Religiously watching
Nylor writes, “Miranda’s never been much on television, but she started watching this show religiously once she found out it was based in Chicago. It gave her an idea of the kind of people Cocoa was living around since she’d moved north.” The loaded term ‘religiously’ depicts Miranda’s devoutness to the TV program which edifies her about Cocoa’s probable atmosphere and lifestyle. Miranda would not be absorbed in the show if Cocoa were in another town.
“Bottomless Pit”
Naylor writes, “She (Willa) knew that high-society marriage was all bound to come to no good. Just before Hope passed, she’d sent them little Willa’s wedding picture. Miranda remembers the face on Willa’s husband- like a bottomless pit- and shudders.” The allegorical ‘bottomless pit’ accentuates the unbounded hollowness which is evident on the face of Milla’s husband. Such hollowness is indicative of Willa's doomed reality.
Molasses
Miranda asserts, “She (Cocoa) better get a husband first, and she’s been slow as molasses about that. You ( Bernice) done beat her out long ago on that score.” The emblematic molasses emphasizes Cocoa’s sluggishness in finding a spouse which would elicit her motherhood. Obviously, Miranda is concerned that Cocoa is not yet wedded, for she is of a marriageable age.
