Miss Pittman! I was waiting on the porch with a jar full of salt pork and a pillowcase filled with greens to take to Aunt Jennie, and I nearly dropped them both when I saw Miss Pittman walking up our path. I have not given her the time of day ever since I heard about what she wrote in her letter, and I still weren’t interested in being friends with her. “Look who I met on the road!” Tom called. “Miss Pittman was out for a walk, and when I told her where we were going, she asked to come along.” Miss Pittman waved. “I hope that suits you, Arie Mae! I’ve never met Aunt Jennie Odom, but I’ve heard so many interesting stories about her!” Well, it didn’t suit me one bit, but what was I to say? I just nodded my head and joined them in the yard. Close up, Tom’s cheeks looked flushed, like he was already finding the day too warm for his liking. “Whatever do you have in that jar?” Miss Pittman asked, and I had to bite my tongue not to declare, Why, it’s just the sort of food ignorant folks eat, Miss Pittman.
