What’s your opinion of Becca’s living arrangements in Nachez? Would you have stayed once you knew more about the residence?
She didn’t have a job or much money. The place was a brothel, yes, but apparently safe. Where else was she going to go? Yes I would have stayed.
I understood her anxiety but the place was safe and Drew the other boarder was helpful and caring - where else could she go with no money, then no car, no job - Jill cared for Evie out of love - yes, I’d have stayed.
Becca had no other options. If I was in the same circumstances I also would have stayed,
I would have stayed. She really had no where else to go. Her room and Drew’s room were away from the brothel area which helped. She felt like she had no other options.
I probably would have stayed. Becca found warmth and support from Drew and from Jill. I might have worried more though when Jill told Becca that Bett had said renting to Becca and her daughter was a favor to an old friend.
She had no choice. She had no money or another place to do. Yes, I would as long as I felt safe in the room at night. Living on the street must be pure Hell. This was a warm and safe room.
Becca did not really have a choice. I remember that when Drew saw the amount she was paying, he was surprised how little it was. This told us something was suspicious but also that Becca could not even afford the rate that was charged at a brothel apartment!
I felt like Becca didn’t have a choice at the time, and she seemed to deal with it fairly well. The shock for me was that it was all set up by Mildred in order to grab Evie. I don’t think a “house of ill repute” was that unusual during the depression.
1 Like
Becca did try to get away by going to nursing school. And her life would have been so different if she had left. But you do what you have to do when your choices are limited and it isn’t like Becca and Evie were really exposed to what was happening in the other part of the house.
1 Like
At first, Becca didn’t know about the “house of ill-repute”. She was somewhat in a bind when she found out what was really going on. Becca was accepting of the women once she knew them even if she was uncomfortable with their occupation. She had compassion for them and their choices. Becca tried to get work in order to get better housing but that didn’t work out so in desperation she went to nursing school leaving Evie at the children’s home until things could better.
1 Like
I think Becca took the only route that was open to her. Jobs were not available because of the Depression, other rents were more than she could afford, the place was clean and provided a private entrance so did not have to interact with the other boarders. In her position, I would have done the same thing.
1 Like
Given her life circumstances, she needed to stay there. She was safe and protected. And i think i would have stayed. Sometimes we end up places we dont necessarily choose but they turn.out to be the right choice.
I probably would have stayed because there was no other affordable alternative and Evie was in a safe place. She made the best out of an ethical dilemma, which enabled her to get her life together.
Becca was between a rock and a hard place. She really had no other option. I would have stayed but I am an adventurous sort.
I think she was lucky to have such a place to live, where people were friendly toward her and her daughter. I understand that she could not live there forever, but even staying a bit longer would have been ok, except for Mildred….
1 Like
Becca didn’t have a lot of choices. She did what she felt she needed to. In doing so, she met a kind man as well as a sweet girl to help take for the little one while she looked for work. After learning, she was upset but also had had no problems at the house so why would she leave it. I think I would have done the same thing.
Bett tried to keep the truth from Becca by having a strict schedule and had the doll not been forgotten Becca might have gone even longer without knowing what was going on in the other part of the house. In the situation Becca was in, no money and no job, this was a great opportunity to get away from Rodney. Little did we know why her rent was so cheap. Yes, if I had been in those circumstances, I would have stayed there. She had a wonderful friend in Drew and in Jill.
Becca and Evie were safe there and as others have commented, with no job prospects or cash on hand, what other choice did she have. The other residents were friendly and genuinely cared about Becca and Evie.