Summary

Pammy criticized her mother for not being friendly to Debi. Alma said Pammy knew nothing "about anything" (11). The wind grew cold. Pammy was offended. Alma did not feel bad.

She remembered when Pammy was little, and confident. One day, Pammy had come home asking about the definitions of "laughingstock" and "philanderer" (11). Alma had been outraged, demanding to know from whom she had heard such words. The church bells interrupted her thoughts. Then the rain started. They were still several "blocks from home," and Alma's knees hurt (12). Pammy told her to run. Alma ambled along. Pammy took off her sweatshirt, and held it over Alma's head. Alma felt "a rush of tenderness" (12). Then it started hailing. They ran for cover under the Ubernicks' tree when Pammy was struck in the head by a large hailstone.

Alma heard Debi calling her name, running out with...