24.
On that first day, I ran down the hill and into the
road (few cars ever came along it) and had the good
sense to stop running before I reached the Store.
25.
I was liked, and what a difference it made. I was
respected not as Mrs. Henderson's grandchild or Bailey's
sister but for just being Marguerite Johnson.
26.
Childhood's logic never asks to be proved (all conclusions
are absolute). I didn't question why Mrs. Flowers
had singled me out for attention, nor did it occur
to me that Momma might have asked her to give me a
little talking to. All I cared about was that she
had made tea cookies for me and read to me from her
favorite book. It was enough to prove that she liked
me.
27.
Momma and Bailey were waiting inside the Store. He
said, "My, what did she give you? "He had
seen the books, but I held the paper sack with his
cookies in my arms shielded
by the poems.
28.
Momma said, "Sister, I know you acted like a
little lady. That do my heart good to see 
settled
people take to you all. I' m trying my best,
the Lord knows, but these days ... " Her voice
trailed off: "Go on in and change your dress."
