,,XX

  ,A ,,*ANGE ,,( ,,HE>T

  ,T NIECE ( YRS IS ! MO/ REM>KA# GIRL
,I H SE5 9 YE>S10 SD ,MR4
,BUR* :5 ! DOOR CLOS$4

  8,%E SEEMS 6BE TURN9' \ SM>T 5 LATELY1
B %E'S 3SID'A# HE$.S10 ANSW]$ ,MIR&A1
8AN' MO/ TOO LIVELY40

  8,WE M/ REMEMB] T X IS DEFICI5T1 N
EXCESSIVE VITAL;Y1 T MAKES ! GRTE/ TR\#
9 ? _W10 RETURN$ ,MR4 ,BUR*4

  8,%E'D MAKE A WOND];L MIS.N>Y10 SD
,MRS4 ,BUR*2 8) H] VOICE1 & H]
MAGNETISM1 & H] GIFT ( LANGUAGE40

  8,IF ,I 0 6SAY : (! TWO %E 0 BE/
ADAPT$ =1 ,I'D SAY %E'D MAKE A BETT]
H1!N10 REM>K$ ,MIR&A CURTLY4

  8,MY SI/] DON'T 2LIEVE 9 FLATT]+ *N10
HA/ILY 9T]POLAT$ ,JANE1 GLANC+ T[>D
,MRS4 ,BUR*1 :O SEEM$ "S:AT %OCK$1 & 0
AB 6OP5 H] LIPS 6ASK IF ,REBE3A 0 N A
8PROFESSOR40

  ,MRS4 ,COBB _H BE5 LOOK+ = ? "Q ALL !
EV5+ & DR1D+ "S ALLU.N 6H] FAVORITE Z
GIFT$ 9 PRAY]4 ,%E _H TAK5 AN 9/ANTANE\S
& ILLOGICAL 4LIKE 6! ,REV4 ,MR4 ,BUR* 9
! AFN 2C HE CALL$ ^U ,REBE3A TO 8L1D40
,%E _H SE5 ! PALLOR CREEP 96! GIRL'S
FACE1 ! HUNT$ LOOK 9 H] EYES1 &! TREMBL+
(! LA%ES ON H] *EEKS1 & R1LIZ$ ! ORD1L
"? : %E 0 PASS+4 ,H] PREJUDICE AG/ !
M9I/] _H RELAX$ "U 8 G5IAL TALK &
PRES;E1 B FEEL+ T ,MRS4 ,BUR* 0 AB 6TR1D
ON DANG]\S GR.D1 %E HA/ILY ASK$ H] IF "O
_H 6*ANGE C>S _M "TS GO+ F ,RIV]BORO
6,SYRIA4 ,%E FELT T X 0 N A "PICUL>LY
APPROPRIATE "Q1 B X S]V$ H] TURN4

  ,D1CON ,MILLIK51 M1N"T1 SD 6,MISS
,SAWY]1 8,MIR&Y1 D Y "K :O ,REBECKY
REM9DS ME (80

  8,I C GUESS PRETTY WELL10 %E REPLI$4

  8,!N Y'VE NOTIC$ X TOO6 ,I ?"\ AT F/1
SEE9' %E FAVOR$ H] "F S ON ! \TSIDE1 T
%E 0 ! SAME ALL "?2 B %E A9'T1 %E'S L YR
"F1 ,ISRAEL ,SAWY]40
  8,I DON'T SEE H[ Y MAKE T \10 SD
,MIR&A1 ?OR\<LY A/ONI%$4

  8,X /RUCK ME ? AFN :5 %E GOT UP 6GIVE
YR 9VIT,N 9 MEET9'4 ,X 0 K9D O' CUR'\S1
B %E SET 9 ! SAME S1T HE US$ 6:5 HE 0
L1D] O' ! ,SA2A?-S*OOL4 ,Y "K 8 OLD WAY
( HOLD9' 8 *9 UP & ?R[9' 8 H1D BACK A
LEETLE :5 HE GOT UP 6SAY ANY?+8 ,WELL1
%E D"O ! V SAME ?+2 "! 0 MORE'N "O SPOKE
( X40

  ,! CALL]S LEFT 2F N9E1 & AT T H\R 7AN
IMPOSSIBLY 4SIPAT$ "O =! BRICK H\SE7 !
FAMILY RETIR$ =! NI<T4 ,Z ,REBE3A C>RI$
,MRS4 ,BUR*'S C&LE UP/AIRS & F.D H]F ?US
AL"O ) H] =A M9UTE1 %E SD %YLY1 8,W Y
PL1SE TELL ,MR4 ,BUR* T ,I'M N A MEMB]
(! *UR*8 ,I DIDN'T "K :AT 6D :5 HE ASK$
ME 6PRAY ? AFN4 ,I _HN'T ! C\RAGE 6SAY
,I _H N"E D"O X \ L\D & DIDN'T "K H[4 ,I
CDN'T ?9K2 & ,I 0 S F"R5$ ,I WANT$ 6S9K
96! FLOOR4 ,X SEEM$ BOLD & WICK$ = ME
6PRAY 2F ALL ^? OLD *UR* MEMB]S & MAKE
2LIEVE ,I 0 BETT] ?AN ,I RE,Y WAS2 B !N
AG1 WDN'T ,GOD ?9K ,I 0 WICK$ N 6BE
WILL+ 6PRAY :5 A M9I/] ASK$ ME TO80

  ,! C&LE LI<T FELL ON ,REBE3A'S FLU%$1
S5SITIVE FACE4 ,MRS4 ,BUR* B5T & KISS$
H] GDNI<T4 8,DON'T 2 TR\#D10 %E SD4
8,I'LL TELL ,MR4 ,BUR*1 & ,I GUESS ,GOD
W "U/&40

  ,REBE3A WAK$ 2F SIX ! NEXT MORN+1 S
FULL ( H\SEHOLD C>ES T SLEEP 0 IMPOSSI#4
,%E W5T 6! W9D[ & LOOK$ \2 X 0 / D>K1 &A
BLU/]+1 BOI/]\S "D4

  8,AUNT ,JANE TOLD ME %E %D GET UP AT
HALF PA/ SIX & H BR1KFA/ AT HALF PA/
SEV510 %E ?"\2 8B ,I D>ESAY !Y >E BO?
SICK ) _! COLDS1 & AUNT ,MIR&A W 2
FIDGETY ) S _M 9 ! H\SE4 ,I 2LIEVE ,I'LL
CREEP D[N & />T ?+S =A SURPRISE40

  ,%E PUT ON A WA4$ WRAPP] & SLIPP]S &
/OLE QUIETLY D[N ! TABOO$ FRONT /AIRS1
C>E;LLY CLOS$ ! KIT*5 DOOR 2H H] S T NO
NOISE %D WAK5 ! RE/ (! H\SEHOLD1 BUSI$
H]F =A HALF H\R )! E>LY MORN+ R\T9E %E
KNEW S WELL1 & !N W5T BACK 6H] ROOM
6DRESS 2F CALL+ ! *N4

  ,3TR>Y 6EXPECT,N1 ,MISS ,JANE1 :O !
EV5+ 2F FELT BETT] ?AN ,MIR&A1 GREW
WORSE 9 ! NI<T1 & 0 :OLLY UNA# 6L1VE H]
B$ 9 ! MORN+4 ,MIR&A GRUM#D )\T C1S+
DUR+ ! PROGRESS ( H] HA/Y TOILET1 BLAM+
"EYBODY 9 ! UNIV]SE =! A6LIC;NS %E _H
BORNE & 0 6BE> DUR+ ! "D2 %E EV5
CA/IGAT$ ! ,MIS.N>Y ,BO>D T _H S5T !
,BUR*ES 6,SYRIA1 & GAVE X Z H] UNBIAS$
OP9ION T ^? :O W5T 6=EIGN L&S =! PURPOSE
( SAV+ H1!N %D /AY "! & SAVE 'EM1 & N G
GALLIVANT9' ALL OV] ! E>? )A PASSEL O'
*N1 VISIT9' FOLKS T DIDN'T WANT 'EM &
N"E ASK$ 'EM4

  ,JANE LAY ANXI\SLY & RE/.SLY 9 B$ )A
FEV]I% H1DA*E1 WOND]+ H[ H] SI/] CD
MANAGE )\T H]4

  ,MIR&A WALK$ /I6LY "? ! D9+-ROOM1 TY+
A %AWL OV] H] H1D 6KEEP ! DRAU<TS AWAY1
9T5D+ 6/>T ! BR1KFA/ FIRE & !N CALL
,REBE3A D[N1 SET H] 6"W1 & TELL H]1
M1N:ILE1 A FEW PLA9 FACTS 3C]N+ ! PROP]
WAY ( REPRES5T+ ! FAMILY AT A MIS.N>Y
MEET+4

  ,%E OP5$ ! KIT*5 DOOR & />$ VAGUELY AB
H]1 WOND]+ :E!R %E _H /RAY$ 96! WR;G
H\SE 0MISTAKE4

  ,! %ADES 7 UP1 & "! 0 A RO>+ FIRE 9 !
/OVE2 ! T1KETTLE 0 S++ & BU2L+ Z X S5T \
A CL\D ( /1M1 & PU%$ OV] XS CAPACI\S
NOSE 0 A HALF %EET ( NOTE PAP] )
8,-PLI;TS ( ,REBE3A0 SCRAWL$ ON X4 ,!
C(FEE POT 0 SCALD+1 ! C(FEE 0 M1SUR$ \ 9
A B[L1 & BROK5 E7%ELLS =! SETTL+ PROCESS
7 /&+ NE>4 ,! COLD POTATOES & CORN$ BEEF
7 9 ! WOOD5 TRAY1 & 8,REG>DS ( ,REBE3A0
/UCK ON ! *OPP+ KNIFE4 ,! BR[N LOAF 0 \1
! :ITE LOAF 0 \1 ! TOA/ RACK 0 \1 !
D\<NUTS 7 \1 ! MILK 0 SKIMM$1 ! BUTT] _H
BE5 BR"\ F ! DAIRY4

  ,MIR&A REMOV$ ! %AWL F H] H1D & SANK
96! KIT*5 ROCK]1 EJACULAT+ "U H] BR1?1
8,%E IS ! B1T9'E/ *6 ,I DCL %E'S ALL
,SAWY]60

  ,! "D &! EV5+ PASS$ (F ) CR$IT & HONOR
6"EYBODY 3C]N$1 EV5 6,JANE1 :O _H !
4CRE;N 6RECOV] 9/1D ( GR[+ WORSE & ACT+
Z A DAMP] 6! G5]AL 5JOY;T4 ,! ,BUR*ES
LEFT ) LIVELY REGRETS1 &! LL MIS.N>IES1
BA!D 9 TE>S1 SWORE ET]NAL FR%IP )
,REBE3A1 :O PRESS$ 96_! H&S AT "P+ A
POEM -POS$ 2F BR1KFA/4

  ,,6,,M>Y ,,& ,,M>?A ,,BUR*

  ,BORN "U ,SYRIAN SKIES1
',N1? HOTT] SUNS ?AN \RS2
,! *N GREW & BLOOM$1
,L LL TROPIC FL[]S4

  ,:5 !Y F/ SAW ! LI<T1
',T 0 9 A H1!N L&4
,N ,GRE5L&'S ICY M.TA9S1
,NOR ,9DIA'S CORAL /R&1




















  ,B "S MY/]I\S C.TRY
,": M5 >E NE>LY BLACK
,& ": ( TRUE RELIGION1
,"! IS A PA9;L LACK4

  ,!N LET U HA/E 9 HELP+
,! ,MIS.N>Y ,BO>D1
,SEEK D>K-SK9N$ UNBELIEV]S1
,& T1* !M ( _! ,"L4
,REBE3A ,R[5A ,R&ALL4

  ,X C R1DILY 2 SE5 T ? VISIT (! RETURN$
MIS.N>IES 6,RIV]BORO 0 N )\T "S:AT F>-
R1*+ RESULTS4 ,MR4 & ,MRS4 ,BUR* !MVS
LOOK$ BACK ^U X Z "O (! R>E/ PL1SURES (
_! HALF YE> AT HOME4 ,! NEI<BORHOOD
EXTRACT$ 3SID]A# EAG] 3V]S,N F X2 >GU;T1
REBUTTAL1 SUSPICION1 C]TA9TY1
RETROSPECT1 & PROPHECY4 ,D1CON ,MILLIK5
GAVE T5 DOLL>S T[>DS ! 3V].N ( ,SYRIA
6,3GREG,NALISM1 & ,MRS4 ,MILLIK5 _H A
SPELL ( SICK;S OV] H] HUSB&'S RA%
G5]OS;Y4

  ,X WD 2 PL1SANT 6/ATE T ,MIR&A ,SAWY]
0 AN 5TIRELY *ANG$ WOMAN AFWS1 B T IS N
! FACT4 ,! TREE T HAS BE5 GETT+ A TWI/ =
TW5TY YE>S _C 2 /RAI<T5$ 9 ! TW9KL+ ( AN
EYE4 ,X IS C]TA91 H["E1 T AL? ! DI6];E
6! \TW>D EYE 0 V SMALL1 X N"E!.S EXI/$1
& %E 0 LESS C5SORI\S 9 H] TR1T;T (
,REBE3A1 LESS H>% 9 H] JUDG;TS1 M HOPE;L
( F9AL SALV,N = H]4 ,? _H -E AB L>GELY F
H] SU45 VI.N T ,REBE3A1 AF ALL1 9H]IT$
"S?+ F ! ,SAWY] SIDE (! H\SE 9/1D (
2L;G+1 M9D1 BODY1 & S\L1 6! DESPIS$
,R&ALL /OCK4 ,"EY?+ T 0 9T]E/+ 9
,REBE3A1 & E EVID;E ( P[]1 CAPABIL;Y1 OR
TAL5T AFWS 4PLAY$ 0H]1 ,MIR&A ASCRIB$ 6!
BRICK H\SE TRA9+1 & ? GAVE H] A FEEL+ (
H"O/ PRIDE1 ! PRIDE (A MA/] "WMAN :O HAS
BUILT SU3ESS \ (! MO/ UNPROMIS+ MAT]IAL2
B N"E1 6! V 5D1 EV5 :5 ! WAN+ ( H]
BODILY /R5G? RELAX$ H] IRON GRIP & W1K5$
H] P[] ( REPRES.N1 N"E ONCE DID %E %[ T
PRIDE OR MAKE A S+LE DEMON/R,N ( A6EC;N4

  ,POOR MISPLAC$1 2LLD ,LOR5ZO DE ,M$ICI
,R&ALL1 ?"\ RIDICUL\S & GD-=-NAU<T
0HIS ASSOCIATES1 2C HE RESEM#D !M 9
NO?+6 ,IF ,RIV]BORO CD H BE5 SU45LY
EMPTI$ 96A L>G] -MUN;Y1 ) DI6]5T & M
FLEXI# OP9IONS1 HE WAS1 P]H1 ! ONLY
P]SONAGE 9 ! 5TIRE POPUL,N :O WD H
ATTRACT$ ! SMALLE/ ATT5;N4 ,X 0 =TUNATE
= 8 DAU<T] T %E _H BE5 D[]$ )A LL
PRACTICAL ABIL;Y F H] "M'S FAMILY1 B IF
,LOR5ZO _H N"E D"O ANY?+ ELSE 9 ! _W1 HE
MI<T H GLORIFI$ HMF T HE _H PREV5T$
,REBE3A F 2+ ALL ,SAWY]4 ,FAILURE Z HE
WAS1 -PLETE & 5TIRE1 HE _H G5]\SLY H&$
D[N 6H] ALL T 0 BE/ 9 HMF1 & PRUD5TLY
RETA9$ ALL T 0 UNWOR?Y4 ,FEW "FS >E
CAPA# ( S* DELICATE 4CRIM9,N4

  ,! BRICK H\SE DID N SPE$ILY 2COME A
SORT ( WAYSIDE 9N1 A PLACE ( 9NOC5T
REVELRY & JOY\S WELCOME2 B ! MIS.N>Y
-PANY 0 AN 5T]+ W$GE1 & ,MIR&A ALL[$ "O
SP>E B$ 6BE MADE UP 8IN CASE ANY?+ %D
HAPP510 :ILE ! CRY/AL GLASSES 7 KEPT ON
! SECOND F ! TOP1 9/1D (! TOP %ELF1 9 !
*9A CLOSET4 ,REBE3A _H _H 6/& ON A *AIR
6R1* !M2 N[ %E CD D X 0/RET*+2 & ? IS
SYMBOLIC (! WAY 9 : %E UNCONSCI\SLY
SCAL$ ! WALLS ( ,MISS ,MIR&A'S DOGMATISM
& PREJUDICE4

  ,MIR&A W5T S F> Z 6SAY T %E WDN'T M9D
IF ! ,BUR*ES CAME E ONCE 9 A :ILE1 B %E
0 AFRAID HE'D SPR1D ABROAD ! FACT ( 8
VISIT1 & MIS.N>IES' FAMILIES WD 2 "UFOOT
! :OLE 3T9UAL "T4 ,Z A CASE 9 PO9T1 %E
GRACE;LLY CIT$ ! FACT T IF A TRAMP GOT A
GD M1L AT ANYBODY'S BACK DOOR1 'T 0 SD T
HE'D L1VE "S K9D (A SIGN S T ALL O!R
TRAMPS WD "K ": !Y 7 LIKELY 6RCV ! SAME
TR1T;T4

  ,X IS 6BE FE>$ T "! IS "S TRU? 9 ?
HOMELY ILLU/R,N1 & ,MISS ,MIR&A'S DR1D Z
6H] FUTURE RESPONSIBILITIES _H "S F.D,N1
?\< N (! PRECISE SORT %E _H 9 M9D4 ,!
S\L GR[S 96LOVELY HABITS Z EASILY Z
96UGLY "OS1 &! MO;T A LIFE 2G9S 6BLOSSOM
96B1UTI;L ^WS & DE$S1 T MO;T A NEW /&>D
( 3DUCT IS E/ABLI%$1 & YR EAG] NEI<BORS
LOOK 6Y =A 3T9U\S MANIFE/,N (! GD *E]1 !
SYMPA?Y1 ! R1DY WIT1 ! -RADE%IP1 OR !
9SPIR,N1 Y ONCE %[$ YRF CAPA# (4 ,BE>
FIGS =A S1SON OR TWO1 &! _W \TSIDE !
OR*>D IS V UNWILL+ Y %D BE> ?I/LES4

  ,! E6ECT (! ,BUR*ES' VISIT ON ,REBE3A
IS N EASILY DESCRIB$4 ,N"E!.S1 Z %E
LOOK$ BACK ^U X F ! VANTAGE GR.D ( AF
YE>S1 %E FELT T ! MO;T :5 ,MR4 ,BUR*
ASK$ H] TO 8L1D 9 PRAY]0 M>K$ AN EPO* 9
H] LIFE4

  ,IF Y H "E OBS]V$ H[ C\RTE\S & GRACI\S
& MANN]LY Y FEEL :5 Y DON A B1UTI;L NEW
FROCK2 IF Y H "E NOTIC$ ! FEEL+ ( R"E;E
/1L+ OV] Y :5 Y CLOSE YR EYES1 CLASP YR
H&S1 & B[ YR H1D2 IF Y H "E WAT*$ YR
S5SE ( REPUL.N T[>D A FELL[ CR1TURE MELT
A LL "U ! EX]CISE ( DAILY POLITE;S1 Y
MAY "U/& H[ ! ADOP;N (! \TW>D & VISI#
SIGN HAS "S /RANGE 9FLU;E 9 DEVELOP+ !
9W>D & _SUAL /ATE ( : X IS ! EXPRES.N4

  ,X IS ONLY :5 "O HAS GR[N OLD & DULL T
! S\L IS H1VY & REFUSES 6RISE4 ,! "Y S\L
IS "E W+$2 A BR1? /IRS X 6AN UPW>D
FLI<T4 ,REBE3A 0 ASK$ 6BE> WIT;S 6A /ATE
( M9D OR FEEL+ ( ^: EXI/;E %E _H ONLY !
VAGUE/ 3SCI\S;S4 ,%E OBEY$1 & Z %E UTT]$
^WS !Y 2CAME TRUE 9 ! UTT]+2 Z %E VOIC$
ASPIR,NS !Y SETTL$ 96R1LITIES4

  ,Z 8DOVE T 6XS W9D[ FLIES10 H] _S SO>$
T[>DS A GRT LI<T1 DIMLY 4COV]$ AT F/1 B
B"R] Z %E CAME CLOS] 6X4 ,62COME S5SI# (
"O;S )! ,DIV9E HE>T 2F ANY S5SE ( SEP>,N
HAS BE5 FELT1 ? IS SURELY ! MO/ B1UTI;L
WAY =! * 6F9D ,GOD4














