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

16The season closed and people went away like they had come—indroves. Tea Cake and Janie decided to stay since they wanted to makeanother season on the muck. There was nothing to do, after they hadgathered several bushels of dried beans to save over and sell to theplanters in the fall. So Janie began to look around and see people andthings she hadn’t noticed during the season.For instance during the summer when she heard the subtle butcompelling rhythms of the Bahaman drummers, she’d walk over andwatch the dances. She did not laugh the “Saws” to scorn as she hadheard the people doing in the season. She got to like it a lot and sheand Tea Cake were on hand every night till the others teased themabout it.Janie came to know Mrs. Turner now. She had seen her severaltimes during the season, but neither ever spoke. Now they got to bevisiting friends.Mrs. Turner was a milky sort of a woman that belonged to childbed.Her shoulders rounded a little, and she must have been consciousof her pelvis because she kept it stuck out in front of her so she couldalways see it. Tea Cake made a lot of fun about Mrs. Turner’s shape behindher back. He claimed that she had been shaped up by a cow kickingher from behind. She was an ironing board with things throwed atit. Then that same cow took and stepped in her mouth when she was ababy and left it wide and flat with her chin and nose almost meeting.But Mrs. Turner’s shape and features were entirely approved byMrs. Turner. Her nose was slightly pointed and she was proud. Herthin lips were an ever delight to her eyes. Even her buttocks in bas-