What's Going on with the Watsons?

The language arts classes are still reading, The Watsons Go to Birmingham - 1963:

So far the family has traveled from Flint Michigan to Birmingham Alabama.  Momma had each day planned very carefully with a few stops along the way, but while the family was sleeping, Dad decided to drive straight through.  The kids finally got to meet Grandma Sands.  She wasn't quite what everyone expected.