Summary

The story opens in a hair salon somewhere in Mississippi in 1941. A hairdresser, Leota, is tending to a customer, Mrs. Fletcher. Leota and her husband Fred used to rent a room in their house to two friends of theirs (named Sal and Joe.) Leota says that she and Fred had an argument with Sal and Joe, so Sal and Joe moved out. Leota and Fred now rent the room to a married couple: Mr. and Mrs. Pike. Leota and Fred are friends with the Pikes, who are from New Orleans. Leota describes Mrs. Pike as attractive and observant. Leota then mentions that, recently, a customer in the hair salon gossiped that Mrs. Fletcher might be pregnant. Mrs. Fletcher becomes angry and indignant about the gossip. She also furtively admits to Leota that she (Mrs. Fletcher) is indeed pregnant.

Mrs. Fletcher calls out to Thelma...