Thursday, May 19, 1929; 12 Days Before

Sixteen-year-old Angel Hill is at home on the porch with her father. She feels at peace, although there is a slight risk of tornadoes. Her father warns her that he senses trouble coming. Her father is sick and can no longer walk unassisted. Angel says she’s getting her dad a present that will help him walk again. Angel’s mother appears, and together, they bring him to bed.

Friday, May 20, 1921: 11 Days Before

Sixteen-year-old Isaiah Hill reads alone in his bedroom. His father died in World War I, and since then, Isaiah has been writing and reading a lot. Out the window, he sees a group of white boys congregating on the far side of the train tracks near his house. He can tell they’re looking for trouble and wonders if they’re involved with the Ku Klux Klan, which is active in the Tulsa area. Then, Isaiah notices a local girl, Angel Hill, walking alone and carrying some crutches. Isaiah is sure the boys will cause trouble for Angel, and he considers interfering but is too afraid to do so. Instead, Isaiah watches out his window as the boys take her crutches, and she runs away.