Out of the Dust Poverty Quotes Page 1

Livie / helped clean up her own party, / wiping spilled lemonade, / gathering sandwich crusts, / sweeping cookie crumbs from the floor, / while the rest of us went home / to study for semester reviews. (3.5)

This might look like a huge act of selflessness, but it's also terribly sad. Because Livie's going away to California—and facing a very uncertain future—there's no point in her going home with everyone else to study. Instead she stays behind to clean up. It's a painful reminder that because of her family's condition, education will probably be an inconsistent part of her childhood from this point forward.