She got pregnant again. I guess it must’ve been in December because she was just starting to gain weight in April when she came into the kitchen and said, “Missus Willson, Tucker and I have to leave. We’re sorry, but we have to.”

Mother almost cried, right at that moment. “But, Bethrah…”

“I’m sorry, Missus Willson, but Tucker wants to go. He wants to move to the farm.”

Mother’s lashes were already wet. “But, Bethrah, you’re pregnant and it’s much better for you to be in town…isn’t it?”

I just stood there with my mouth open.

“We have to go. Tucker wants it. And I have to go with him.”

I just turned around, went to my room, and cried for hours. I guess I didn’t have a right, but I really felt betrayed because I’d have to be in that house all by myself with my parents. I even thought about moving out, but I could only go into New Marsails to my grandmother’s, Mother’s mother, and she was really primitive. She doesn’t have a modern idea in her head. She’d want me in at nine on Saturdays. So I didn’t move out. I guess I wouldn’t have anyway.

The night before Bethrah left, I sat in my room being really grumpy. It was late and I was feeling very, very sorry for myself. I couldn’t even sleep. I heard a knock on my door and sort of bitterly told whoever it was to come in. It was Bethrah. I guess I knew that before I saw her.

“Can I talk to you for a minute?” She seemed very apologetic. “I want to tell you something.”

“Sure.” I wasn’t very friendly.

She sat on my bed at the other end, and stared at the floor between her legs. “I know how you feel about my leaving. I’m sorry. I have to go, though, I know that.” She looked at me; very slowly I turned away, because I might have been starting to cry. I don’t know.

“Remember the time before I left Tucker that we talked in the kitchen?” I didn’t say anything; she knew I remembered.

“You see, the trouble with me was that I was a college girl. I wasn’t at college, but I thought like a little coed. There was something I couldn’t figure out about Tucker and it upset me because I took it like I’d take a flunk on a test.