Laura slowly goes inside the cage and sits down, still crying. Then James' dad slams the door closed and locks it and says: "You're also not getting any supper as part of your punishment." Then he walks away and sits down in his lazy boy chair and downs another bottle.
Then Laura starts saying: "I didn't deserve this? Did I do something to anger God? Did Pa, Ma, or Mary do something to anger him? Or is this his way of trying to get Nellie to be nice to me and Mrs. Olson to be nice to Ma and Pa?"
"SHUT UP!" James' dad shouts at her. Then, because he had too much to drink, he passes out in his chair.
Laura just ignores him and keeps saying: I miss Ma. I miss Pa. I miss Mary. And Carrie. And Mrs. Beatle. And Reverend Alden. And Walnut Grove. And Mr. Olson. And all of my friends. And Doc. Baker. I even miss Willie, Mrs. Olson, and Nellie. Even when Nellie was mean to me and Mary. I'd rather that every day than this.
"Why did this happen to me?"
"All I want is to go home. I want to go home." Then she starts crying again. "I want to go home."