Janie saw her life like a great tree in leaf with the things suffered

150/260up and opened the window and let Tea Cake leap forth and mount tothe sky on a wind. That was the beginning of things.In the cool of the afternoon the fiend from hell specially sent tolovers arrived at Janie’s ear. Doubt. All the fears that circumstancecould provide and the heart feel, attacked her on every side. This was anew sensation for her, but no less excruciating. If only Tea Cake wouldmake her certain! He did not return that night nor the next and so sheplunged into the abyss and descended to the ninth darkness wherelight has never been.But the fourth day after he came in the afternoon driving abattered car. Jumped out like a deer and made the gesture of tying itto a post on the store porch. Ready with his grin! She adored him andhated him at the same time. How could he make her suffer so and thencome grinning like that with that darling way he had? He pinched herarm as he walked inside the door.“Brought me somethin’ tuh haul you off in,” he told her with thatsecret chuckle. “Git yo’ hat if you gointuh wear one. We got tuh go buygroceries.”“Ah sells groceries right here in dis store, Tea Cake, if you don’thappen tuh know.” She tried to look cold but she was smiling in spiteof herself.“Not de kind we want fuh de occasion. You sells groceries for ordinarypeople. We’se gointuh buy for you. De big Sunday School picnicis tomorrow—bet you done forget it—and we got tuh be dere wid uhswell basket and ourselves.”“Ah don’t know ’bout dat, Tea Cake. Tell yuh whut you do. G’wandown tuh de house and wait for me. Be dere in uh minute.”