Part 3 (1/2)
”I'd love to, Lida Belle, but it's getting on over in the evening. I'll have to come another day.”
”Do that, Nannie! I'd sure be proud.”
”I will. And y'all come!”
”We will!”
Mama flapped the reins ever so lightly against Old Dale's back. He trotted on.
”Mama, where's Addie Mae at?”
”I don't know, hon.”
”Is Mister Ward gonna run after her like our rooster chases hens?”
”Bandershanks!”
”But Miss d.i.n.k said-”
”I declare to my soul! You hear too much. Now quit asking questions.”
Mama didn't talk any more for a long while.
”Mama, Miss Ophelia said I don't know what's going on.”
”What?”
”But Mr. Ward said I'd tell Papa.”
”Bandershanks, I don't know what in Heaven's name you could be worrying about! When did you ever hear Mister Ward or Miss Ophelia talking about Papa, or anything else for that matter?”
”At the spring.”
”This evening?”
”Yes'm.”
”What'd they say?”
”I don't know.”
”Well, surely you remember something-if you heard them. Just tell me one thing they said.”
”She was crying and crying. And he said, 'Shut up.' And she said, 'Don't do it.' And he said he's gonna get lots of money and buy him a au-something.”
”A automobile?”
”That's it! And he saw me squatting down by the spring dipping up water, and he said he'd kill me.”
”Good Heavens!”