Janie and Tea Cake spend a lot of time together doing all sorts of things: going on trips; playing checkers; going to the movies; and gardening. The town has a lot to say about this. They think Janie is disrespecting Jody (who has only been dead nine months). They also think that Tea Cake just wants Janie's money. Pheoby says she'll have a talk with her.
Pheoby tells Janie that the town is concerned with her behavior (running around with Tea Cake and wearing bright colors, especially blue, when she should be wearing black to mourn Jody's death). Janie tells Pheoby not to worry because she trusts Tea Cake and he is not after her money. She says that they're planning on selling the store, moving away, and getting married. Pheoby still tries warning her more, but at this point in her life, Janie doesn't care what anyone else thinks. She is sick of living her life for others, especially her grandmother. Now, Janie is going to do what she wants . She is bored with her current life, and feels there is so much more to see and do. With Tea Cake, she can do those things. By just sitting high on porches, she can't:
"[Tea Cake] looked like the love thoughts of women. He could be a bee to a blossom - a pear tree blossom in the spring. He seemed to be crushing scent out of the world with his footsteps. Crushing aromatic herbs with every step he took. Spices hung about him. He was a glance from God."Chapter 11, Pg. 101
Janie gets a new blue satin dress that Tea Cake picked out for her to marry him in, earrings, high heels, and a necklace. She wants to make Tea Cake proud.
