after mrs. landon and her daughter clarice leave a sign on the garbers' lawn telling them they are unwanted and to leave town, winnie fears that the garbers will move again, and becomes extremely disappointed in her parents (especially her mother, who appears to demonstrate racism equal to mrs. landon's, albeit in more subtle ways) for not standing up for the garbers. eventually mrs. landon decides to sell her house and move away herself for no reason other than her prejudice, and attempts to pressure her neighbors into doing the same. winnie fears that her parents will follow mrs. landon's lead, and decides to stow away on a ship to japan to live with iggie's family as she would be ashamed of having racist parents.