Vera's sleeping with her head on her brother's shoulder and his arm around her, her empty hamster cage sitting on her lap. His jacket is drawn across her, and his head is resting against the top of hers.

"Did you and Malcolm find Isaiah," Judith asks, and he looks at her reflection in the rearview, catching her eyes. He nods.

"He admitted to it, so we roughed him up." She snickers into a smirk, and their mother shakes her head.

"You know how I feel about fighting," she interjects, and Judith rolls her eyes.

"I know you don't like it, but remember you said since I'm the oldest, I gotta look after her?" Sheryl laughs, and it resembles a scoff. She shakes her head again.

"Go to sleep," she tells him, and he and Judith share a glance, flashing a smile at each other before he shuts his eyes. "We'll be home soon."

After a while of silence, Judith asks, "Are you okay?"

Sheryl looks at her, then at the road in a swift motion. She opens her mouth, then exhales.

"I'll be better when we get home." She glances in her side mirror at Stacey and Robbie's car trailing behind them.

"I just asked because – I don't know, I figured you'd like to talk about some stuff," Judith explains, and Sheryl knits her brows at her.

"What's there to talk about? I'm fine. If anyone should be worried, it should be me. You've been acting stranger than I have." Judith looks at her dashboard. "Now, would you like to talk?"

"Never mind. I'm going to sleep." Judith folds her arms across her chest for warmth and shuts her eyes.

They pass wilted trees and acres of snow covering their stems down to what once was flourishing grass. The moon and stars guide them down the gloomy road of potholes and signs, warning them of deer and the hunters after them.

When they exit the long forest-like path, Sheryl discovers a gas station up ahead. She veers into the entrance, her wheels rumbling the car as it passes over potholes. Vera leans off her brother, and he sits up straight.

Stacey and Robbie hesitantly follow her, sharing a worried glance like Stevie and Judith.

"Mom, are you sure this is safe," Judith asks as Sheryl turns the Citroen with the car's left against the pump.

"Do y'all need to use the bathroom?" She looks at her youngest's reflections, but Judith scans the parking lot of beer bottles, cigarette ends, and mostly darkness.

Stevie does the same, but though he doesn't see much, he shakes his head. His stomach is as tight as Judith's, both hungry and needing a bathroom. Sheryl looks at Vera, and when she nods, she turns to Judith.

"Stevie says he doesn't have to but take him anyway." He emits a sound like a mixture of an incredulous gasp and scoff, his eyes wide. "Get twenty dollars out of my purse for nabs and gas."

"Ma, I don't trust this," Judith says, and they turn their heads as Robbie walks along the right side of the car. He taps Judith's window, and she spins the crane to roll it down. He leans against her door, peering through the curve.

"Hey, I needed gas, so I'm sending Judy in to pay for it and let the kids use the bathroom." He looks past their trunk at the flickering, dim neon sign.

"Yeah, I think there's another one up the road," he says, returning his attention to his mother-in-law. "I just get a bad feeling about this place."

"Well – I'm sorry, but if we don't run into another, we'll be pushing ourselves to Florence." Robbie sighs and stands up.

"Alright, but I'll go with the kids. I don't feel right about sending a lady and some children anywhere alone. Especially when we're in Dixieland." He stands beside the roaring hood as Judith steps out of the car.

She bends toward her seat and yanks it toward the dash by the shoulders. When it bends forward, Stevie climbs across and out of the car with Vera close behind, carrying his coat.

Judith's wearing a black swing dress tight over her chest and stomach but flowing at the hips, identical to Vera's. Robbie shuts her door and walks behind them to the front entrance.

He, Judith, and Stevie stare at the Confederate flag hanging in the window between the neon sign and the cigarette pricing poster.

Vera jerks the handle, and Stevie lifts his arm over her to grip the side of the door. He holds it open for his sisters, and Robbie takes his place, allowing him to step behind Judy.

Vera begins to walk toward the lanky strawberry-blond clerk, but Judith sits her hand on her chest and pushes her back. She approaches him instead.

"Where's your bathroom?" She looks through the glass at the other skinny white man as he scoots his rolling chair toward the cashier.

"It's closed," he announces from his chair, his deep blue eyes full of scorn in contrast to the doe ones of the man beside him.

"Okay, well, I'd like to pay for ice cream for my sister and brother, and gas for our car," she says, and the men share a glance. Stevie follows his sister to the colorful freezer against the wall.

"Our popsicle machine is closed for the winter." Stevie pushes the door aside, and the white air whooshes past them. Vera hands him his coat, and as she leans forward, he tosses it across his left shoulder.

Judith looks at Robbie, and he turns his head to Stevie. Vera takes an ice cream sandwich in her left hand and asks, "Which one do you want?"

"Stevie, is there anything in there?" He and his sister look at their brother-in-law with narrowed eyes.

"You calling him stupid?" The clerk in the chair sniggers at Vera's question, the other lowers his eyes, and Robbie sighs.

"Yeah, there's some ice cream in here," Stevie answers, then Judith and Robbie turn to the white men. "Vera, grab me one of them Slam Bang boxes, please."

"How much for two ice creams and gas," Robbie asks, standing next to Judy. He takes his light brown leather wallet out of his slacks, and as he slips out a fifty-dollar bill, Judith's eyes widen toward the Citroen.

I left the money.

He slides the bill across the counter with his eyes trained on the talkative one who's running his fingers through his mullet.

Vera carries the ice creams to them, and Stevie slides the door shut. He lifts the dollar, then opens the register.

"Take the kids to the bathroom." Vera sets the Batman and Robin box, and ice cream sandwich wrapper on the counter, then strolls to the back with Stevie.

Judith follows them to the narrow hall, but there's only one bathroom. Vera taps the door, then Stevie bangs against it when no one answers. He opens the door and turns to Vera, shutting it behind her as she flicks the light on.

The pair stand against the wall across from the door, and Stevie bites his lower lip in thought. Robbie peeks around the bend, and they turn their heads to him.

"I'm gonna go fill up. Come out when you're done, and you'll get your stuff from Sheryl." They nod and watch him walk away, then look at the door.

"So," Stevie drones, grasping her attention for that moment. "When we get back, are you calling David?"

"Why would I do that," she asks, pleating her brows.

"To let him know you moved on." Judith looks from left to right, then at him, so he elaborates, "I know you got eyes for that guy that came by."

She snickers as she rests her head against the wall. It's the first time he's seen her genuinely happy in a while, and he can't help but crack a smile. She licks her lips and clears her throat.

"I liked you better when you weren't so observant and mature." Stevie chuckles and rolls his eyes.

"Judy?" She steps toward the door, her smile fading at the quivering of her little sister's voice.

"Yeah, what's wrong," Judith asks through the slit. When she doesn't answer, Judy opens it a crack and sees Vera sitting on the toilet with her black dress sitting at her black wedges. She's staring at the crotch of her lowered underwear, where there's a small red stain.

They meet each other's gaze, and tears form on Vera's lashes. She shudders, choking over the question struggling to come over the lump in her throat.

"Am I dying," she asks, and Judith sighs.

"Okay, no, you're not dying. Put them in the sink, and I'll be right back." She shuts the door and turns to Stevie. He's staring at her in confusion over the situation, but she strolls past him.

"Excuse me!" Judith stops at the glass, and the quiet man approaches the register. He leans against the counter and smiles at her.

"How can I help you," he asks. The other man slides toward him in the rolling chair, a cigarette between his lips and a lucky strikes box in hand.

"I need a box of lady – things." The men look at each other, then at her. The clerk raises a brow. "Do you sell pads?"

"We're out." Judith stares into the kind eyes across from her. He nudges his chin toward the rack by the bathroom.

"Grab a box over yonder." The other sucks the end of the cigarette, and it glows orange. "I'll cover the costs."

"The hell – did you say?" He takes it from his mouth and coughs grey smoke. His face burns red as he struggles to control his lungs. Judith darts down the aisle as the men turn to each other. "We don't make enough as it is, and you're throwing money out for every colored person who comes crawling in here? Dad would be turning over in his grave if he saw you!"

She takes a box of Modess and walks it to the hall. Stevie glances at it, then at Judy as she steps into the bathroom. Vera's leaning against the basin, staring at her sweaty reflection and gripping the sides of the sink in her clammy hands.

"When'd this start?" She sits the box on top of the napkin dispenser and turns the knobs, pouring hot water.

"Last year while you were in the hospital." Vera sniffles, her nose red. Judith squeezes the underwear, the crimson draining with the water. "Momma was so upset about you leaving, and Daddy was always working."

"So, who helped you when it came on?" She doesn't respond. Judith takes the cloth in both hands and scrubs each side together, scraping more blood off. "Did you tell Stacey?"

"Judy, I was alone while you were gone, okay," she snaps, then bursts into tears. Blubbering like an inconsolable infant, she says, "I just threw away my clothes when I messed them up and put on new ones. I thought it would stop after that one time, but it just keeps coming back, and I don't know what to do anymore."

"Well, for right now, you'll have to wear these," Judith tells her, then shuts the water off.

"What? They're wet, and it's freezing outside!" She wraps the underwear and twists the excess water down the drain.

"I know, but there's not much else we can do until we get home." She lifts the damp material between them, and Vera stares at it with her mouth and nose scrunched.

"Fine." She takes them in her hands, and Judith lifts the box. As she peels it open, Vera holds her underthings low and steps into them. "Are you gonna tell Mom?"

"Should I?" She extends a pad in wrapping paper to her younger sister, who quickly shakes her head at her question. "Then no, I won't tell her. Put this where you saw the blood and step into the hall when you're finished."

Vera takes the sanitary napkin and steps behind the door before she opens it. When the door shuts behind Judith, she steps beside Stevie. He's lightly scratching his jacket's arm and staring at the box in her hands.

"Is Vera okay?" They meet each other's gaze as Robbie turns the corner.

"Judy, your mother's getting impatient," he says, then stops when he notices what she's holding. He looks at her, and she motions her eyes toward the door. "Oh, okay. Um, I'll give you some money to pay for it, and I'll just tell Sheryl what happened."

"No, don't worry about the money, and don't tell my mom." He furrows his brows. "Vera doesn't want Mom to know, and the guy said he'll cover the costs."

"Yeah? Well, I'll keep this from Sheryl," he begins, taking his wallet out of his pocket. They watch him take out a twenty and offer it to her. "But don't accept charity from those kinds of people."

Vera steps out of the bathroom as Judith takes the money, and Robbie sticks his wallet back in his pocket. Her tear-laden face is red and puffy, and her bun is askew with curls around the edges of her hair sticking to her.

"Stop staring at me," Vera fusses at her brother. Stevie walks toward her and wraps his jacket around her waist, tying the arms in front of her. Vera looks at him when he stands up straight, and as her face scrunches, she sniffles.

He takes her hand and guides her toward the front of the store, with Robbie following behind. Judith strolls around the side, and as they exit the building, she returns to the counter.

He's leaning next to the register, writing on a notepad with a pen.

"Excuse me?" He looks over the top of the book and smiles. He stands at his post, and she says, "I'd like to pay for it."

She sits the money between them, but before she returns her arm to her side, he sets his hand on the bill, and their fingers touch.