, holding Melody as a baby. Although she adamantly wanted to keep the child, she realizes that this is at odds with what she really wants in life. She recalls Sabe, her mother, discovering her pregnancy.

She picked Oberlin because it was 'far away from everybody needing some part of her,' but she is still struggling at school. As Aubrey sees his daughter descend the stairs, he remembers his childhood and learning about his father.Ĭhapter 3 opens with Iris at Oberlin college.

As the crowd watches Melody descend down the stairs, she thinks about her history, and knows that she is 'a narrative, someone's almost forgotten story' (19). They go back and forth about Iris having Melody at such age and whether she 'regret the hell out of ' (7). As Melody and her mother get ready for the ceremony, it clear that there are tensions between the two characters. Red at the Bone opens with Melody getting ready for her sixteenth birthday celebration. The following version of this book was used to create the guide: Woodson, Jacqueline.

Red at the bone