Mama Day

This section returns to Willow Springs, where Miranda and Abigail are writing a letter to Cocoa. The two briefly discuss Ruby, a local woman infamous for her extreme jealousy of any woman who so much as flirts with Junior Lee, a local ne’er-do-well who dates older women for their money. The only problem is that Junior Lee is currently dating another local woman named Frances. Both Miranda and Abigail agree that the situation is “juicy,” but their conversation is interrupted by the arrival of Ambush Duvall, Bernice’s husband (117). He frantically urges Miranda to come to their home, as Bernice “is awful sick—she thinks she’s gonna lose the baby” (120). Miranda learns from Ambush that Bernice has taken some of the fertility drugs she had talked about earlier—in fact, she has stolen them from Dr. Brian Smithfield at the drug store where she works. Miranda does what she can to treat Bernice, who she determines is not actually pregnant, but she tells Ambush to call Dr. Smithfield to come help.

While she waits for Dr. Smithfield, Miranda goes out and sneaks onto Dr. Buzzard’s property to gather the materials for one of her home remedies.