"Well, I made up my mind to have at the least a dress that wasn't the sacking I worked in. So I tookto stealing fabric, and wound up with a dress you wouldn't believe. The top was from two pillowcases in her mending basket. The front of the skirt was a dresser scarf a candle fell on and burnt ahole in, and one of her old sashes we used to test the flatiron on. Now the back was a problem forthe longest time. Seem like I couldn't find a thing that wouldn't be missed right away. Because Ihad to take it apart afterwards and put all the pieces back where they were. Now Halle was patient,waiting for me to finish it. He knew I wouldn't go ahead without having it. Finally I took themosquito netting from a nail out the barn. We used it to strain jelly through. I washed it and soakedit best I could and tacked it on for the back of the skirt. And there I was, in the worst-looking gownyou could imagine. Only my wool shawl kept me from looking like a haint peddling. I wasn't butfourteen years old, so I reckon that's why Iwas so proud of myself.
"Anyhow, Mrs. Garner must have seen me in it. I thought I was stealing smart, and she kneweverything I did. Even our honeymoon: going down to the cornfield with Halle. That's where wewent first. A Saturday afternoon it was. He begged sick so he wouldn't have to go work in townthat day. Usually he worked Saturdays and Sundays to pay off Baby Suggs' freedom. But hebegged sick and I put on my dress and we walked into the corn holding hands. I can still smell the ears roasting yonder where the Pauls and Sixo was. Next day Mrs. Garner crooked her finger at meand took me upstairs to her bedroom. She opened up a wooden box and took out a pair of crystalearrings. She said, 'I want you to have these, Sethe.' I said, 'Yes, ma'am.' 'Are your ears pierced?'she said.
I said, 'No, ma'am.' 'Well do it,' she said, 'so you can wear them. I want you to have themand I want you and Halle to be happy.' I thanked her but I never did put them on till I got awayfrom there. One day after I walked into this here house Baby Suggs unknotted my underskirt andtook em out. I sat right here by the stove with Denver in my arms and let her punch holes in myears for to wear them."