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Show CHAPTER TWENTY TWO Mother pulled her veil around her eyes and started the car. Through the veil I could see that her face was flushed and she drove as if she was angry at the car. Once when she turned to check behind her, I saw that her mouth made an angry line across her face. I knew how she felt. I felt sick, my stomach ached, and my face felt as hot as Mother's looked. I wasn't sure yet what had happened. I was shocked at what Andrew's mother had said, but I was really not surprised. Andrew had told me that his mother couldn't look at him and beyond that he had never talked about her. He had mentioned Jane but I guess he didn't know she was going to have a baby. Our family was so close, that we often stepped on each other's toes, as my father often said. I couldn't imagine living in a family like Andrew's. But then, maybe they had been close before he went away. The ride back to town seemed longer and the air warmer. The dust swirled in the open window and clung to my dress and to my sweaty face. I rested my head against the frame of the car and closed my eys. I slept and didn't wake up until we stopped in our driveway. Mother got out and slammed the car door. As I climbed out, I noticed the picnic basket lying on the floor of the car. "Mother, we forgot our picnic," I shouted to her where she stood on the front porch unlocking the door. "Did you really feel like a picnic, Annie?" Mother turned to me, the keys in her gloved hand. "Thank you, but Mrs. Crayton gave me all the nourishment I needed." |
