ALMA: Graduation day finally gets here, the summer that was so unbearably hot becomes one of the best summers of my life.

EUGENE: My parents offer to have a graduation supper for us. Alma graduated early. She doubled up on her credits. She was very determined to graduate early and she did. Right after the graduation services I sneak a beer. Alma and Odelia are coming over for the first time. I just had to have it–the beer before supper.

ALMA: Odelia’s running around. (ODELIA) “Lawd–I gotta find me a purty dress–ooh–I excited–lawd. Alma we goin’ ta dey house fa dinner–I can’t hardly believe it–I got ta find me a pretty dress. Lawd an you see Thelma–huh skin like butta–lawd help me find da right dress!”

EUGENE: Momma cooks a feast. Yams, turkey greens, sweet potatoes. She’s wearing a pretty off-white dress. She’s sitting by her makeup table with a glass of bourbon. She looks at me through the mirror smiling as she’s making herself up. (THELMA) “How do I look baby?” (EUGENE) “Fine Momma.” She hands her glass to me and says (THELMA) “Freshen Momma’s drink baby”–

ALMA: (ODELIA) “I gotta git me a lil’ gin to calm my nerves. I gots da perfume–yeah dis perfume outta Woolworth but it nice–it nice even though it from there and my flower–gotta put mah flower in dis ole nappy head o’ mine–Does I look good Alma?”

EUGENE: I pick up Alma and Odelia and bring them to the house. Momma shows Odelia around–

ALMA: (ODELIA) “Looka da curtains an pictures an furniture an tings. Looka all dis silvaware–I ain’t neva see such silva and things–looka da way you fix da table all nice like–I so glad you had us to come heah–an looka dat hair o’ yourn Thelma–so long an purty–chile ya got dat long, good hair–Ain’t she got nice hair Alma?” (ALMA) “Yes I guess so.” Thelma looks at me. I look at her. The corner of her mouth is smiling but somehow held tight.

EUGENE: I’m watching Alma look at Odelia. “Don’t be too hard on her Alma.”

ALMA: I’m watching Mr. Gaines watch Odelia. I can see the look of disgust in his eyes. I can see him looking at her thinking “I made it out of Russelville–why didn’t you?” He’s looking at her thinking “You stupid, hungry backwoods bitch.”

EUGENE: (To Alma) “Odelia really is sweet.” Odelia tries to talk about people she and Daddy grew up with.

ALMA: (Odelia) “Looka heah Robert, do you rememba”–

EUGENE: (ROBERT) “Odelia–I never dealt with those people. I was working and in school full-time.”