"
"No, Bandershanks! I'm not gonna ever, ever take it off."
"Stingy!"
"I'm not stingy. It's my ring! And it's pure gold! Anyhow,
Bandershanks, they brought you lots of pretties, too. Look there
spread out on the table: a beaded purse with real money in it,
and a yellow soap doll, and pink beads to wear around your neck!"
"I want a ring."
"You ain't big enough yet to wear rings!"
I picked up my doll. Walker had said it was solid soap,
through and through. Poor little thing. She smelled sweet, but
she was as naked as a jaybird. I covered her with my napkin, and
once I had it folded and patted down, it looked just as good as a
sure-'nough doll blanket.
Where could I put my new doll to sleep when bedtime came? And
where were all the rest of us going to sleep? Mama had said
before all my big brothers and sisters came home that we didn't
have but seven beds, counting the narrow cot in the side room.
"Where're we all gonna sleep?" I asked Mama as soon as she
came over to bring the stack of corn bread.
Gertie heard me.
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