“Not yet,” Judy said.

“Her utility bill was ninety dollars higher than she expected this month.”

At two o’clock, Judy carried the coffeepot into the kitchen, and I followed her with four dessert plates.

The sink was full of soapy water, and the air smelled of canned peaches and fresh coffee.

“Kim called me crying Thursday evening,” Judy said, scraping a crumb of pie crust into the trash can.

“She bought new bedroom furniture for the boys with part of her money, but now her electric bill is two months behind.”