The color purple: Alice Walker: Chapter 3
Nettie is here with us. She runs away from home. She says she hates to leave our stepma, but she had to get out, maybe fine help for the other little ones. The boys are alright, she says. They can stay out of his way. When they get big they gon fight him. Maybe kill, I say. How is it with you and Mr. ____? she asked.
But she got eyes. He still likes her. In the evening he comes out on the porch in his Sunday best. She is sitting there with me shelling peas or helping the children with the spelling.
Helping me with spelling and everything else she thinks I need to know.
No matter what happens, Nettie steadily tries to teach me what goes on in the world.
And she is a good teacher too. It nearly kills me to think she might marry somebody like Mr. _____ or wind up in some white lady's kitchen.