wh does may begin to sing oh susanna again?

May and Rosaleen become fast friends. Rosaleen discovers that May regularly begins to sing “Oh Susannah” in response to unpleasant subjects. The humming often leads to tears, and her only comfort during these episodes is to visit her stone wall outside.

In the evenings, the women watch the news. They watch the unfolding of the events of the Civil Rights Movement, and Lily feels even more self-conscious about her whiteness. May often skips the news, often forced into her ritual of “Oh Susannah” and crying.