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Pretty Leslie
Tyrone’s mom, Mrs. Palmer, is an antagonist of sorts. She’s never liked Emoni. When Emoni was pregnant with Babygirl, for instance, Mrs. Palmer wanted Emoni to get an abortion and demanded (unsuccessfully) that Tyrone get a paternity test, as she was certain Emoni was having sex with other guys. In the present, Mrs. Palmer insinuates that Emoni is an unfit mother and insists that Babygirl show up at her home on visitation weekends dressed in church clothes. Due to this pattern of behavior, Emoni is shocked to discover at the end of the novel that she’s also been bugging Tyrone to support Emoni and Babygirl more financially.
Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom Quotes in With the Fire on High
The With the Fire on High quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom or refer to Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
77. It Pours
Quotes
She’s off before I can wave back. Before I can say thank you. Before I can say I always have plenty of Children’s Tylenol. Before I can ask her why Tyrone wasn’t the one to pick up Babygirl, or why I’m accused of being the irresponsible one but he’s so often excused from having to be as much of a father as I am a mother.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
78. Blood Boil
Quotes
’Buela fiddles with her wedding band before looking at me. “I’m not sick, Emoni. I’ve lied to you. I haven’t had all those doctor’s appointments. I just needed a private afternoon with my thoughts where I’m not in this house. Where I’m Gloria again, and not only ’Buela. I don’t know how to explain it. And I don’t want to talk about it.”
I bury my face in Babygirl’s neck so neither one of them can see the tears in my eyes, the relief laced with hurt.
Get the entire With the Fire on High LitChart as a printable PDF.
Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom Quotes in With the Fire on High
The With the Fire on High quotes below are all either spoken by Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom or refer to Mrs. Palmer/Tyrone’s Mom. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
77. It Pours
Quotes
She’s off before I can wave back. Before I can say thank you. Before I can say I always have plenty of Children’s Tylenol. Before I can ask her why Tyrone wasn’t the one to pick up Babygirl, or why I’m accused of being the irresponsible one but he’s so often excused from having to be as much of a father as I am a mother.
Related Characters:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
78. Blood Boil
Quotes
’Buela fiddles with her wedding band before looking at me. “I’m not sick, Emoni. I’ve lied to you. I haven’t had all those doctor’s appointments. I just needed a private afternoon with my thoughts where I’m not in this house. Where I’m Gloria again, and not only ’Buela. I don’t know how to explain it. And I don’t want to talk about it.”
I bury my face in Babygirl’s neck so neither one of them can see the tears in my eyes, the relief laced with hurt.
