This story is about the south before the Civil War, the disagreement among slave owners on how they should be treated.

This story starts out with Austin being called to put his head in a clamp. Austin was checking the photographer's wagon to see what kind of photography was being used, and what chemicals were being used to expose the picture...the others wanted to get it over with! 13-year-old Polly wanted to get her head out of the clamp. Charlotte told him that the same photographer had tried to take their picture last year, but had set himself on fire! Kady wished they would hurry because she was so hot! They were all ready when they realized that Jefferson was not there, although he had just been there. Polly thought he had hidden under their skirts. Jefferson Hutchinson returned with a picture of his father to include in the family photograph, which did not make his Aunt Olivia happy. Jefferson got back into his place and Austin missed his father. The bald photographer asked that one of the wide skirts be flattened so that the lady behind her could be seen. Polly tried to flatten her skirts, but Aunt Olivia said that they couldn't be hiding Sally very much, just take the picture. They had to hold the pose 10 seconds before the picture could be taken. Everyone sighed with relief as the plate was put back in it's carrier & returned to the wagon. Afterward Austin asked his mother why they had to leave Canaan Grove for the summer. She gave several reasons, including the smell of the standing water where the rice grew, and the malaria carried by the mosquitoes. After he changed into cooler clothes he heard Henry-James call him to come down, but on the way Uncle Drayton called him into the library. Although Austin wanted to let Henry-James know what was keeping him, his uncle told him that Henry-James was a slave & he would wait. Uncle Drayton had a letter from Rochester, NY, presumably from Austin's father. ( )