Part 3 (1/2)
Reverend Peabody blinked and opened his mouth, but no words come out.
”What's the matter?” Grandpa said. ”Cat got your tongue?”
The Reverend got a kind of sick grin on his face, like a skunk eating b.u.mblebees.
”Reckon I know how you feel,” Grandpa told him. ”Sun makes a feller's throat parch up.” He looked at Ma. ”Addie, whyn't you go fetch the Reverend a little refreshment?”
Ma went in the house.
”Well, now, Rev,” said Grandpa. ”Rest your britches and be sociable.”
The Reverend swallowed hard. ”This here's not exactly a social call.”
”Then what you come dragging all the way over here for?”
The Reverend swallowed again. ”After what Addie and Doc told me, I just had to see for myself.” He looked at the flies buzzing around Grandpa. ”Now I wish I'd just took their word on it.”
”Meaning what?”
”Meaning a man in your condition's got no right to be asking questions.
When the good Lord calls, you're supposed to answer.”
”I ain't heard n.o.body calling,” Grandpa said. ” *Course, my hearing's not what it used to be.”
”So Doc says. That's why do don't notice your heart's not beating.”
”Onny natural for it to slow down a piece. I'm pus.h.i.+ng ninety.”
”Did you ever stop to think that ninety might be pus.h.i.+ng back? You lived a mighty long stretch, Grandpa.
Don't you reckon mebbe it's time to lie down and call it quits? Remember what the Good Book saysa”the Lord giveth, and the Lord taketh away.”
Grandpa got that feisty look on his face. ”Well, he ain't gonna taketh away me.”
Reverend Peabody dug into his jeans for a bandana and wiped his forehead. ”You got no cause to fear.
It's a mighty rewarding experience. No more sorrow, no more care, all your burdens laid to rest. Not to mention getting out of this hot sun.”
”Can't hardly feel it.” Grandpa touched his whiskers.
”Can't hardly feel anything.”
The Reverend give him a look. ”Hands getting stiff?”
Grandpa nodded. ”I'm still all over.”
”Just like I thought. You know what that means? Rigor mortis is setting in.”
”Ain't never heard tell of anybody named Rigger Morris,”
Grandpa said. ”I got me a tough of the rheumatism, is all.”
The Reverend wiped his forehead again. ”You sure want a heap of convincing,” he said. ”Won't take the word of a medical doctor, won't take the word of the Lord. You're the con trariest old coot I ever did see.”
”Reckon it's my nature,” Grandpa told him. ”But I ain't unreasonable.
All I'm asking for is proof. Like the feller says, I'm from Missouri.
You got to show me.”
The Reverend tucked away his bandana. It was sopping wet anyhow, wouldn't do him a lick of good.
He heaved a big sigh and stared Grandpa right in the eye.
”Some things we just got to take on faith,” he said.
”Like you setting here when by rights you should be six feet under the daisies. If I can believe that, why can't you believe me? I'm telling you the mortal truth when I say you got no call to fuss. Mebbe the notion of lying in the grave don't rightly hold much appeal for you.
Well, I can go along with that. But one thing's for sure. Ashes to ashes, dust to dusta”that's just a saying. You needn't trouble yourself about spending eternity in the grave. Whilst your remains rest peaceful in the boneyard, your soul is on the wing. Flying straight up, yessiree, straight into the arms of the Lord! And what a great day it's fixing to bea”you free as a bird and scooting around with them heavenly hosts on high, singing the praises of the Almighty and tw.a.n.ging away like all git-out on your genuine eighteen carats solid golden harpa””
”I ain't never been much for music,” Grandpa said. ”And I get dizzy just standing on a ladder to s.h.i.+ngle the privy.” He shook his head. ”Tell you whata”you think heaven is such a h.e.l.lfired good proposition, why don't you go there yourself?”
Just then Ma come back out. ”We're fresh out of lemon made,” she said.
”All's I could find was a jug. I know your feelings about such things, Reverend, buta””
”Praise the Lord!” The Reverend s.n.a.t.c.hed the jug out of her hand, hefted it up, and took a mighty swallow.
”You're a good woman,” he told Ma. ”And I'm mush beholden to you.” Then he started down the path for the road, moving fast.
”Here, now!” Ma called after him. ”What you aim to do about Grandpa?”
”Have no fear,” the Reverend said. ”We must put our trust now in the power of prayer.”
He disappeared down the road, stirring dust.
”Danged if he didn't take the jug!” Grandpa mumbled.
”You ask me, the onny power he trusts is in that corn likker.”
Ma give him a look. Then she bust out crying and run into the house.
”Now, what got into her?” Grandpa said.
”Never you mind,” I told him. ”Susie, you stay here and whisk those flies off Grandpa. I got things to attend to.”
And I did.
Even before I went inside I had my mind set. I couldn't hold still to see Ma bawling that way. She was standing in the kitchen hanging on to Pa, saying, ”What can we do? What can we do?”