Lives of Girls and Women

As Del continues high school, Naomi does not take the same classes as her anymore because she chooses to take the “Commercial” courses over the academic ones. Around this time, Naomi begins an office job at the local creamery. Naomi asks Del to visit her at her job, and Del does so, believing that Naomi will still play around with her. However, she discovers that “Naomi’s nails were coral” and that she is wearing a new outfit with her hair fixed (196). Del thinks Naomi is acting unlike herself and feels as though she does not fit in with Naomi and her coworkers. Soon, Naomi’s coworkers begin to hang out with the two girls at Naomi’s house, and Del does not like to engage in their conversations about hair care and makeup.

Naomi prepares for marriage and motherhood, and she meets an older man, Bert, who is around 28. He bets she cannot attend the Gay-la Dance Hall with him. Naomi’s parents do not pay too much attention to what she does and goes with him anyway, and she wants to bring Del along with her. Del feels obligated to go, and at the dance, she meets Clive.