—I like girls. They always sit at home waiting till you call on them.
—Do you like to go visiting?
[The Old Women titter.
—He knows.
—He knows. (Silence)
—Our friend would like to have a girl. She says boys are so restless and venturesome and are always seeking danger. Even when they are little, they like to climb tall trees and bathe in deep water. They often fall, and they drown. And when they get to be men, they make wars and kill one another.
—She thinks girls don't drown. I have seen many girls drowned. They look like all drowned people, wet and green.
—She thinks girls don't get killed by stones thrown at them.
—Poor woman, she has such a hard time giving birth to her child. We have been sitting here sixteen hours, and she is still crying. At first she cried out loud. Her screams pierced our ears. Then she cried more quietly, and now she is only moaning.
—The doctor says she'll die.