Class: A Memoir of Motherhood, Hunger, and Higher Education

Stephanie begins the process of telling people that she is pregnant. She starts thinking about how she will navigate the process of receiving government assistance while she is pregnant, and she wonders if this will change the amount that she receives. She expects to hear congratulations and offers of assistance from her friends. Her friend Kristi is surprised to hear that she is pregnant and voices her concerns that Stephanie, who cannot afford food, clothes, or adequate housing for one child, will struggle to navigate school and afford necessities for two children. Stephanie is annoyed that Kristi is questioning her choices instead of offering assistance or congratulations. After this conversation, Stephanie decides that their friendship is over.



Meanwhile, Emilia is becoming closer to Seth, one of the undergraduates who sometimes babysits in exchange for beer. She asks him if he will be her new dad.

Stephanie is shocked to learn that she will not receive more food stamps while she is pregnant. Emilia is very picky about her food and has a lot of anxiety about trying new foods because she has always grown up with food insecurity. Stephanie learns that she now must work 20 hours a week in order to receive food benefits; she does not think she can work 20 hours a week. She reflects that her constant hunger motivates her to aspire to more.

Stephanie receives a letter from Emilia’s school that states that Emilia has been late too many times. As punishment, Emilia has to have lunch in the “reflection room,” a euphemism for detention. Emilia’s teacher has noted more and more issues with Emilia’s behavior. Stephanie does not want to confide the likely reasons for Emilia’s issues (food and housing insecurity, a constant stream of strangers as babysitters, likely abuse by her biological father) because she is worried that she will be reported to Child Protective Services.

Jamie complained about the mandate to pay more child support and there will be a trial in January. Stephanie resumes preparing her MFA application. She prepares an essay for a male professor who critiques the ways that she describes her body in her own writing. She is not pleased that her mentor options for the MFA program are this male professor or Judy, whom she now feels is judgmental of her single parenthood.

When she arrives home, she realizes that it is freezing. She develops a bad cold. She feels terrible while taking the GRE, but when she gets home, she is encouraged by Emilia’s faith in her.

As the six-week winter break approaches, Stephanie thinks of ways that she can work during that time. She learns that an MFA student is looking for a nanny for his infant daughter. Stephanie and Emilia are excited to watch a production of The Nutcracker. As they’re getting ready for the ballet, Daniel shows up to their house. He is very angry and yells at her that she cannot care for a second child. Stephanie fears he will become violent and tells him she is calling the police.

As her stomach grows, Stephanie asks about receiving more food stamps. She realizes that she will need to tell Emilia about the pregnancy soon. Emilia casually mentions that Stephanie will receive a call from her teacher because she got in trouble.

Stephanie plans a fun night to tell Emilia that she’ll be a big sister. They get haircuts together and get ice cream. Emilia is very excited about the pregnancy, and she asks if Seth is the father.

The house is freezing. Despite the -35° temperatures outside, Stephanie decides to take Emilia out to see Santa. Stephanie is struck by the sense of community during Missoula’s Christmas parade. She buys maternity clothes and enjoys shopping with Emilia.

Stephanie becomes more enthusiastic about her classes as she prepares for her MFA application. She tells one of her professors that Judy said kids don’t belong in grad school and asks this professor to write a letter of recommendation.

Emilia goes to her dad’s home over Christmas break, and when she returns home she is furious because Jamie said that Stephanie was trying to get him to pay more so that Emilia could not see him as often. Stephanie feels that her daughter hates her, and Emilia acts like a totally different kid compared to the way she acted before Christmas. Emilia constantly tells her that she misses her dad.

They fight over getting Emilia ready for school, and she is late again. Stephanie considers going to the food bank, but she decides not to because she is visibly pregnant and does not want to be seen by anyone she knows, especially anyone who might be on the MFA committee.

Emilia’s school calls to say that Emilia is having a bad day and requested her stuffed mouse, Blueberry. The principal calls Stephanie to tell her that two boys held Emilia down and told her they were going to have sex with her. Stephanie is outraged, especially when she learns that the students only received a time-out.

Stephanie submits her MFA application and prepares for the child support hearing. During the hearing, she is asked about her employment and wages. She has to share that she was fired from a cleaning job. The person conducting the hearing thinks that she should be working more hours per week. Stephanie is very disappointed that Jamie comes out of the hearing looking much better than she does.