Prev | Current Page 188 | Next

Smith, Jewell Ellen, 1915-1998

"Great Jehoshaphat and Gully Dirt"

'Course it's true they sorta took after their ma's folks,
and to my knowledge none of Lida Belle's kin-or Wes's-ever killed
many snakes. But at the same time, I figure Addie Mae and the
three boys do the best they can."
"But, Mama, they-"
"Anyhow, Wiley, I thought you told us the other night that
the schoolteacher goes over to the Bailey place on Saturdays to
hunt squirrels with the boys and learn them how to read."
"He does. But, Mama, they're still the worst boys in the
whole school. Don't nobody like 'em."
As we rode by the store, we saw Papa standing at the back
door. Mama pulled up on the reins to make Belle and Puddin' Foot
slow down and called to Papa, "You coming on now?"
"Yeah! I'll be up there in a few minutes! Soon's I can blow
out the lights and lock up."
It took Papa more than a few minutes to get to the church.
When the house was getting filled up with folks and the tree was
sagging with presents and I was already in my Christmas tree
costume and it was almost time for the Christmas Eve program to
begin, he still hadn't come.


Pages:
176 177 178 179 180 181 182 183 184 185 186 187 188 189 190 191 192 193 194 195 196 197 198 199 200