<P> The two girls turn out to be "more alike than unalike ." They were both "dumped" there . They become allies against the "big girls on the second floor" (whom they call "gar - girls," a name they get from mishearing the word "gargoyle"), as well as against the home's "real orphans," the children whose parents have died . They share a fascination with Maggie, the old, sandy - colored woman "with legs like parentheses" who works in the home's kitchen and who can't speak . </P> <P> Twyla and Roberta are reminded of their differences on the Sunday that each of their mothers comes to visit and attend church with them . Twyla's mother Mary is dressed inappropriately; Roberta's mother, wearing an enormous cross on her even more enormous chest . Mary offers her hand, but Roberta's mother refuses to shake Mary's hand and Mary begins cursing . Twyla experiences twin humiliations: her mother's inappropriate behavior shames her, and she feels slighted by Roberta's mother's refusal . </P> <P> Twyla and Roberta meet again eight years later during the 1960s, when Twyla is "working behind the counter at the Howard Johnson's on the Thruway" and Roberta is sitting in a booth with, "two guys smothered in head and facial hair ." Roberta and her friends are on their way to the west coast to keep an appointment with Jimi Hendrix . The episode is brief but long enough for the two to show resentment towards each other . </P> <P> The third time Twyla and Roberta meet is 12 years after they first met at St. Bonnys . They are both married and meet while shopping at the Food Emporium, a new gourmet grocery store . Twyla describes the encounter as a complete opposite of their last . They get along well and share memories of the past . Roberta is rich and Twyla is lower middle class . Twyla is married to a firefighter; Roberta is married to an IBM executive . </P>

Where do twyla and roberta meet up for the first time after twyla leaves the orphanage