It’s Valentine’s Day, and 13-year-old Raspberry Hill is angry at her mother, Momma, with whom she is normally close. Momma is dating again. She’s not dating just anyone, but Raspberry’s friend Zora’s father, Dr. Mitchell. Raspberry’s parents are divorced, so what makes Raspberry most angry about the situation is that Momma isn’t being “straight up” with her about it.

In addition to the conflict with Momma, Raspberry introduces her obsession with money. She states that people often assume she would do anything to get money even if it was by illegal means. She makes it clear that she would do anything legal to get money but that this doesn’t stop those around her from thinking that this obsession with money will one day get her into trouble. Raspberry’s goal to accumulate wealth stems from living in the projects with her mother and watching those around her struggle financially.

Momma has tried to make a nice Valentine’s Day breakfast for her before school, offering her a homemade card and a spread of pancakes and bacon. Raspberry reveals that she also made a card for Momma but ripped it up when she saw Momma kissing Dr.