n tell it to you, and Sam, he
don't know nothing about women ever the way they can be acting. I
certainly am very sorry Melanctha, to have to act so now to you, but I
certainly can't do no other way with you, when you do things always so
bad, and everybody is talking so about you. It ain't no use to you
to stand there and say it different to me Melanctha. I certainly am
always right Melanctha Herbert, the way I certainly always have been
when I knows it, to you. No Melanctha, it just is, you never can have
no kind of a way to act right, the way a decent girl has to do, and I
done my best always to be telling it to you Melanctha Herbert, but it
don't never do no good to tell nobody how to act right; they certainly
never can learn when they ain't got no sense right to know it, and you
never have no sense right Melanctha to be honest, and I ain't never
wishing no harm to you ever Melanctha Herbert, only I don't never want
any more to see you come here. I just say to you now, like I always
been saying to you, you don't know never the right way, any kind of
decent girl has to be acting, and so Melanctha Herbert, me and Sam, we
don't never any more want you to be setting your foot in my house
here Melanctha Herbert, I just tell you. And so you just go along now,
Melanctha Herbert, you hear me, and I don't never wish no harm to come
to you."

Rose Johnson went into her house and closed the door behind her.
Melanctha stood like one dazed, she did not know how to bear this blow
that almost killed her. Slowly then Melanctha went away without even
turning to look behind her.

Melanctha Herbert was all sore and bruised inside her. Melanctha had
needed Rose always to believe her, Melanctha needed Rose always to let
her cling to her, Melanctha wanted badly to have somebody who could
make her always feel a little safe inside her, and now Rose had sent
her from her. Melanctha wanted Rose more than she had ever wanted all
the others. Rose always was so simple, solid, decent, for her. And now
Rose had cast her from her. Melanctha was lost, and all the world went
whirling in a mad weary dance around her.

Melanctha Herbert never had any strength alone ever to feel safe
inside her. And now Rose Johnson had cast her from her, and Melanctha
could never any more be near her. Melanctha Herbert knew now, way
inside her, that she was lost, and nothing any more could ever help
her.

Melanctha went that night to meet Jem Richards who had prom