Then we'll all get off to sleep."
"Mama, lem'me get in yours and Papa's bed."
"Not tonight." Mama turned down the covers.
"Just for a little while?"
"No, no. You're supposed to sleep with Mierd."
I climbed in while Mama was fluffing up my pillow. "Remember
your prayer."
"I will, Mama."
Papa and Mama watched the fire and talked for a long
time-about a letter from my married sister Gertie, and about
Clyde and Walker finally coming home from the war.
Papa said, "You know, Nannie, I'm in hopes Walker will stay
on here at home and plant a crop, come spring."
"Me too. It'd be a sad mistake for him and his wife to settle
in town and him take up public work."
"Yeah. Working for the other fellow's no good. Besides, town
ain't a fit place to live-folks all crowded together! A man needs
room for his own shade tree if he's to stand the heat of the
day."
"Trouble is, you can't tell young folks nothing. They've got to
find out things for themselves."
Papa was quiet for a while. Then he said, "Nannie, I wasn't
aiming to tell you, but I reckon I'd better.
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