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Chapter 22
Therecouldbenodoubtthatitwasthecommittee;threeladies,washed,dressedintheirbestclothes:aleanwomanwithstringyhairandsteel-rimmedglasses,asmallstoutladywithcurlygrayhairandasmallsweetmouth,andamammothlady,bigofhockandbuttock,bigofbreast,muscledlikeadray-horse,powerfulandsure.Andthecommitteewalkeddowntheroadwithdignity.
Mamanagedtohaveherbackturnedwhentheyarrived.Theystopped,wheeled,stoodinaline.Andthegreatwomanboomed,«Mornin’,Mis’Joad,ain’tit?»
Mawhirledaroundasthoughshehadbeencaughtoffguard.«Why,yes—yes.How’dyouknowmyname?»
«We’rethecommittee,"thebigwomansaid.«Ladies’CommitteeofSanitaryUnitNumberFour.Wegotyournameintheoffice.»Maflustered,«Weain’tinverygoodshapeyet.I’dbeproudtohaveyouladiescomean’setwhileImakeupsomecoffee.»Theplumpcommitteewomansaid,«Giveournames,Jessie.MentionournamestoMis’Joad.Jessie’stheChair,"sheexplained.Jessiesaidformally,«Mis’Joad,thishere’sAnnieLittlefieldan’EllaSummers,an’I’mJessieBullitt.»
«I’mproudtomakeyouracquaintance,"Masaid.«Won’tyousetdown?Theyain’tnothin’tosetonyet,"sheadded.«ButI’llmakeupsomecoffee.»
«Oh,no,"saidAnnieformally.«Don’tputyaselfout.Wejes’cometocallan’seehowyouwas,an’trytomakeyoufeelathome.»JessieBullittsaidsternly,«Annie,I’llthankyoutorememberI’mChair.»
«Oh!Sure,sure.ButnextweekIam.»
