'Aunt Crete's Emancipation' Summary

Aunt Lucretia, known as 'Crete' to her family, is a sweet and patient older woman who lives with her narrow-minded sister and spoiled niece, acting as their unpaid and unappreciated domestic servant. When her family leaves town to avoid the unexpected visit of a 'backwoods' cousin, she is left at home to welcome him. Aunt Crete is willing to love him unconditionally, and he, having lost his mother years before, is looking for a home, so the two quickly become fast friends. However, their newfound bond challenges Aunt Crete's prejudiced relatives and forces them to confront their own shortcomings.