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           Itwascustomaryforeverycirclehostesstoinviteherneighborsinforrefreshments,betheyBaptistsorPresbyterians,whichaccountedforthepresenceofMissRachel(soberasajudge),MissMaudieandMissStephanieCrawford.Rathernervous,ItookaseatbesideMissMaudieandwonderedwhyladiesputontheirhatstogoacrossthestreet.Ladiesinbunchesalwaysfilledmewithvagueapprehensionandafirmdesiretobeelsewhere,butthisfeelingwaswhatAuntAlexandracalledbeing"spoiled."

           Theladieswerecoolinfragilepastelprints:mostofthemwereheavilypowderedbutunrouged;theonlylipstickintheroomwasTangeeNatural.CutexNaturalsparkledontheirfingernails,butsomeoftheyoungerladiesworeRose.Theysmelledheavenly.Isatquietly,havingconqueredmyhandsbytightlygrippingthearmsofthechair,andwaitedforsomeonetospeaktome.

           MissMaudie’sgoldbridgeworktwinkled."You’remightydressedup,MissJeanLouise,"shesaid,"Whereareyourbritchestoday?"

           "Undermydress."

           Ihadn’tmeanttobefunny,buttheladieslaughed.MycheeksgrewhotasIrealizedmymistake,butMissMaudielookedgravelydownatme.SheneverlaughedatmeunlessImeanttobefunny.

           Inthesuddensilencethatfollowed,MissStephanieCrawfordcalledfromacrosstheroom,"Whatchagoingtobewhenyougrowup,JeanLouise?Alawyer?"

           "Nome,Ihadn’tthoughtaboutit..."Ianswered,gratefulthatMissStephaniewaskindenoughtochangethesubject.HurriedlyIbeganchoosingmyvocation.Nurse?Aviator?"Well..."