Tish Rivers, 19 and pregnant, is in trouble, as signaled by the section title. At the start of this section, she prepares to visit her boyfriend Fonny Hunt, who is in jail, and she compares the criminal justice system to a desert. Fonny is currently awaiting trial for the rape of Victoria Rogers, a crime for which he has been framed by Officer Bell, a corrupt white police officer. Once at the prison, Tish shares the news that she is pregnant. After the visit, Tish reflects on the unjust system and unequal society that landed Fonny in jail. She decides that she hates New York City. It “must be the ugliest and dirtiest city in the world,” and “[i]t’s got to have the worst cops” (9). For people like her and Fonny, the city is a hell.

Tish met Fonny when she was six and he was nine. The Hunts moved in across the street, and it was clear to Tish that the Hunts were poor but not as poor as the Rivers family. Fonny always seemed to be in trouble. Tish and Fonny initially engaged socially by fighting each other but eventually became friends.

As the friendship grew, Tish came to understand why Fonny always seemed to be in trouble.