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“Yes … Loretta, is it?”

Loreda didn’t correct the pronunciation of her name Mrs Sharpe didn’t look like much of a listener “I’m interested in more recent history, ration policies that deported the Mexicans And what about workers’ unions? I’d like to understand—”

The teacher rapped her ruler down so hard it cracked “We do not talk about unionism here That’s un-American We are lucky to have jobs that put food on our tables”

“But we don’t really have jobs, do we? I mean—”

“Out! Now Don’t co women should always be”

“What is wrong with everyone in this state?” Loreda said, slaer He yelped in pain

“We don’t need to learn about what old richapart now” She strode out of the tent

What now?

Loreda rassy mud toward … what?

Where was she going? If she went back to the cabin, Mo laundry

The library It was the only thing she could think of

She walked out of camp and turned onto the paved road and walked to town

In Welty, which was less than a mile away, she turned onto Main Street, where a series of awninged shops had obviously once offered everything a person could need if you had rocers, butchers, dress shops Now most of them were closed A movie theater stood in the center of town, its marquee unlit, its s boarded up

She passed a boarded-up hat shop; astretched out, the other bent He draped an arled between his fingers

He peered up at her fro fedora