Part 12 (2/2)
Amen.
”Grandpa, guess what?” Wiley blurted out before we could even raise our heads.
”What?”
”I rode on it!”
”Naw!” Grandpa looked at Wiley as if he could hardly believe such a thing. ”Well! Now that's something to crow about!”
”Rode on what?” Irene asked.
”A automobile!”
”When did you ever ride a automobile?”
”Just this morning, up at Papa's store. All y'all just ought to 've seen me!”
”What was it like?”
”Irene, it was sorta like being in a buggy-only smoother and a whole lot faster! It was real, real fast!”
”Son, how'd you happen to get to ride?” Grandpa asked.
”Well, sir, that man said, 'Sonny Boy, you want to take a little spin?' I ain't 'Sonny Boy,' but I was dying to get on that thing, and Papa said I could. So, I did! He rode me all the way up to Doctor Elton's and Miss Maime's house and then wheeled around and brought me back to the store. We just went a-skimming along-like a bird!”
Wiley flung out his arms to show how a bird flies.
”Whoops!”
”Watch out, Wiley!” Mierd screeched. ”Look what you've done!
You've knocked over the syrup pitcher with one clumsy hand and Irene's b.u.t.termilk with the other!”
”Irene, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to do it. Gee, it's running down all over your dress.”
”That's all right.”
Mama rubbed the spot on Irene's skirt with a damp cloth till it looked fine.
”What I'm waiting to hear is what make automobile that was,”
Grandpa said, turning to Papa. ”It wasn't one of the Ford tin lizzies, was it, Jodie?”
”No, sir. It was a Chevrolet. It-”
”It was a 'Four Ninety'! That's what it was” Wiley hollered out. ”It cost four hundred and ninety dollars!”
”Hold on now a minute, son. Don't interrupt when anybody's talking. 'Specially if it's somebody a good bit older than you are. We'll let you have your say in a few minutes.”
”Yes, sir.”
After that, Wiley seemed to really try to stay quiet. Papa went on talking.
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