The Book of Ruth

The tranquility of their first few months with the baby has worn off, leaving Ruth, May, and Ruby more irritable with each other than ever. On days when Ruth alone is working, May insists on caring for Justy, leaving Ruby to wash the diapers. May still complains of his ineptitude even in this realm. When Ruth returns from work at the Trim ‘N Tidy, she occasionally waits on the porch to listen to their interactions. May’s unreserved and explicit bitterness towards Ruby leads him both to drinking more, smoking marijuana, and watching television into the night. Ruth cannot understand his reluctance to sleep, and, with her characteristic charity, attributes his slow processing speed and consistent faux pas at work to his recreational drug use. Ruby, on the other hand, won’t understand why Ruth herself won’t try smoking marijuana. She admits to having given up smoking altogether upon becoming a mother.

One day in the summer, Ruby comes home from work early owing to slow business at the Trim ‘N Tidy. Eager to play with Justy, he wakes his son up from a nap. May is furious at Ruby for causing the baby to cry, and her own yelling makes Justy wail even louder.