The Color Purple by Alice Walker

to git a mechanic, and at five o’clock I was driving Miz Millie’s car back to her house.
    I spent fifteen minutes with my children.
    And she been going on for months bout how ungrateful I is.
    White folks is a miracle of affliction, say Sofia.

DEAR GOD,
    Shug write she got a big surprise, and she intend to bring it home for Christmas.
    What it is? us wonder.
    Mr. _____ think it a car for him. Shug making big money now, dress in furs all the time. Silk and satin too, and hats made out of gold.
    Christmas morning us hear this motor outside the door. Us look out.
    Hot diggidy dog, say Mr. ____ throwing on his pants.
    He rush to the door. I stand in front the glass trying to make something out my hair. It too short to be long, too long to be short. Too nappy to be kinky, too kinky to be nappy. No set color to it either. I give up, tie on a headrag.
    I hear Shug cry, Oh, Albert. He say, Shug. I know they hugging. Then I don’t hear nothing.
    I run out the door. Shug, I say, and put out my arms. But before I know anything a skinny big toof man wearing red suspenders is all up in my face. Fore I can wonder whose dog he is, he hugging me.
    Miss Celie, he say. Aw, Miss Celie. I heard so much about you. Feel like we old friends.
    Shug standing back with a big grin.
    This Grady, she say. This my husband.
    The minute she say it I know I don’t like Grady. I don’t like his shape, I don’t like his teef, I don’t like his clothes. Seem like to me he smell.
    Us been driving all night, she say. Nowhere to stop, you know. But here us is. She come over to Grady and put her arms round him, look up at him like he cute and he lean down and give her a kiss.
    I glance round at Mr. ____. He look like the end of the world. I know I don’t look no better.
    And this my wedding present to us, say Shug. The car big and dark blue and say Packard on the front. Brand new, she say. She look at Mr. ____, take his arm, give it a little squeeze. While we here, Albert, she say, I want you to learn how to drive. She laugh. Grady drive like a fool, she say. I thought the polices was gonna catch us for sure.
    Finally Shug really seem to notice me. She come over and hug me a long time. Us two married ladies now, she say. Two married ladies. And hungry, she say. What us got to eat?

DEAR GOD,
    Mr. _____ drink all through Christmas. Him and Grady.
    Me and Shug cook, talk, clean the house, talk, fix up the tree, talk, wake up in the morning, talk.
    She singing all over the country these days. Everybody know her name. She know everybody, too. Know Sophie Tucker, know Duke Ellington, know folks I ain’t never heard of. And money. She make so much money she don’t know what to do with it. She got a fine house in Memphis, another car. She got one hundred pretty dresses. A room full of shoes. She buy Grady anything he think he want.
    Where you find him at? I ast.
    Up under my car, she say. The one at home. I drove it after the oil gave out, kilt the engine. He the man fixed it. Us took one look at one nother, that was it.
    Mr. _____ feelings hurt, I say. I don’t mention mine.
    Aw, she say. That old stuff finally over with. You and Albert feel just like family now. Anyhow, once you told me he beat you, and won’t work, I felt different about him. If you was my wife, she say, I’d cover you up with kisses stead of licks, and work hard for you too.
    He ain’t beat me much since you made him quit, I say. Just a slap now and then when he ain’t got nothing else to do.
    Yall make love any better? she ast.
    Us try, I say. He try to play with the button but feel like his fingers dry. Us don’t git nowhere much.
    You still a virgin? she ast.
    I reckon. I say.

DEAR GOD,
    Mr. _____ and Grady gone off in the car together. Shug ast me could she sleep with me. She cold in her and Grady bed all alone. Us talk bout this and that. Soon talk about making love. Shug don’t actually say making love. She say something nasty. She say fuck.
    She ast me, How was it with your