They're sitting back yonder on
the last bench."
"I saw their rip-snorting boys ride past the store. Wes'd
better watch out. Them boys will run his bays to death."
"They passed us just a-galloping. You know, Jodie. I don't
reckon Lida Belle and Wes have been to a tree in this church in
ten years-oh, longer than that. Wonder what's come over them."
"Funny thing. Wes Bailey came into the store day before
yesterday and bought an expensive blue silk tie. Said it was for
the tree."
"I helped Vic put on the toys for Ophelia's young'uns and
looked at all the presents, but I didn't notice whose name was on
that blue tie."
"And, Nannie, Lida Belle bought twenty-one yards of piece
goods! First thing when she got in the store, she went 'round
behind the counter and began fingering every bolt of cloth on the
shelves. Why, it took her a good half hour to settle on what she
wanted; and when she did, she got seven yards of purple calico,
seven of yellow, and seven of the red."
"Well, Jodie, I wonder if the reason Wes and Lida Belle
haven't been coming to church on Christmas Eve is 'cause all
these years the schoolteachers have never once given Ad-die Mae
or the three Bailey boys a part on the program.
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