Chapter 6

"Why do you need all these buildings if you don't live in them?"

"You're literally dumber than a rock," Ama says. "We choose to live in the real world. The real world has stores."

"I've never been to a store," I say, feeling a little tendril of excitement growing inside me.

"Shocking," Ama says. "Seeing as how you're basically a bog hag who knows nothing except how to wrestle alligators and catch fish. Now

stop asking so many questions. You're making my head hurt."

Despite her nastiness, I let the first smile I've felt all day form on my face. Things are bad, but that doesn't mean there's not good in the world. Mama never let me come to town, even when she went to get supplies every few seasons. She said it wasn't safe. But I don't feel scared today. The cars are a little intimidating, but they seem to follow predictable patterns when I watch them on the road, and I think I can escape them if I stay out of their way, like Ama said.