Julian must take his mother to her weight-reducing class at the Y. Making a fuss about her appearance, she goes back and forth on whether or not to wear an expensive hat that Julian thinks is ugly, but doesn't tell her so that he can get her out the door. The mother is very concerned with one's position in society and their identity. The mother is particularly irritated at the integrating society, saying she can't take the bus alone to her classes because she must now ride with Black people. Julian doesn't hold all the same prejudices as his mother, and prides himself on his ability to humanize Black people that he perceives as respectable. The mother, however, respects only the Black people who served her as a girl, or the one's who confine themselves to inferiority. Julian wishes to define himself in opposition to his mother. On the bus, the mother strikes up conversation with her all-White passengers, stating her relief at having the bus all to themselves. Julian feels superior to his White counterparts, having gone to college and dodging the explicit prejudices that many of them hold. A Black man soon enters the bus and Julian makes a display of sympathy for him by moving from his seat next to his mother to instead sit next to the man, which irritates his mother more than the man's presence alone, though Julian believes it will teach her a lesson. Soon, a Black woman and her son board the bus, and to the mother's horror, she realizes that they are both wearing the same hat. Julian's mother is amiable to the child when he sits next to her, treating him like a cute pet. When the bus stops, the two realize that they and the Black mother and son have the same stop. When Julian's mother attempts to gift the boy a penny, the woman hits her, rejecting the offer and saying that he does not need a stranger's money. Julian believes this has taught her a lesson, though she becomes increasingly distressed by the event. By the end, the mother has chosen to opt out of the class altogether and return home, with Julian sympathizing with her and her pain.