Pa looked up at Mrs. Wainwright. He took the lantern from her hand and put it on the floor. Ruthie and Winfield were asleep on their own mattress, their arms over their eyes to cut out the light.
Pa walked slowly to Rose of Sharon’s mattress. He tried to squat down, but his legs were too tired. He knelt instead. Ma fanned her square of cardboard back and forth. She looked at Pa for a moment, and her eyes were wide and staring, like a sleepwalker’s eyes.
Pa said, “We—done—what we could.”
“I know.”
“We worked all night. An’ a tree cut out the bank.”
“I know.”
“You can hear it under the car.”
“I know. I heard it.”
“Think she’s gonna be all right?”
“I dunno.”