I'm so glad I'm not the only one who is confused. This last comment about Ms. McIntyre fudging the dates so the eldest boy wouldn't have to fight is interesting but unlikely. A previous comment had Irving and Ruth being brother sister and then having the other three boys but then why would it list her as his mother? I really wish the author could clear this up for us!

I think Irving Evans is actually her husband and not really their brothers/daddy. I think the teacher wrote the letter for the birth certificate and she had said she would do what she could to help so the only way for the sun to not be sent off to the army was for her to be a widow so if she makes Irving her son then she is a widow. Because otherwise the ages don’t lineup or match. They never could.

Families can be confusing. Irving evans, popcorn, and Ruth shays….half brother and sister?

I didn't read the story just heard Lavar reading it. I am going to try to find the print version because I heard that all the boys were born a few years apart and that Ruth was riding on the bike handles when she was 17. I can't get the math to work in my head and it is annoying me to no end.

SO - I'm the OP of this. I didn't want to give it away when I posted, but I'm glad I'm not the only one. I could not get the math to work. But damn compelling story.

It ain't math, and it just don't work.

Ok sooo the mother had Irving, possibly when she was but a child herself. Because she said at 17 he use to ride her on his handlebars. So she got into a incest relationship with her son. And they got married and had a family... Is that what happened?!?! 😳

Anonymous wrote:Please help me do the math...I didn’t understand!

I didn't get it either.

Please help me do the math...I didn’t understand!

One of my best sister friends enticed name to listen to Hoat last night on Levar Burton’s podcast. It finished just as I pulled into my garage and I was floored. I couldn’t “do the math” on Goat and Mr. Peanut’s relation.
My friend helped me under the triangle, but I’m still considering the whys and hows.
Thank you for providing me a equally troubled and curious tribe with which to converse. Happy Reading!

What's the book title? Is it in the Five-Carat Soul collection?

https://www.amazon.com/James-McBride/e/B000AP9SB2?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1&qid=1556111941&sr=1-1

I just heard it today. That was crazy. I am drawing a conclusion that since the mom picked cotton back in Kentucky, maybe she was a slave and the slave master bred her. Otherwise, destitute and illiterate she did not know better and did that on her own. Either way that twist had me in shock!

I just listened to it tonight.......
I’m still thinking about it.

Bump since I posted on a weekend. I know it's a long shot.

Levar Burton featured it on his Levar Burton reads podcast. I listened to it twice, and then got the book of short stories and I've read it three times. And I just can't get it out of my head. This is a long shot but anyone here want to chat about it? (it's short and entertaining, if you want to go seek it out).

I won't say now why it is sticking with me - but will if anyone is willing to discuss.