Part 12 (1/2)

”Nannie, this evening soon as Jodie gets in from the store, send me word. I'm anxious to hear what he's gonna have to say 'bout that automobile.”

”Sure, Pa. I'll send you word.”

Just at dark Mama sent the word, all right. By me. Grandpa was busy trying to get the s.m.u.t and smoke out of a lamp chimney.

He couldn't go talk to Papa about anything right then, he said.

He had a dishpan full of soapy water, and he kept slos.h.i.+ng the water through the chimney. Grandma, propped up in her bed like always, was eating her supper and watching Grandpa.

”Thad, you ought'a get a rag and wash that chimney right.”

”Bandershanks, tell Jodie I'll come on as soon as I can put some oil in these dratted lamps!”

”Quit muttering and complaining, Thad. A-body can't expect lamps to give out a decent light if they don't keep the wicks trimmed and the chimneys polished-and put oil in them!”

Grandpa said for me to run on back home before I heard him say what he was thinking.

”Just tell Nannie not to wait supper on me, Bandershanks.

I'll be out there directly, though.”

We did wait. All of us sat down around the supper table to wait-that is, all except Wiley. Papa sent him back out to the hall washstand to rewash his gritty hands.

Mama and Papa kept talking back and forth over the top of my head, mainly about how little milk old Moolie was giving. Papa said it wasn't time for her to go dry, 'cause she wouldn't freshen till spring. Mama thought what Moolie really needed was a few more cotton seeds and lots of pea-vine hay.

I couldn't hear what Mierd and Irene were saying. Aunt Lovie had let Irene come to spend the night with Mierd, and they were over on the bench against the wall, whispering and giggling about something. I wished I knew what was so funny. But, there was no way to find out, for I was way across the table, up in my high chair. Well, it wasn't exactly mine, and it wasn't exactly high.

It was a little oak chair some old, old grandpa man had whittled out for Papa when he was a boy. But, I always sat in it. The good thing about it was that over on the side next to Mama's chair, the arm was missing. So, when I got sleepy, all I had to do was lean right over into her lap. Besides that, it had a brand new cowhide bottom with fur that sort of tickled my legs.

Mama and Papa soon quit talking about Moolie and started talking about my big brothers.

”Nannie, quit fretting over the boys! Like as not, the war'll be over before the army gets either one of them trained. You mustn't let it drive you to distraction. Ah, here's Pa.”

Grandpa jammed his hat on the peg next to Papa's and wiped the back of his hand across his beard. ”Whew!”

”'Evening, Pa.”

”Mercy me, I thought I'd never get away from Ming tonight!

Jodie, you know how your ma is some days. She lies there in that bed, thinking up a thousand things for a-body to do. Right at sundown she took a notion for me to fix all three lamps.”

”Yes, sir, Pa. I know. Here, take your chair.”

Grandpa eased himself down at the head of the table and hooked his walking stick on the back of his chair. Mama looked around the kitchen. She waited a minute for Wiley to slide back into his place and for Mierd and Irene to get quiet.

”Pa, will you return thanks?”

I wondered why Mama always asked Grandpa if he'd say grace.

We all knew he would-three times a day. He never changed it a bit. I liked that 'cause I could remember every word.

We bowed our heads and squinted our eyes shut.

Merciful Father, smile on us; Pardon our many sins; Make us thankful for these And all Thy favors, We ask in the Redeemer's name.