In "The Sky is Gray," readers are transported to a single day in the 1930s rural South, through the eyes of an eight-year-old boy named James. As the story unfolds, James and his mother confront both the physical cold of an early winter morning and the harsh realities of their impoverished life. The tale captures a poignant snapshot of racial and economic struggles, as well as a mother's fierce determination to instill strength and dignity in her son.

Waiting for the Bus

The narrative opens with James and his mother braving the biting cold as they await a bus to Bayonne. Their thoughts meander back to their home life, where James's mother worries about family, farm animals, and the persistent chill. Meanwhile, James reflects on the source of his toothache, which he has been hiding to avoid burdening his family financially.

A Secret Pain

Keen to avoid being labeled a "crybaby," James endures his toothache in silence, aware of his mother's inability to afford dental care. His efforts to conceal his suffering unravel when his Auntie discovers the decayed tooth. With aspirin offering no relief, Auntie proposes a prayer cure from their neighbor, Monsieur Bayonne, but this too proves ineffective. Although the moment his mother learns of the necessity for a dentist visit is skipped, the narrative lingers on the family's economic hardship and the daunting expense of the procedure.

Lessons in Independence

James's mind drifts to memories of capturing two redbirds with his younger brother, Ty. He recalls his mother's insistence that he kill the birds, a demand he found baffling at the time. Now, approaching his eighth birthday, James comprehends his mother's harsh lesson: she was equipping him with the resilience needed to fend for himself should she ever be absent, as his father was.

The Journey to Bayonne

When the bus arrives, James takes his place at the rear with the other black passengers, while his mother pays the fare. The pair trudges through the frosty streets of Bayonne until they reach a crowded dentist's office. Inside, a woman tries to converse with James's mother, but their exchange is interrupted by a man who seems to be a preacher. The woman's questioning of divine justice prompts a debate, joined by a young man whom James assumes is a teacher or student, yet the philosophical discussion is cut short by a nurse's announcement that the doctor won't see anyone until after one o'clock.

Time on the Streets

With only time on their hands and empty pockets, James and his mother wander through town, awaiting the reopening of the dentist's office. They briefly escape the cold in a hardware store but are soon back on the streets as sleet begins to fall. Faced with the prospect of walking home, James's mother opts to spend their bus fare on food to sustain them. An elderly white woman named Helena notices their plight and beckons them inside her home.

Helena's Kindness

Inside Helena's house, the warmth is a welcome relief. She offers them food, but James's mother, determined to preserve her pride, declines any charity. Instead, Helena finds a way to maintain the family's dignity by having James perform a small task—moving trash cans to the street—so that his mother can accept the meal without feeling beholden.

A Sincere Departure

After eating, James and his mother express their gratitude to Helena. As they prepare to leave, his mother requests twenty-five cents worth of salt meat. Helena attempts to offer more than what is requested, but James's mother insists on taking only what they can pay for. Once outside, James turns up his collar against the cold wind, but his mother admonishes him, reinforcing the lesson that he should carry himself with pride and not appear downtrodden.