How is Wilmington different from New York, and how does that influence McBride’s family?

For James, the "fresh start" happened when Ruth moved the family to Wilmington, Delaware. The move was clearly an echo of her youthful tendency to physically move away from a site of pain. Ruth had lost both of her husbands and found herself in dire financial straits, and the move expressed her need to start over. James understood this, and welcomed the opportunity to make new friends and escape his rebellious past. He began concentrating on his education, building on what he had learned from Chicken Man. He focused on his passion for music, and sought opportunities for development in the musical arena.