"
"Cotton don't burn as fast as that fire's going. It's blazing
like an old house made out of heart pine."
Papa gave the mules another slap with the lines.
"Jodie, what if it's the church? Who was supposed to tend the
heater last night after services?"
"Wallace Goode and Wiley. Son, did y'all douse it good with
water like we've always told you to do?"
"Yes, sir. Me and Wallace drowned it slap out! Say, maybe
it's the schoolhouse, and we won't have to go to school no more!"
"Son! You oughtn't to say such a thing!"
"I didn't mean it, Papa."
We wheeled around the last big curve in the road and began
climbing the high hill between us and the fire. Just as soon as
the mules could pull our wagon to the top, we'd see what was
burning up.
For a minute I wondered why nobody had said it might be
Papa's store. Then I knew. It was his store, and they all knew
it.
"Papa?"
"Yeah, Bandershanks?"
"I wish it ain't your store, Papa."
"Yeah, sugar, I know. Great Jehoshaphat and gully dirt! Look
at that! Nannie, look!"
We all saw it.
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