Towers Falling opens with Pop having a nightmare while Dèja tries to keep her siblings from waking up at the noise. Dèja’s narration then tells us that her father has been having these nightmares for a long time and that he’s unemployed. The family lives on Ma’s income as a waitress, but it’s not enough to cover all their expenses so they live in Avalon Family Residence, a shelter for those experiencing homelessness. Dèja dislikes it, feeling cramped in one room.

She’s the oldest of the three children, so she’s “got to be responsible and I hate it” (2). Each day, she takes her brother, Ray, and her baby sister, Leda, to day care and picks them up afterward. Meanwhile, she thinks her dad doesn’t do anything to contribute. If a headache comes on, Pop must lie down, and no noise is allowed. Dèja adds that “Sometimes, he can’t breathe. Like he’s got asthma or something” (2).

Today is her first day at a new school, and she’s nervous that she won’t be able to make friends because she’s homeless. Ma gives her a pink ribbon for her first day and says that she’ll take Ray and Leda to school even if makes her late so that Dèja won’t be late for her first day.