PLOT

Jericho's Brick Battlements is the last story in Margaret Laurence's "A Bird in the House". As this is the last story, the majority of the action is wrapping things up and tying loose ends. The story begins with Vanessa and her family moving into the Brick House. Vanessa is 12. As everything is being unpacked, Vanessa ventures out to the stable in the backyard that houses Grandfather Conner's old Buick. In the stable she is reminded of the story she is writing and Grandfather Connor’s past. As she turns 14, Aunt Edna falls in love with a railwayman named Wes Grigg. Wes argues with Grandfather, enchants Beth, keeps the Brick House from starting on fire, and eventually marries Edna. After Edna moves away to live with Wes, Vanessa falls in love with a boy from the RCAF named Michael. Michael dazzles Vanessa but when she brings him home with her, Grandfather Connor causes them to have a falling out. Vanessa finds out that Michael is already married and Vanessa is heartbroken. She moves on and grows up and goes to University. During her second year, she gets a call that her Grandfather Connor has a stroke and dies. During the time after the funeral, Vanessa has realizations about her Grandfather and how important the Brick House was to him. By the end of the story, Vanessa is 40 years old. Her mother has died and Vanessa has started a family of her own. Vanessa returns to the Brick House to pay tribute to her Grandfather and then drives away forever.