1. valise (noun):

suitcase or travel bag

“She had her big black valise that looked like the head of a hippopotamus in one corner, and underneath it she was hiding a basket with Pitty Sing, the cat, in it.” (Page 12)

2. asphyxiate (verb):

kill someone by depriving them of oxygen

“She didn’t intend for the cat to be left alone in the house for three days because he would miss her too much and she was afraid he might brush against one of the gas burners and accidentally asphyxiate himself.” (Page 12)

3. britches (noun):

pants or trousers that end above the knee

“‘He didn’t have any britches on,’ June Star said.” (Page 13)

4. maiden (adjective):

young or unmarried

“She said once when she was a maiden lady she had been courted by a Mr. Edgar Atkins Teagarden from Jasper, Georgia.” (Page 14)

5. nickelodeon (noun):

coin-operated machine that plays music; old-fashioned jukebox

“They all sat down at a board table next to the nickelodeon and Red Sam’s wife, a tall burnt-brown woman with hair and eyes lighter than her skin, came and took their order.