The hard floor serves as sleeping quarters to Thomasina and 3 of her children. The family, who cannot afford to buy a bed, sleep together wearing their street clothes to try and stay warm in their unheated trailer. During the week, Thomasina sends five of her children to boarding school where they have access to running water, electricity, and heat. Because of the Bennett Freeze, Thomasina is not able to provide basic standards of living for her children and has no other option but to have them co-raised in the boarding schools.