The rest of the day dragged by, but Rayellen was happy that at least she had made a friend. The other kids had invented a new nickname for her - blueberry, yet the teacher seem to completely ignore their behavior. Rayellen wanted to stand up and to yell for them to be quiet. However, she suspected that Miss Louisa would not ignore that particular outburst and would probably punish her, so Rayellen kept quiet. She tried to focus on the lesson and, despite the actions of her classmates, she still enjoyed learning. Besides, Last-Un would turn occasionally and flash that brilliant smile of hers and that made the day a bit more bearable.

When the day finally ended, Rayellen hurried home to talk to her mother. She had so much she needed to tell her - and to ask her. There were things that she needed to know and she was determined to finally get some answers. She ran into the house, but she didn't see her mother at first. She wasn't in the small bedroom they shared or in the living room. Finally, she walked into the kitchen where Mamaw was preparing biscuits for supper. "Where's Mommy?" Rayellen asked.

Mamaw smiled, but even at Rayellen's young age, she could tell that Mamaw was distracted by something. "She's not here right now," the older woman answered, "She'll be home later though."

Rayellen thought about asking more questions, but decided not to push the issue. She pulled out a heavy wooden chair and sat down at the table to watch Mamaw cook, which she always liked to do. However, her mind was distracted by the day's events and tears kept welling up in her eyes. She sighed heavily.

"How was school?" Mamaw asked.

The question broke the floodgate and, through her tears, Rayellen recounted the day's events. Although there was a bit of good news, namely that she had made a new friend, she found focusing on the teasing and the actions of her teacher.

As she spoke, Mamaw wiped the flour from her hands with a towel so that she could wipe the tears from her granddaughter's face. "I'm sorry, baby," she said softly, "People can be real mean at times."

"But why?" Rayellen demanded.

"I don't know," Mamaw replied, "but don't let it get to ya. Just remember that ya are loved and don't let what people say hurt ya."

"I think it's because I'm blue," Rayellen stated, matter-of-factly, "Why I don't look like Mommy or you or Papaw?"

The questions seemed to surprise Mamaw and for a moment she merely stood there without answering. Rayellen couldn't help but wonder if she had done something wrong. There is something wrong with me she decided and it's so bad that Mamaw doesn't even want to say it.

Finally, her grandmother seemed to have found her voice and she laughed slightly. "The good Lord just made ya special," she answered, "He makes us all special, but He just wanted to make sure that everyone knows just how special ya are."

Rayellen considered that for a moment. "Then I don't think I like Him all that much. I don't want to be special. I just want to be like everyone else."

Mamaw seemed horrified at this declaration. "Don't ever say that!" she exclaimed.

"Why?" Rayellen asked innocently.

"Ya just shouldn't," Mamaw replied, "He's done a lot for me and, if ya believe and are faithful, He'll do a lot for ya to." Then she softened slightly. "Ya'll see. Ya'll be thankful someday. As for now, want to help me to make biscuits?"

Rayellen couldn't help but smile. She loved watching Mamaw cook, so helping her was quite a treat. Yet, as she used her small hands to form the biscuits, she was still confused. Maybe Mommy would have more answers later.

Although it was late when her mother arrived home, Rayellen was still awake. She had been laying in the small bed she shared with her mother, but her mind was too consumed with questions to be tired. Quietly, she crawled from the bed and crept to the door. However, when she had opened the door a bit she saw her mommy talking to Mamaw. She closed the door so that was only slightly open, hoping that they wouldn't notice as she listened to them.

"I don't know what I'm goin' to do," Elizabeth complained.

"Most men aren't gonna want a woman who's already been married," Mamaw confirmed, "I warned ya not to marry Robert."

"Oh, Ma" Elizabeth moaned, "there's no use to go on about it. I married him and I can't change that now."

"But ya are going to have to face facts, Lizbeth," Mamaw insisted, "Men don't want to marry a woman who's already known a man and they don't want to raise some other's man's child."

Elizabeth's turned away suddenly, which seemed to surprise her mother. "Ya are tellin' them about Rayella, aren't ya?" Mamaw asked.

"How can I?" Elizabeth demanded, "It's hard enough to admit I was married before, but to tell them I'm the ma of the 'blue youngin'?"

"Lizbeth!"

"Well, it's true. Lord knows, I love Rayellen and I think she's beautiful. But other people…"

"Look," Mamaw began, "Ya need a husband, plain and simple. It ain't proper for a woman to try to raise a child on her own. It won't be easy, but ya have to try, for Rayellen's sake."

"I know," Elizabeth consented.

"Speakin' of Rayellen," Mamaw added, "she had quite a rough day at school and she came home with some rather tough questions."

Rayellen turned away from the door. She had gotten out of bed to hear the very discussion that was beginning, but she no longer wanted to listen. She was afraid of what she would learn.

As she climbed back in bed, hot tears burned down her cheeks. Her own mother was embarrassed of her? How could she ever expect the kids in school to accept her if her own mother did not. Mamaw's talk of being special no longer rang true in her ears. She began to wonder if you could believe anything that anyone said. Finally, her tears tapered off, but the pain did not waver.

Her mother came to bed sometime later. She whispered goodnight to her daughter as she crawled under the cover. She had no idea that her daughter was still awake.

Or that a small piece of Rayellen's heart had hardened.

I never realized what a huge project this was going to be, but I just finished chapter 5 and Rayellen's only in first grade. Still, I like the way this is going. What's strange, I never originally planned to have the scene with Elizabeth and her mother talking until I began writing this chapter. I had planned to have Elizabeth gone and looking for a new husband when Rayellen gets home, but I didn't know how to introduce it. I hope this turned out okay. I guess it seems strange in a way since both Elizabeth and her mother are struggling against stereotypes, yet they seem to have their fair share (i.e. Elizabeth must get remarried, etc.)