Status Updates From The House on Coliseum Street

"People moved about because of her, but not including her." "She didn't know what to do."

She's pregnant by Michael, Doris's ex. They have talked but she hasn't decided what to do.

Silly girl, living in her head and waiting. For what?

Looking back, the way women deferred to men as if they were gods really infuriates me. So glad I wasn't a young, marriageable girl at this time.

The scene is set now we go back to the beginning.

So much folklore (for lack of a better word) gone by. Who now knows that camphor trees were planted as protection against yellow fever. Or that a sweet olive was planted by the front gate so people would tear off a sprig to bring in the house before a funeral where the corpse could be found lying in state in the parlor?

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