"I'm not going to get 'all that stuff'," said Pearl. "There are a few things a woman has to have, and a man would never think of. I won't be a minute."
And she wasn't. Almost before Joe had the kids settled in the back seat, she reappeared carrying her large purse and stuffing an assortment of things hastily into it as she ran toward the car.
"All right," she said, slipping into the front seat. "Let's go. The sooner we get away from the house, the better I'll like it."
"Me too," said Joe.
"Not me," said Jimmy darkly. "If I don't get to milk the cow, I'd rather stay here."
Sally kicked him again, and he punched her in the ribs. But her answering wail lasted but a few seconds when she observed that neither of her parents was paying any attention. She frowned at them and looked back at the house as they roared away from it.
A half-hour later, as they passed from the suburbs out into the open country, she said: "Mommy, why did you leave the front door open?"
Her mother started, turned toward Joe and laid a hand on his arm.
"The Devil with the door," said Joe. "We're not going back now!"