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When I got there, thetea with Mrs Stenger, the pharmacist’s wife, so I just said hello, checked on Twyla and little Matheho has already gained a pound, and then headed down the back stairs, intending to leave through the kitchen I had e, stopped ood, ain’t she?"
"She is Twyla’s taken right to motherhood"
"That’s why I hate to see it"
I’e planning on giving our baby away Says little Mathew got to go Either he goes, or Twyla and I can leave with him He says there’s no place for a baby in his home He means a black baby"
"What does Mrs Hudson think? It doesn’t seeive away"
"She disapprove, but she says he the boss"
"Nancy!" It’s herus so!" she calls and picks up the teapot
"Pray for us, Miss Patience," she whispers as she leaves, and there are tears in her eyes
Before riding home, with a heavy heart, I decide to visit Becky at her clinic in the courthouse I’ what she thinks of the whole mess She’s mentioned this possibility before, but I didn’t think the rumors could be true We haven’t spoken since our tiff about the Klan, and that eeks ago
"Hello," I call, entering the eram "Hello?"
The receptionist’s wooden desk is unoccupied, but that doesn’t surprise et, and Mrs Cooper, the secretary, works only part-ti that Becky le exam room with a patient
To kill time, I inspect the small space, which smells faintly of Lysol This is where the home health nurse holds her classes What interests me are the posters The yellow announcement by the front door exhorts the benefits of corn: FOOD FOR THE NATION, SERVE SOME AT EVERY MEAL An attractive dark-haired wo corn bread I didn’t know corn was that healthy! I’d better plant n, this one with an orange border and ainto a handkerchief: COUGHS AND SNEEZES SPREAD DISEASES Finally there’s one next to the restroom: STAMP OUT TUBERCULOSIS! Santa Claus holds a letter with the famous Christmas Seal on it, a fund-raiser for the National Tuberculosis Association I let out a long sigh My ue
There’s a hten my skirt, ready for Becky and her patient to co A chair scrapes, and there’s ain "Becky?" No answer "Becky?" a little louder