4
く
After Peter left, I kept busy.
I gathered herbs and dried them, taking them.
to a drugstore in town to sell.
When the weather was bad, I made clothes
for people at home. Now that I had a sewing
machine, I could work faster and make more
money.
At night, Peter’s mom, Carol, taught me.
In the Lee family, my mom only let me finish
third grade so I could work.
Last time, after marrying Billy Johnson, I
bought books and taught myself. With more
knowledge, farming was easier.
<
This time, with Carol as my teacher, I learned
even more.
Ashley came over to cause trouble while
Carol was teaching me.
Hearing Ashley yell, Carol turned pale and
dropped her pen.
“Jenny, what’s she saying? What happened to
Peter?”
“Mom, Ashley is crazy.‘
||
I helped Carol sit down and grabbed a broom.
Ashley must have remembered the exact day
Peter died last time.
Last time, married to Billy Johnson. I was too
busy fighting with his family to care about
Peter. I didn’t know the exact time he died,
just that it was sometime this month.
I couldn’t change Peter’s fate, but I could
make our lives better.
“Ashley, get out! You’re not welcome here!” I
yelled. I swung the broom at her face.
PER
Ashley ran back a few steps.
“Jenny, your good days are over! Don’t come. begging me when you’re a widow!”
I chased her.
“Ashley, worry about yourself. How does it
feel to get up at 3 am to cook and feed
pigs?”
L
“I’m better than you. I have a husband, a
mother–in–law, and I’ll have kids. You’ll be a
widow, taking care of your disabled mother-
in–law, alone for the rest of your life!”
Married into the McCarthy family, I ate well
and slept in. Now, I was not only fair–skinned,
but also stronger.
I ran up, grabbed Ashley’s braid, tripped her,
and pinned her down.
“I’ll teach you to lie!”
I sat on her and slapped her.
“Mom, help!” Ashley cried.
My mom appeared.
く
‘Jenny, stop! Why are you hitting your
sister?”
I kicked Ashley.
“I’m not a Lee anymore. You’re trespassing
and stealing. Am I supposed to let you?”
“Jenny…” Carol called, afraid I’d be hurt.
While I helped Carol, the mother and daughter
ran off.
I overheard them talking.
“Ashley, didn’t you say Peter would die
soon?”
“I remember it’s these days, Mom, let’s wait.
She’ll be a widow.”
They spoke quietly, but I heard them.
J helped Carol back inside.
Carol cried.
“Jenny, are you hiding something? Did
something happen to Peter?”
I knelt down and helped her calm down.
“Mom, Ashley is jealous. I’m your daughter-
in–law. Trust me, don’t listen to them.”
Carol told me, “Tomorrow, send Peter a
telegram saying I’m dying and need him to
come back.”
“Mom, we have to be strong and not bother
him.”
<
I talked her out of it.
At night, she didn’t sleep well, mumbling
Peter’s name.
I cried too.
Peter was so good. He was nice to me. He
stood up for me when Ashley caused trouble.
He gave me his money and was good to his
mom. He was handsome and strong. What if
he died?
I couldn’t think about it. I cried into my pillow.
