Della goes with Daddy to pick up the tractor belt. She wants to return the Emily Dickinson book. Now it just makes her feel guilty for reading when Mama was letting Mylie cry in the crib. Della wants to hand the book back to Miss Lorena herself, so she won’t be tempted to take another book in its place.

While Daddy gets the part, Della finds Miss Lorena studying at the kitchen table. Miss Lorena tries to get Della to keep the book, but Della insists she can’t right now. She has no time to read with Mama getting so sick. Miss Lorena promises to put the book aside for Della so it’s waiting when she decides she has time again. Miss Lorena is studying for her college degree. She decided to go back to school after her husband died of cancer. Thomas is also studying. He’s trying to get a better score on his SATs for more scholarships. He struggles with math. Della remarks that math is her good subject, and Thomas suggests she tutor him. Thomas always makes Della feel good by treating her like an adult.

Della feels good all the way home until they arrive to find Mama scrubbing the cabinets and Mylie screaming naked in the kitchen, having dumped ketchup all over the floor.