Sold by Patricia McCormick Pgs 51-84;Critic

Lakshmi's stepfather takes her to Bajai sita's store and lets the woman Lakshmi saw at the Festival of Lights-Auntie-to look at her and find a price to pay for Lakshmi to work in the city as a maid.  Her stepfather asks for 1000 rupees for Lakshmi.  However Auntie says she has no hips and "is as plain as porridge" and gives Lakshmi's stepfather 500 rupees instead.  Lakshmi doesn't understand since her looks doesn't matter for working as a maid.  Auntie and Lakshmi leave passing many villages.  Soon they stop and get a ride with two men.  When they reach a city they take a bus from there.  They get of a bus and go in a hut.  There, Auntie makes Lakshmi change into a "long flowing gown with tight shoes" as described by Lakshmi.  Then she is sold over again to a man who auntie says will be her "Uncle," but she has to pretend he's her husband to cross the border.  After crossing the border they take a train.  When Lakshmi needs to use the bathroom she has to go to the back with a lot of other women, squats down like the rest and lift her dress and relieves herself right there in the open.  As she walks back she sees a horrible scene.  A girl who's head had just been shaved was crouched down on the floor weeping with men around her.  Lakshmi's Uncle, Husband was among them.  A fat man was throwing gravel and cigarette butts and spitting at her.  Lakshmi's Uncle, Husband said "That's what she gets for running away from her husband.  Stupid girl."  Lakshmi doesn't understand any of this and is confused.