Part 43 (1/2)
”I know. But you have to get up early this morning. You're going to the store with Papa.”
”He needs me?”
”Well, yes-in a way. See, I've gotta go back over to Miss Ophelia's to help Aunt Vic get all those young'uns' clothes ready for the funeral.”
”Where's Papa at?”
”He went on out to saddle Jake. Now, soon as you eat your biscuits, hunt up that old mail-order catalogue I let you and Mierd have. You can cut out paper dolls this morning while you're up at the store.”
”When you gonna come get me?”
”I ought'a be back before dinner.”
I played paper dolls a long time. Papa let me spread them out on the floor, right under the candy counter. Along about the middle of the morning, he even said they could have some lemon drops. But none of my dolls liked lemon drops. I had to eat them.
I'd just swallowed the last bite when Wiley came running over from the schoolhouse. He had to have a brand new writing tablet.
He wanted one with slick paper, but Papa said regular ones were plenty good for penmans.h.i.+p practice.
I asked Wiley what was penmans.h.i.+p, but he just told me I sure was stupid. I didn't care. I got Wiley to start bending some pasteboard strips into chairs and beds for my dolls. He didn't much want to make them-wouldn't till I begged and begged and said ”please, please, please” so many times he couldn't stand it any more!
”Wiley, son, you'd better hurry on back across the branch.
It's time for the taking-in bell to ring. Surprises me Mister Shepherd let you come over here during recess.”
”Just a minute, Papa, soon as I fix Bandershanks one more chair.”
Before Wiley could finish the doll chair, Doctor Elton rushed in through the back door! He didn't even glance at all my nice catalogue dolls, or me, or Wiley.
”Jodie, things are in a devil of a mess! We've gotta do something about Ned!
And you!”
”Morning! What are you talking about, Doctor?”
”Jodie, we'd better get that poor n.i.g.g.e.r away from here! And I don't know what to advise you to do!”
”What's up? You think Ned-”
”Old Man Hawk's out getting the men together. He vows Ned shot Ward. We can't allow no lynching, Jodie! What's worse, Wes Bailey's gone to town to get the sheriff to come arrest you!”
”GREAT JEHOSHAPHAT AND GULLY DIRT!”
”Wes thinks you killed Ward!”
”Where'd you see Wes and Old Man Hawk?”
”Hawk phoned just a minute ago. Said he had proof on Ned.”
”Proof? What sorta proof?”