Exposition: In the exposition we met two eight-year-old girls, Twyla and Roberta, whose mothers had left them in an orphanage. Morrison never identifies either character by race, but the reader is told that one girl is black and one girl is white. In the orphanage, Twyla and Robert become friends and stick together in an environment where there is confusion, hostility and loneliness. Through historical references the reader finds out that the time setting is the 1950's.
Falling Action:In the falling action the narrator and main character of the story Twyla returned to the school to pickett against her life long friend Roberta. Now set in the 1980's, the hostility and tension has raised between the two. As the chapter goes on Twyla realizes that she doesn't know what race Maggie was and that she definately did not kick or cause any harm toward Maggie.
Rising Action: After the encounter at Howard Johnson's, the two characters meet again in a Food Emporium in Newburgh, New York in the early 1970's. Roberta conversed with Twyla on how well she was doing and experssed that she was rich and had a nice family. Twyla mentioned that she had one child named Joseph and was married to a fireman. Although the occurrance felt friendly Twyla sensed some akwardness and confusion.
Climax:Twyla, again has a close encounter with Roberta only this time they meet in a school parking lot where Roberta and other characters are picketting. When Roberta explains what they're picketting about and asks Twyla to join, who later objects, they begin to violently push her car and yelling threats.
Conclusion/Resolution: The story ends with a last encounter of the two bestfriends in the 1980's at a diner. Much older and mature now, Roberta and Twyla converse about the things they've done to each other. Eventually Roberta finally informs Twyla that she did not kick Maggie, and the story ends with both girls in tears sharing the emotional stress they've held in for so long.
