The Little Friend

The next morning, Hely’s dad asks him where his bike is, and Hely realizes he left it near Eugene’s apartment. Harriet’s mother makes her toast for breakfast, which is a rarity. Ida is there but at first is quiet. She then asks why Harriet “told on” her, considering how good she is to Harriet and Allison. Ida knows that Harriet was mad at her for not staying late to tell her stories, but Ida has work to do at her own house at night. Harriet feels guilty and goes to work in Ida’s garden, hoping to please her. She can’t find the red gloves that Ida gave her as a present—the only one because she has little money. Hely appears and says they need to retrieve the bikes, but Harriet is too focused on the gloves and Ida; she says she’ll go later.

Harriet picks some vegetables from the garden and brings them to Ida. Ida ignores this and instead remarks that Charlotte says she does a bad job, but this is not Ida’s fault because of Charlotte’s messiness and hoarding. Also, Libby pays Odean $35 a week for less work than Ida is expected to do for $20 a week.