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Dancing Dress

Thiswhen I take Patience her breakfast she looks rather blue I’etic person like her to lie in bed all day, but soets under own and her hair is a et dressed, isn’t it?"

"What’s the point, Becky? I won’t be going anywhere Why bother? I’ll just stay in htclothes"

"You think that will make you feel better?"

She has copies of the Socialist Worker all over the bed It’s beco out the reports about the labor unrest, stikes here, battles there Recently she told est one ever There were 420,000 men and women on the streets

"No, it won’t make me feel better"

"So ill it be, then, the red frock or blue?" I indicate two housedresses hanging on pegs next to the

"Red, the blood won’t show," she answers bitterly

"Speaking of dresses, I have to find one I’ve been invited to a dance" My news has the desired effect

"A date?" Patience pushes up in bed so suddenly, I worry she’ll start bleeding again "Why didn’t you tell me? With who?"

"Calm yourself It isn’t a real date Captain Wolfe at the CCC cao with him to a benefit for Arthurdale Community You know, Eleanor Roosevelt’s pet project, the one that was in the newspaper All the other men have wives, and when he said the First Lady would be there, I couldn’t say no It’s New Year’s Eve, a long ti I could wear? Maybe I should have refused"

"Are you kidding? You have to go Think of it, the president’s wife right here in West Virginia! And she’s a real liberal crusader too! Leave it to "

Later in the afternoon, I take a bucket of ater upstairs and wash ?"

"Not today"

"Is the baby still ht

"Of course As old Mrs Potts would say, ‘The infant is right lively’ Ito be my midwife, Becky? I know you love childbirth!"

Now it’s uessI visited Sarah Maddock yesterday She thought she was pregnant Hadn’t had a menstrual period for five months, but I don’t think she is"

"Was she sad?"