Chapter 3: I Never Asked for No Allergy Summary

February: Beth and Philip get off at the school bus. As Beth starts to cut through the field, Philip warns her that she might step on an icy patch and fall. She isn't worried—she's got a collie puppy waiting for her. Philip responds that maybe her father wasn't able to trade turkeys for the puppy. Beth is undeterred and continues home, spotting her freshly painted house in a light green shade. The year before, her father had sold three hundred turkeys and over forty pigs. They had a good year and were able to afford to get their weathered house painted something that was important to her mother.

Beth can see that her mother is on the porch. Her mid-section is growing wider as the baby inside her grows...