On her way to the courthouse, Honey stops at her grandparents’ cabin to drop off Pearl’s books. Pearl is seeing about the steps to the watchtower, she says in a note, and invites Honey to visit her there if they are fixed. Honey rides Junia to the courthouse, arrives early, and worries about Retta and Mr. Morgan not arriving. While she waits for them, Honey watches coal miners at the nearby Company store, including Bonnie Powell, a woman Honey used to babysit for. She sees a girl named Wrenna Abbott, who has a pet rooster, being harassed by one of the male coal miners. She also notices Carson holding the post office door open for his girlfriend.

When Retta and Mr. Morgan arrive at the courthouse, they talk about the judge, Norton. Mr. Morgan explains that he will decide whether or not to grant guardianship in this hearing. Once in the courtroom, Mr. Morgan talks to a social worker in Troublesome Creek, which is part of Knott County. Honey thinks about the dress that Retta sewed her for court and realizes she forgot the matching gloves.

Judge Norton says that a judge in Leslie County (the county that Thousandsticks is in) has an order for Honey to be sent to the Kentucky House of Reform.