Toni Morrison's Recitatif
Her only published short story 
Points to discuss:
1.Recitatif - the name itself
2. Pop Culture references
3."What happened to Maggie?"
Recitatif as a title alludes to:

"a style of musical declamation that hovers between song and ordinary speech; it is used for dialogic and narrative interludes during operas and oratories"
Childhood memories:


St.Bonny

"Bonaventure" - Italian philosopher and theologist
The supreme end of life is such union, union in contemplation or intellect and in intense absorbing love; but it cannot be entirely reached in this life, and remains as a hope for futurity
Second Encounter:

Howard Johnson's 
Pop Culture:

Jimi Hendrix
Third Encounter @ Food Emporium
Neighbourhood is "gentrified" 
abandoned houses are renovated
IBM-crowd
"  My ears were itching and I wanted to go home suddenly"
ear-itching : to describe a person who seeks out messages that please them and fit their lifestyle, as opposed to seeking a truth that might make them uncomfortable. The term is used by the Apostle Paul in 2 Timothy
Fourth encounter: 

strife
Roberta does not help to Twyla
Fifth encounter @ a cofeeshop
"What happened to Marla?" - trauma