jg.paintedhouse-第56部分

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d　that；　like　her　children；　Mrs。　Latcher　had　no　shoes。
　　　When　we　were　safe　on　our　side　of　the　river；　we　saw　Pappy　ing　to　get　us。
　　　
　　　Gran　and　my　mother　were　waiting　on　the　back　porch；　where　they　had　set　up　a　makeshift　assembly　line　of　sorts。　They　weled　the　second　wave　of　Latchers　and　directed　them　to　the　far　end　of　the　porch；　where　there　was　a　pile　of　clothes。　The　Latchers　stripped　down；　some　concerned　about　privacy；　others　not；　and　got　dressed　in　Chandler　hand…me…downs　that　had　been　in　the　family　for　decades。　Once　outfitted　in　dry；　warm　clothing；　they　were　ushered　into　the　kitchen；　where　there　was　enough　food　for　several　meals。　Gran　had　sausage　and　country　ham。　She'd　made　two　pans　of　homemade　biscuits。　The　table　was　covered　with　large　bowls　rilled　with　every　vegetable　my　mother；　had　grown　in　the　last　six　months。
　　　The　Latchers　packed　around　the　table；　all　ten　of　them…the　baby　was　asleep　somewhere。　For　the　most　part　they　were　silent；　and　I　couldn't　tell　if　it　was　because　they　were　ashamed　or　relieved　or　just　downright　hungry。　They　passed　around　the　bowls　and　occasionally　said　thanks　to　one　another。　My　mother　and　Gran　poured　tea　and　made　a　fuss　over　them。　I　observed　them　from　a　doorway。　Pappy　and　my　father　were　on　the　front　porch；　sipping　coffee　and　watching　the　rain　dwindle　down。
　　　When　the　meal　was　well　under　way；　we　drifted　to　the　living　room；　where　Gran　had　built　a　fire　in　the　fireplace。　The　five　of　us　sat　close　to　it；　and　for　a　long　time　we　listened　to　the　Latchers　in　the　kitchen。　Their　voices　were　muted；　but　their　knives　and　forks　rattled　away。　They　were　warm　and　safe　and　no　longer　hungry。　How　could　people　be　so　poor？
　　　I　found　it　impossible　to　dislike　the　Latchers　anymore。　They　were　folks　just　like　us　who'd　had　the　misfortune　of　being　born　sharecroppers。　It　was　wrong　of　me　to　be　scornful。　Besides；　I　was　quite　taken　with　Libby。
　　　I　was　already　hoping　that　perhaps　she　liked　me。
　　　As　we　were　basking　in　the　satisfaction　of　our　goodness；　the　baby　erupted　from　somewhere　in　the　house。　Gran　jumped　to　her　feet　and　was　gone　in　a　flash。　〃I'll　see　about　him；〃　I　heard　her　say　in　the　kitchen。　〃You　finish　lunch。〃
　　　I　didn't　hear　a　single　Latcher　move　from　the　table。　That　baby　had　been　crying　since　the　night　he　was　born；　and　they　were　used　to　it。
　　　We　Chandlers；　however；　were　not。　It　cried　all　the　way　through　what　was　left　of　lunch。　Gran　walked　the　floor　with　it　for　an　hour　as　my　parents　and　Pappy　moved　the　Latchers　into　their　new　acmodations　in　the　loft。　Libby　returned　with　them　to　check　on　the　baby；　who　was　still　bawling。　The　rain　had　stopped；　so　my　mother　took　it　for　a　walk　around　the　house；　but　the　outdoors　did　nothing　to　satisfy　it。　I　had　never　heard　anything　cry　so　violently　without　end。
　　　By　mid…afternoon　we　were　rattled。　Gran　had　tried　several　of　her　home　remedies；　mild　little　concoctions　that　only　made　matters　worse。　Libby　rocked　the　baby　in　the　swing；　with　no　success。　Gran　sang　to　it　as　she　waltzed　around　the　house；　more　bawling；　even　louder；　I　thought。　My　mother　walked　the　floor　with　it。　Pappy　and　my　father　were　long　gone。　I　wanted　to　run　and　hide　in　the　silo。
　　　〃Worst　case　of　colic　I've　ever　seen；〃　I　heard　Gran　say。
　　　Later；　while　Libby　was　again　rocking　the　baby　on　the　front　porch；　I　heard　another　conversation。　Seems　that　when　I　was　a　baby　I'd　had　a　rough　bout　with　colic。　My　mother's　mother；　my　grandmother；　who　was　now　dead　and　who'd　lived　in　town　in　a　painted　house；　had　given　me　a　few　bites　of　vanilla　ice　cream。　I　had　immediately　stopped　crying；　and　within　a　few　days　the　colic　was　gone。
　　　At　some　point　later　in　my　babyhood　I'd　had　another　bout。　Gran　did　not　normally　keep　store…bought　ice　cream　in　her　freezer。　My　parents　had　loaded　me　up　in　the　truck　and　headed　for　town。　Along　the　way　I'd　stopped　crying　and　fallen　asleep。　They　figured　the　motion　of　the　moving　vehicle　had　done　the　trick。
　　　My　mother　sent　me　to　find　my　father。　She　took　the　baby　from　Libby；　who　was　quite　anxious　to　get　rid　of　it；　and　before　long　we　were　heading　for　the　truck。
　　　〃Are　we　goin'　to　town？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Yes；〃　my　mother　said。
　　　〃What　about　him？〃　my　father　asked；　pointing　to　the　baby。　〃He's　supposed　to　be　a　secret。〃
　　　My　mother　had　forgotten　about　that。　If　we　were　spotted　in　town　with　a　mysterious　baby；　the　gossip　would　be　so　thick　it　would　stop　traffic。
　　　〃We'll　worry　about　that　when　we　get　there；〃　she　said；　then　slammed　the　door。　〃Let's　go。〃
　　　My　father　cranked　the　engine　and　shifted　into　reverse。　I　was　in　the　middle；　the　baby　just　inches　from　my　shoulder。　After　a　brief　pause；　the　baby　erupted　again。　By　the　time　we　got　to　the　river　I　was　ready　to　pitch　the　damned　thing　out　the　window。
　　　Once　over　the　bridge；　though；　a　curious　thing　happened。　The　baby　slowly　grew　quiet　and　still。　It　closed　its　mouth　and　eyes　and　fell　sound　asleep。　My　mother　smiled　at　my　father　as　if　to　say；　〃See；　I　told　you　so。〃
　　　As　we　made　our　way　to　town；　my　parents　whispered　back　and　forth。　They　decided　that　my　mother　would　get　out　of　the　truck　down　by　our　church；　then　hurry　to　Pop　and　Pearl's　to　buy　the　ice　cream。　They　worried　that　Pearl　would　be　suspicious　as　to　why　she　was　buying　ice　cream；　and　only　ice　cream；　since　we　didn't　need　anything　else　at　the　moment；　and　why　exactly　my　mother　was　in　town　on　a　Wednesday　afternoon。　They　agreed　that　Pearl's　curiosity　could　not　be　satisfied　under　any　circumstances　and　that　it　would　be　somewhat　amusing　to　let　her　suffer　from　her　own　nosiness。　As　clever　as　she　was；　Pearl　would　never　guess　that　the　ice　cream　was　for　an　illegitimate　baby　we　were　hiding　in　our　truck。
　　　We　stopped　at　our　church。　No　one　was　watching　so　my　mother　handed　the　baby　to　me　with　strict　instructions　on　how　to　properly　cradle　such　a　creature。　By　the　time　she　closed　the　door；　its　mouth　was　wide　open；　its　eyes　glowing；　its　lungs　filled　with　anger。　It　wailed　twice　and　nearly　scared　me　to　death　before　my　father　popped　the　clutch　and　we　were　off　again；　loose　on　the　streets　of　Black　Oak。　The　baby　looked　at　me　and　stopped　crying。
　　　〃Just　don't　stop；〃　I　said　to　my　father。
　　　We　drove　by　the　gin；　a　depressing　sight　with　its　lack　of　activity。　We　circled　behind　the　Methodist　church　and　the　school；　then　turned　south　onto　Main　Street。　My　mother　came　out　of　Pop　and　Pearl's　with　a　small　paper　bag；　and；　not　surprisingly；　Pearl　was　right　behind　her；　talking　away。　They　were　chatting　as　we　drove　past。　My　father　waved　as　if　nothing　were　out　of　the　ordinary。
　　　I　just　knew　we　were　about　to　get　caught　with　the　Latcher　baby。　One　loud　shriek　from　its　mouth　and　the　whole　town　would　learn　our　secret。
　　　We　looped　around　the　gin　again；　and　when　we　headed　toward　the　church　we　saw　my　mother　waiting　for　us。　As　we　rolled　to　a　stop　to　get　her；　the　baby's　eyes　came　open。　His　lower　lip　trembled。　He　was　ready　to　scream　when　I　thrust　him　at　her　and　said；　〃Here；　take　him。〃
　　　I　scrambled　out　of　the　truck　before　she　could　get　in。　My　quickness　surprised　them。　〃Where　you　goin'；　Luke？〃　my　father　demanded。
　　　〃Y'all　ride　around　for　a　minute。　I　need　to　buy　some　paint。〃
　　　〃Get　in　the　truck！〃　he　said。
　　　The　baby　cried　out；　and　my　mother　quickly　jumped　in。　I　ducked　behind　the　truck　and　ran　as　fast　as　I　could　toward　the　street。
　　　Behind　me　I　heard　another　cry；　one　not　nearly　as　loud；　then　the　truck　started　moving。
　　　I　ran　to　the　hardware　store；　back　to　the　paint　counter；　where　I　asked　the　clerk　for　three　gallons　of　white　Pittsburgh　Paint。
　　　〃Only　got　two；〃　he　said。
　　　I　was　too　surprised　to　say　anything。　How　could　a　hardware　store　run　out　of　paint？　〃I　should　have　some　in　by　next　Monday；〃　he　said。
　　　〃Gimme　two；〃　I　said。
　　　I　was　sure　two　gallons　wouldn't　finish　the　front　of　the　house；　but　I　gave　him　six　one…dollar　bills；　and　he　handed　me　the　change。　〃Let　me　get　these　for　you；〃　he　said。
　　　〃No；　I　can　do　it；〃　I　said；　reaching　for　the　two　buckets。　I　strained　to　lift　them；　then　waddled　down　the　aisle；　almost　tipping　over。　I　lugged　them　out　of　the　store　and　to　the　sidewalk。　I　looked　both　ways　for　traffic；　and　I　listened　for　the　wail　of　a　sick　baby。　Thankfully　the　town　was　quiet。
　　　Pearl　reappeared　on　the　sidewalk　in　front　of　her　store；　eyes　darting　in　all　directions。　I　hid　behind　a　parked　car。　Then　I　saw　our　truck　ing　south；　barely　moving；　looking　very　suspicious。　My　father　saw　me　and　rolled　to　a　stop　in　the　middle　of　the　street。　I　yanked　the　two　buckets　up　with　all　the　might　I　could　muster　and　ran　to　the　truck。　He　jumped　out　to　help　me。　I　leapt　into　the　back　of　the　truck；　and　he　handed　me　the　paint。　I　preferred　to　ride　back　there；　away　from　the　littlest　Latcher。　Just　when　my　father　got　behind　the　wheel　again；　the　baby　let　out　a　yelp。
　　　The　truck　lurched　forward；　and　the　baby　was　quiet。　I　yelled；　〃Howdy；　Pearl！〃　as　we　sped　past。
　　　Libby　was　sitting　on　the　front　steps　with　Gran；　waiting　for　us。　When　the　truck　stopped；　the　baby　began　bawling。　The　women　rushed　it　to　the　kitchen；　where　they　began　stuffing　it　with　ice　cream。
　　　〃Ain't　enough　gasoline　in　Craighead　County　to　keep　that　thing　quiet；〃　my　father　said。
　　　Fortunately；　the　ice　cream　soothed　it。　Little　Latcher　fell　asleep　in　his　mother's　arms。
　　　Because　vanilla　ice　cream　had　worked　when　I'd　had　colic；　this　cure　was　taken　as　further　evidence　that　the　baby　was　part　Chandler。　I　was　not　exactly　forted　by　this。
　
　
　Chapter　35
　　　
　　　Having　a　barn　full　of　Latchers　was　an　event　that　we　certainly　had　not　planned　on。　And　while　we　were　at　first　forted　by　our　own　Christian　charity　and　neighborliness；　we　were　soon　interested　in　how　long　they　might　be　with　us。　I　broached　the　subject　first　over　supper　when；　after　a　long　discussion　about　the　day's　events；　I　said；　〃Reckon　how　long　they'll　stay？〃
　　　Pappy　had　the　opinion　that　they　would　be　gone　as　soon　as　the　floodwaters　receded。　Living　in　another　farmer's　barn　was　tolerable　under　the　most　urgent　of　circumstances；　but　no　one　with　an　ounce　of　self…respect　would　stay　a　day　longer　than　necessary。
　　　〃What　are　they　gonna　eat　when　they　go　back？〃　Gran　asked。　〃There's　not　a　crumb　of　food　left　in　that　house。〃　She　went　on　to　predict　that　they'd　be　with　us　until　springtime。
　　　My　father　speculated　that　their　dilapidated　house　couldn't　withstand　the　flood；　and　that　there'd　be　no　place　for　them　to　return　to。　Plus；　they　had　no　truck；　no　means　of　transportation。　They'd　been　starving　on　their　land　for　the　last　ten　years。　Where　else　would　they　go？　Pappy　seemed　a　little　depressed　by　this　view。
　　　My　mother　mainly　listened；　but　at　one　point　she　did　say　that　the　Latchers　were　not　the　type　of　people　who'd　be　embarrassed　by　living　in　someone　else's　barn。　And　she　worried　about　the　children；　not　only　the　obvious　problems　of　health　and　nutrition；　but　also　their　education　and　spiritual　growth。
　　　Pappy's　prediction　of　a　swift　departure　was　batted　around　the　table　and　eventually　voted　down。　Three　against　one。　Four；　if　you　counted　my　vote。
　　　〃We'll　survive；〃　Gran　said。　〃We　have　enough　food　to　feed　us　and　them　all　winter。　They're　here；　they　have　no　place　else　to　go；　and　we'll　take　care　of　them。〃　No　one　was　about　to　argue　with　her。
　　　〃God　gave　us　a　bountiful　garden　for　a　reason；〃　she　added；　nodding　at　my　mother。　〃In　Luke；　Jesus　said；　'Invite　the　poor；　the　crippled；　the　lame；　the　blind；　and　you　will　be　blessed。　'〃
　　　〃We'll　kill　two　hogs　instead　of　one；〃　Pappy　said。　〃We'll　have　plenty　of　m