In Kathryn Stockett's The Help, identify the three most important events in the story and give an explanation with each.

In Kathryn Stockett's book "The Help," I think the first
of the three most important events is when Aibileen, Elizabeth's maid, agrees to
describe to Skeeter her experiences as a maid. When Skeeter first asks, Aibileen
refuses. She is afraid, and doesn't know about if she can trust this white woman—who is
also a close friend of her
employer.

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[Aibileen's] quiet a second and then she blurts
it out. "What if—what if you don't like what I got to say? I mean, about white
peoples?"

"I—I...this isn't about my opinion," I say. "It
doesn't matter how I feel...You'll just have to...trust me." I hold my breath, hoping,
waiting. There is a long pause.

"Law have mercy. I reckon
I'm on do it."

This is the
first piece of the plan that must be in place if Skeeter is going
to move forward, and Aibileen pulls together her courage and agrees to
help.

The second most important event is not just that
Skeeter ends up with about a dozen maids to tell their stories to her; it's not
that Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter are able to find common ground in order to trust each
other and work together; and, it's not just that given their
shortened deadline, they are still able to finish the book and get it off to New York in
time. The most important fact beyond these details is that the
Harper and Row agrees to publish the
book!

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The date is Friday, January 17, 1964...I will
remember every detail of this day...I walk into what has become such a familiar spot to
me, the middle of Aibileen's kitchen...I look at Minny and she looks at me. Aibileen
edges between us...

"Harper and Row," I say, "wants to
publish it."

Regardless of
the number of books they print, it will be published and people
will know the stories (even with the names changed) of these women: their trials of
being treated so poorly, and for some, their blessings—Aibileen's love for the children
she has raised, and Louvenia's gratitude when her employer, Miss Lou Anne, is so good to
Louvenia when her grandson is beaten until he is blind for using a whites-only
bathroom.

The third most important event is Minny's
decision to include the details of her Terrible Awful in the story—in other words, what
she did to Miss Hilly to exact her revenge. Minny is shrewd enough to know that Miss
Hilly will do anything to keep that story from finding its way to
her doorstep: to guarantee that no one ever finds out, she will
swear that the book is not about
Jackson.

"I
think we what we need is some
insurance."

"Ain't no such thing,"
Aibileen says. "It'd give us away."

"But if we put it in
there, then Miss Hilly can't let anybody find out the book is about
Jackson. She don't want anybody to know that story's about
her..."

..............................................

"If
we put the Terrible Awful in the book and people do find out that
was you and Miss Hilly, then you in so much trouble"—Aibileen shudders—"there ain't even
a name for it."

"That's a risk I'm just gone have to
take."

Minny's insistence
that her "crime" be included in the book will protect the others, but not
necessarily Minny herself. Minny is aware of this when she stipulates that it
must be included—or she will remove her part of the book—which is
the last chapter. However, Minny believes enough in the book and their stories, that she
is willing to put herself in harm's way to protect the others who have also stepped
forward.