In order to qualify permanent housing in Troy, Coco must prove that she is homeless. She therefore spends nights at a homeless shelter, Joseph’s House, with Mercedes, while Nikki and Nautica stay with Milagros. Milagros has moved to Corliss Park, a neighborhood in Troy.With its clean, safe, and suburban feel, Corliss Park is nothing like the Bronx projects.

Pearl is still in the hospital, struggling against a heart murmur, infections, and weight loss. Her sickness, which does not implicate Foxy in the way that Hector’s probation for bringing a gun to his middle school does, animates Foxy and brings out the capable woman for whom Coco longs.When Coco can’t make it to see Pearl, she receives news from Foxy’s neighbor, Sheila, who has a phone. Sheila transforms the dire predictions and pronouncements of doctors (that Pearl is very sick, and that she would not develop normally) into sunnier sentiments.

Late in the fall of 1994, Richie’s ancient lawsuitthat Foxy filed—resultingfrom his fall from the fire escape—finally comes to fruition with a check for $70,000. Richie and Foxy live large on the windfall. Also, within a week, Pearl survives another operation and Coco gets to hold her for the first time.