Question

lock both doors on her side of the car. the smile nola gives mrs. dietrich across the cars roof is careless and beautiful and takes mrs. dietrichs breath away.

7 the march morning tastes of grit with an undercurrent of something acrid,² chemical; inside the mall, beneath the first of the elegant brass - buttressed³ glass domes, the air is fresh and tonic,⁴ circulating from invisible vents. the mall is crowded, rather noisy — it is saturday morning — but a feast for the eyes after that long trip on route 12. tall slender trees grow out of the mosaic - tiled pavement; there are beds of easter lilies, daffodils, jonquils, tulips of all colors. mrs. dietrich smiles with relief. she senses that nola too is relieved, cheered. its like coming home.

8 the shopping excursions began when nola was a small child but did not acquire their special significance until she was twelve or thirteen years old and capable of serious, sustained shopping with her mother. this was about the time when mr. dietrich moved out of the house and back into their old apartment building in the city — a separation, hed called it initially, to give them perspective, though mrs. dietrich had no illusions about what \perspective\ would turn out to entail — so the shopping trips were all the more significant. not that mrs. dietrich and nola spent very much money; they really didnt, really they didnt, when compared to friends and neighbors.

9 at seventeen nola is shrewd and discerning as a shopper, not easy to please, knowledgeable as a mature woman about certain aspects of fashion, quality merchandise, good stores. her closets, like mrs.

paragraph 6

1. what can you infer about nolas point of view about talking with her mother? use evidence to support your thinking.

Explanation:

We can infer that Nola values talking with her mother through their shared shopping trips, which became a meaningful bond after her parents' separation. The text notes the shopping excursions gained "special significance" when Nola was 12-13, right after her father moved out. These trips were not about spending money but about connection, and as a teen, Nola remains engaged in this ritual, showing the time talking and shopping with her mother is a source of comfort and a key part of their relationship.

Answer:

Nola views talking with her mother (through their shopping trips) as a meaningful, comforting bond that became an important anchor after her parents' separation. Evidence includes:

1. The shopping trips gained "special significance" when Nola was 12-13, coinciding with her father moving out, framing the time together as a supportive ritual.
2. As a 17-year-old, Nola remains a dedicated, engaged shopping partner with her mother, showing she still values this shared time and conversation.