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“Mom—”

“No, Loreda No”

LOREDA WOKE AT FIVE-THIRTY and had to force herself out of bed Her hands hurt like the dickens and she needed about ten hours of sleep and a good meal

She put on her tattered pants and a shirt with long, ripped sleeves and trudged out to get in line at the bathroom

The caely quiet People were out and about, of course, but there wasn’tA field fore people She knew there werefor any talk of a strike

She got in line for the bathroom There were about ten women in front of her

As she waited, she saw a flash ofa bucket Loreda wanted to walk right over to him, but she didn’t dare

She finally made it to the front of the line and used the bathroom

She exited fro it quietly behind her She looked around, didn’t see anyone loitering or watching Trying to look casual, she strolled over to the water pump

Ike was still there He saw her co and stepped aside She bent over and washed her hands in the cold water

“We’re ht The laundry”

Loreda nodded and dried her hands on her pants It wasn’t until she was halfway back to her cabin that she felt a prickling of awareness along the back of her neck So her

She stopped, turned suddenly

Mr Welty stood there in the trees, s at Loreda “Come here, missy,” he said