Spring 1934, Summary

Tested by Dust: Billie Jo and her schoolmates take a test during a dust storm that blows dust into the building through the cracks in the walls and the windows. She thinks they should get extra credit for that.

Banks: Ma tells Billie Jo that the money they lost when the banks closed will all come back to them. Billie Jo thinks this is good because it will mean they will have money for the doctor when the baby is born.

Beat Wheat: The wheat crop is drying up and dying. The county agent says there won't be enough wheat for seed to plant next season. Billie Jo escapes into her piano, which helps her forget the dust and the bad news. When Ma sends her to the store, Billie Jo sees the "rib-thin cattle" and realizes that the future is grim in...