"I ain't bothering anybody, am I ?" "Don't say 'ain't,' say 'isn't.'" For once in her patient life the mother flamed into open rebellion.
"Don't 'don't' me!" she cried.

"You're gettin' the 'don't' habit off Miz' Ring an' nothin' I say or do is right any more.

You mind your own 'isn'ts' an' I'll handle my 'ain'ts.' I got places where I go an' things I do an' I don't bother nobody.

I guess we got enough money so I can do things I want to, as long as I don't bother nobody." "Why don't you take Pa along?
He'd go, then people--" "Mind your own business!" the old woman snapped.

She flounced out of the room, leaving Allie amazed and indignant at this burst of temper.
That day Ma Briskow abandoned her mountain fastness.