Maggie makes this sound when Dee gets out of the car: Maggie and Mama are then able to clearly see who she is with and what she is wearing. Mama describes the sound as being a sucking in of breath, "like when you see . . . a snake" just ahead of you on the road. This gives us some indication of what this sound represents for Maggie. Something has taken her by surprise, and it is not a good surprise. She did not expect to see what she is seeing, and she is now afraid and uncertain of how to proceed.

This is typical behavior for Maggie, who, unlike her sister, has a "shuffling way" about her and a tendency to hang back. She is not a bold personality. Her "unnnh" sound of uncertainty indicates a strong sense that something is new, unexpected, and not right about her sister. Mama deduces that Maggie is shocked by her sister's hair, which has been left to grow naturally and stands up "like the wool on a sheep." It is indicative of how well Mama understands her hesitant younger daughter that she is able to make these inferences, knowing immediately what it is that has captured Maggie's attention.