The door thudded shut behind Alice, breaking her out of the hateful glare she focused on the dress. Betty brushed past her into the kitchen, shaking her head, still radiating anger. Alice caught movement, realized Rose had been there the whole time.
Watching her watch the dress.
"Imagine the nerve of that woman." Betty crossed her arms over her chest, cheeks flushed with anger. "Like she owns the whole neighborhood."
Rose murmured something softly comforting, while her gaze dropped from Alice to the dress slumped over the stool.
"You're going to the formal, Alice?" Rose's deep voice lilted the question.
Alice shook her head, violently, back and forth, her stringy dark hair whipping her cheeks. But Betty's scowl made her stop.
"Of course you are," she snapped. "After the afternoon we
