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Chapter 24
Ican’thardlystan’it.»Malookedcloselyather.«Iknow,"shesaid.«But,Rosasharndon’shameyourfolks.»
«Idon’aimto,Ma.»
«Well,don’youshameus.Wegottoomuchonusnow,withoutnoshame.»Thegirl’slipquivered.«I—Iain’goin’tothedance.Icouldn’Mahe’pme!»Shesatdownandburiedherheadinherhands.
Mawipedherhandsonthedishtowelandshesquatteddowninfrontofherdaughter,andsheputhertwohandsonRoseofSharon’shair.«You’reagoodgirl,"shesaid.«Youalwayswasagoodgirl.I’lltakecareayou.Don’tyoufret.»Sheputaninterestinhertone.«Knowwhatyouan’me’sgonnado?We’rea-goin’tothatdance,an’we’rea-gonnasetthereanwatch.Ifanybodysaystocomedancewhy,I’llsayyouain’tstrongenough.I’llsayyou’repoorly.An’youcanhearthemusican’alllikethat.»
RoseofSharonraisedherhead.«Youwon’tletmedance?»
«No,Iwon’t.»
«An’don’letnobodytouchme.»
«No,Iwon’t.»Thegirlsighed.Shesaiddesperately,«Idon’knowwhatI’ma-gonnado,Ma.Ijus’don’know.Idon’know.»
Mapattedherknee.«Look,"shesaid.«Lookhereatme.I’ma-gonnatellya.Inalittlewhileitain’tgonnabesobad.Inalittlewhile.An’that’strue.Nowcomeon.We’llgogetwashedup,an’we’llputonournicedressan’we’llsetbythedance.»SheledRoseofSharontowardthesanitaryunit.
PaandUncleJohnsquattedwithagroupofmenbytheporchoftheoffice.
