"
"Ned, can I hold this one?"
"Sho'. Stray, pick the puppy up for the baby."
Stray handed me the fat, spotted puppy, and he got the brown
one. We lugged them down to where my playhouse was set up under
the candy counter. Shoogie followed us, but she didn't want to
play with the puppies or the paper dolls. She just sat down on
the floor and leaned her head against her knees.
"Hello! Hello? Who's this on the line? Pa, is that you? This
is Jodie. I'm trying to get Nannie. She's not back yet? Pa, I
wish you'd step down to the road real quick and try to flag down
the doctor and Wiley! Tell them to come back! Tell them Ned's
here! Yes, sir, they'll know what you're talking about. I'll
explain it to you tonight!"
Papa slammed up the phone and rushed back over to Ned and
Black Idd.
"Ned, me and Doctor Elton think you'd better leave! Get clean
away from Drake Eye Springs, quick as you can! Go hide out
somewhere, Ned!"
"Mister Jodie, you wants me to hide on 'count of that
squirrel?"
"The squirrel? Ned, did you stuff that squirrel in Mister
Ward's coat pocket?"
"Yes, suh.
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