Their Eyes Were Watching God, Chapter 15

"A little seed of fear was growing into a tree."(Hurston, 1937)

A heavy set girl named Nunkie began to flirt with Tea Cake and play around with him alot. Janie and the other workers saw this and she was becoming afraid that she would lose him. She was jealous and started to wonder about the two. her insecurites were small at first, then they grew larger and larger until she finally couldn't take it anymore.

"She ain't good for nothin' exceptin' tuh set up in uh corner by de kitchen stove and break wood over her head. You'se something tuh make uh man forgit tuh git old and forgit tuh die."(Hurston, 1937)

Tea cake was saying how Nunkie meant nothing to him and how he never loved her. She flirted with him but he had no interest in her what-so-ever. he compare the two by saying Nunkie doesn't do much of anything and janie is special enough to make a man forget about everything. he was saying that when he is with her, nothing else around them matters at all.