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Show 87 ask, just as he was leaving again for the plant, he said absently that she could go. He himself would tell Katie later that evening. Sharon thanked him. He did not acknowledge that, but went on out the door. It was as if he-his mind-had never been home at all. A few minutes later, Katie decided to leave also, to do the grocery shopping. Would Sharon go with her? Sharon thought fast: she had to help Jeanne with her homework tonight, she said. She did not want to ride with Katie, not in the mood Katie was in, not if she could get out of it. Katie frowned at her, but went on out the door. It was a relief to have her gone. Sharon settled the kids in front of the television set, as usual David went up to his room to listen to his radio. Jeanne helped her with the dishes. They worked well together, it did not take long to clear the table, wash the dishes, the pots and pans, and stack them away in the cupboards. Sharon began preparing for tomorrow night's dinner, picking out the potatoes while Jeanne brought her homework down to the kitchen table. While peeling the potatoes, she answered Jeanne's questions. She often helped like this with Jeanne's homework in the evenings. The other kids, when they did have homework assignments, ignored them. At first, Sharon had tried to force them to it. But dragging them to the table and keeping them working there proved too much for her. What with the other chores she had to do in the evening. So she let them go, she did not even ask anymore if they had assignments. They would simply have to do the best they could on their own. At times, she felt guilty about letting them go like that. But she was doing all she could. It was best to spend her effort as she was now, helping Jeanne, who really wanted the help. Besides, handling |