jg.paintedhouse-第57部分

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ou　will　be　blessed。　'〃
　　　〃We'll　kill　two　hogs　instead　of　one；〃　Pappy　said。　〃We'll　have　plenty　of　meat　for　the　winter。〃
　　　The　hog…killing　would　e　in　early　December；　when　the　air　was　cold　and　the　bacteria　dead。　Every　year　a　hog　was　shot　in　the　head；　dipped　in　boiling　water；　and　hung　from　a　tree　next　to　the　tool　shed；　then　gutted　and　butchered　into　a　thousand　pieces。　From　it　we　got　bacon；　ham；　loin；　sausage；　and　ribs。　Everything　was　used…tongue；　brains；　feet。　〃Everything　but　the　squeal〃　was　a　line　I'd　heard　all　my　life。　Mr。　Jeter　from　across　the　road　was　a　fair　butcher。　He　would　supervise　the　gutting；　then　perform　the　delicate　removals。　For　his　time　he　took　a　fourth　of　the　best　cuts。
　　　My　first　memory　of　a　hog…killing　was　that　I　ran　behind　the　house　and　puked。　With　time；　though；　I'd　e　to　look　forward　to　it。　If　you　wanted　ham　and　bacon；　you　had　to　kill　a　hog。　But　it　would　take　more　than　two　hogs　to　feed　the　Latchers　until　spring。　There　were　eleven　of　them；　including　the　baby；　who　at　the　moment　was　living　off　vanilla　ice　cream。
　　　As　we　talked　about　them；　I　began　to　dream　of　heading　North。
　　　The　trip　now　seemed　more　appealing。　I　had　sympathy　for　the　Latchers；　and　I　was　proud　that　we'd　rescued　them。　I　knew　that　as　Christians　we　were　expected　to　help　the　poor。　I　understood　all　that；　but　I　could　not　imagine　living　through　the　winter　with　all　those　little　kids　running　around　our　farm。　I'd　start　back　to　school　very　soon。　Would　the　Latchers　go　with　me？　Since　they　would　be　new　students；　would　I　be　expected　to　show　them　around？　What　would　my　friends　think？　I　saw　nothing　but　humiliation。
　　　And　now　that　they　lived　with　us；　it　was　just　a　matter　of　time　before　the　big　secret　got　out。　Ricky　would　be　fingered　as　the　father。　Pearl　would　figure　out　where　all　the　vanilla　ice　cream　was　going。　Something　would　leak　somehow；　and　we'd　be　ruined。
　　　〃Luke；　are　you　finished？〃　my　father　asked；　jolting　me　from　my　thoughts。
　　　My　plate　was　clean。　Everyone　looked　at　it。　They　had　adult　matters　to　discuss。　It　was　my　cue　to　go　find　something　to　do。
　　　〃Supper　was　good。　May　I　be　excused？〃　I　said；　reciting　my　standard　lines。
　　　Gran　nodded　and　I　went　to　the　back　porch　and　pushed　the　screen　door　so　that　it　would　slam。　Then　I　slid　back　into　the　darkness　to　a　bench　by　the　kitchen　door。　From　there　I　could　hear　everything。　They　were　worried　about　money。　The　crop　loan　would　be　〃rolled　over〃　until　next　spring；　and　they　would　deal　with　it　then。　The　other　farming　bills　could　be　delayed；　too；　though　Pappy　hated　the　thought　of　riding　his　creditors。
　　　Surviving　the　winter　was　much　more　urgent。　Food　was　not　a　concern。　We　had　to　have　money　for　such　necessities　as　electricity；　gas　and　oil　for　the　truck；　and　staples　like　coffee；　flour；　and　sugar。　What　if　someone　got　sick　and　needed　a　doctor　or　medicine？　What　if　the　truck　broke　down　and　needed　parts？
　　　〃We　haven't　given　anything　to　the　church　this　year；〃　Gran　said。
　　　Pappy　estimated　that　as　much　as　thirty　percent　of　the　crop　was　still　out　there；　standing　in　water。　If　the　weather　broke　and　things　got　dry；　we　might　be　able　to　salvage　a　small　portion　of　it。　That　would　provide　some　ine；　but　the　gin　would　keep　most　of　it。　Neither　he　nor　my　father　was　optimistic　about　picking　any　more　cotton　in　1952。
　　　The　problem　was　cash。　They　were　almost　out　of　it；　and　there　was　no　hope　of　any　ing　in。　They　barely　had　enough　to　pay　for　electricity　and　gasoline　until　Christmas。
　　　〃Jimmy　Dale's　holdin'　a　job　for　me　at　the　Buick　plant；〃　my　father　said。　〃But　he　can't　wait　long。　The　jobs　are　tight　right　now。　We　need　to　get　on　up　there。〃
　　　According　to　Jimmy　Dale；　the　current　wage　was　three　dollars　an　hour；　for　forty　hours　a　week；　but　overtime　was　available；　too。　〃He　says　I　can　earn　close　to　two　hundred　dollars　a　week；〃　my　father　said。
　　　〃We'll　send　home　as　much　as　we　can；〃　my　mother　added。
　　　Pappy　and　Gran　went　through　the　motions　of　protesting；　but　everyone　knew　the　decision　had　been　made。　I　heard　a　noise　in　the　distance；　a　vaguely　familiar　sound。　As　it　drew　closer；　I　cringed　and　wished　I'd　hidden　on　the　front　porch。
　　　The　baby　was　back；　upset　again　and　no　doubt　craving　vanilla　ice　cream。　I　sneaked　off　the　porch　and　walked　a　few　steps　toward　the　barn。　In　the　shadows　I　saw　Libby　and　Mrs。　Latcher　approaching　the　house。　I　ducked　beside　the　chicken　coop　and　listened　as　they　went　by。　The　constant　wailing　echoed　around　our　farm。
　　　Gran　and　my　mother　met　them　at　the　back　porch。　A　light　was　switched　on；　and　I　watched　as　they　huddled　around　the　little　monster　then　carried　him　inside。　Through　the　window　I　could　see　my　father　and　Pappy　scramble　for　the　front　porch。
　　　With　four　women　working　on　him；　it　took　only　a　few　minutes　to　stop　the　crying。　Once　things　were　quiet　Libby　left　the　kitchen　and　went　outside。　She　sat　on　the　edge　of　the　porch　in　the　same　place　Cowboy　had　occupied　the　day　he　had　shown　me　his　switchblade。　I　walked　to　the　house　and　said；　〃Hi；　Libby；〃　when　I　was　a　few　feet　away。
　　　She　jumped；　then　caught　herself。　Poor　girl's　nerves　were　rattled　by　her　baby's　colic。　〃Luke；〃　she　said。　〃What're　you　doin'？〃
　　　〃Nothin'。〃
　　　〃e　sit　here；〃　she　said；　patting　the　spot　next　to　her。　I　did　as　I　was　told。
　　　〃Does　that　baby　cry　all　the　time？〃　I　asked。
　　　〃Seems　like　it。　I　don't　mind；　though。〃
　　　〃You　don't？〃
　　　〃No。　He　reminds　me　of　Ricky。〃
　　　〃He　does？〃
　　　〃Yes；　he　does。　When's　he　in'　home？　Do　you　know；　Luke？〃
　　　〃No。　His　last　letter　said　he　might　be　home　by　Christmas。〃
　　　〃That's　two　months　away。〃
　　　〃Yeah；　but　I　ain't　so　sure　about　it。　Gran　says　every　soldier　says　he's　in'　home　by　Christmas。〃
　　　〃I　just　can't　wait；〃　she　said；　visibly　excited　by　the　prospect。
　　　〃What's　gonna　happen　when　he　gets　home？〃　I　asked；　not　sure　if　I　wanted　to　hear　her　answer。
　　　〃We're　gonna　get　married；〃　she　said　with　a　big；　pretty　smile。　Her　eyes　were　filled　with　wonder　and　anticipation。
　　　〃You　are？〃
　　　〃Yes；　he　promised。〃
　　　I　certainly　didn't　want　Ricky　to　get　married。　He　belonged　to　me。　We　would　fish　and　play　baseball；　and　he'd　tell　war　stories。　He'd　be　my　big　brother；　not　somebody's　husband。
　　　〃He's　the　sweetest　thang；〃　she　said；　gazing　up　at　the　sky。
　　　Ricky　was　a　lot　of　things；　but　I'd　never　call　him　sweet。　Then　again；　there　was　no　telling　what　he'd　done　to　impress　her。
　　　〃You　can't　tell　anybody；　Luke；〃　she　said；　suddenly　serious。　〃It's　our　secret。〃
　　　That's　my　specialty；　I　felt　like　saying。　〃Don't　worry；〃　I　said；　〃I　can　keep　one。〃
　　　〃Can　you　read　and　write；　Luke？〃
　　　〃Sure　can。　Can　you？〃
　　　〃Pretty　good。〃
　　　〃But　you　don't　go　to　school。〃
　　　〃I　went　through　the　fourth　grade；　then　my　mother　kept　havin'　all　them　babies；　so　I　had　to　quit。　I've　written　Ricky　a　letter；　tellin'　him　all　about　the　baby。　Do　you　have　his　address？〃
　　　I　wasn't　sure　Ricky　wanted　to　receive　her　letter；　and　for　a　second　I　thought　about　playing　dumb。　But　I　couldn't　help　but　like　Libby。　She　was　so　crazy　about　Ricky　that　it　seemed　wrong　not　to　give　her　the　address。
　　　〃Yeah；　I　got　it。〃
　　　〃Do　you　have　an　envelope？〃
　　　〃Sure。〃
　　　〃Could　you　mail　my　letter　for　me？　Please；　Luke。　I　don't　think　Ricky　knows　about　our　baby。〃
　　　Something　told　me　to　butt　out。　This　was　between　them。　〃I　guess　I　can　mail　it；〃　I　said。
　　　〃Oh；　thank　you；　Luke；〃　she　said；　almost　squealing。　She　hugged　my　neck　hard。　〃I'll　give　you　the　letter　tomorrow；〃　she　said。　〃And　you　promise　you'll　mail　it　for　me？〃
　　　〃I　promise。〃　I　thought　about　Mr。　Thornton　at　the　post　office　and　how　curious　he'd　be　if　he　saw　a　letter　from　Libby　Latcher　to　Ricky　in　Korea。　I'd　figure　it　out　somehow。　Perhaps　I　should　ask　my　mother　about　it。
　　　The　women　brought　baby　Latcher　to　the　back　porch；　where　Gran　rocked　it　while　it　slept。　My　mother　and　Mrs。　Latcher　talked　about　how　tired　the　little　fellow　was…all　that　nonstop　crying　had　worn　it　out…so　that　when　it　did　fall　off；　it　slept　hard。　I　was　soon　bored　with　all　the　talk　about　the　baby。
　　　
　　　My　mother　woke　me　just　after　sunrise；　and　instead　of　scolding　me　out　of　bed　to　face　another　day　on　the　farm；　she　sat　next　to　my　pillow　and　talked。　〃We're　leavin'　tomorrow　mornin'；　Luke。　I'm　going　to　pack　today。　Your　father　will　help　you　paint　the　front　of　the　house；　so　you'd　better　get　started。〃
　　　〃Is　it　rainin'？〃　I　asked；　sitting　up。
　　　〃No。　It's　cloudy；　but　you　can　paint。〃
　　　〃Why　are　we　leavin'　tomorrow？〃
　　　〃It's　time　to　go。〃
　　　〃When're　we　in'　back？〃
　　　〃I　don't　know。　Go　eat　your　breakfast。　We　have　a　busy　day。〃
　　　I　started　painting　before　seven；　with　the　sun　barely　above　the　tree　line　in　the　east。　The　grass　was　wet　and　so　was　the　house；　but　I　had　no　choice。　Before　long；　though；　the　boards　dried；　and　my　work　went　smoothly。　My　father　joined　me；　and　together　we　moved　the　scaffold　so　he　could　reach　the　high　places。　Then　Mr。　Latcher　found　us；　and　after　watching　the　painting　for　a　few　minutes　he　said；　〃I'd　like　to　help。〃
　　　〃You　don't　have　to；〃　my　father　said　from　eight　feet　up。
　　　〃I'd　like　to　earn　my　keep；〃　he　said。　He　had　nothing　else　to　do。
　　　〃All　right。　Luke；　go　fetch　that　other　brush。〃
　　　I　ran　to　the　tool　shed；　delighted　that　I'd　once　again　attracted　some　free　labor。　Mr。　Latcher　began　painting　with　a　fury；　as　if　to　prove　his　worth。
　　　A　crowd　gathered　to　watch。　I　counted　seven　Latchers　on　the　ground　behind　us；　all　of　the　kids　except　Libby　and　the　baby；　just　sitting　there　studying　us　with　blank　looks　on　their　faces。
　　　I　figured　they　were　waiting　for　breakfast。　I　ignored　them　and　went　about　my　work。
　　　Work；　however；　would　prove　difficult。　Pappy　came　for　me　first。　He　said　he　wanted　to　ride　down　to　the　creek　to　inspect　the　flood。　I　said　I　really　needed　to　paint。　My　father　said；　〃Go　ahead；　Luke；〃　and　that　settled　my　protest。
　　　We　rode　the　tractor　away　from　the　house；　through　the　flooded　fields　until　the　water　was　almost　over　the　front　wheels。　When　we　could　go　no　farther；　Pappy　turned　off　the　engine。　We　sat　for　a　long　time　on　the　tractor；　surrounded　by　the　wet　cotton　we'd　worked　so　hard　to　grow。
　　　〃You'll　be　leavin'　tomorrow；〃　he　finally　said。
　　　〃Yes　sir。〃
　　　〃But　you'll　be　in'　back　soon。〃
　　　〃Yes　sir。〃　My　mother；　not　Pappy；　would　determine　when　we　came　back。　And　if　Pappy　thought　we'd　one　day　return　to　our　little　places　on　the　family　farm　and　start　another　crop；　he　was　mistaken。　I　felt　sorry　for　him；　and　I　missed　him　already。
　　　〃Been　thinkin'　more　'bout　Hank　and　Cowboy；〃　he　said；　his　eyes　never　moving　from　the　water　in　front　of　the　tractor。　〃Let's　leave　it　be；　like　we　agreed。　Can't　nothin'　good　e　from　tellin'　anybody。　It's　a　secret　we'll　take　to　our　graves。〃　He　offered　his　right　hand　for　me　to　shake。　〃Deal？〃　he　said。
　　　〃Deal；〃　I　repeated；　squeezing　his　thick；　callused　hand。
　　　〃Don't　forget　about　your　pappy　up　there；　you　hear？〃
　　　〃I　won't。〃
　　　He　started　the　tractor；　shifted　into　reverse；　and　backed　through　the　floodwaters。
　　　When　I　returned　to　the　front　of　the　house；　Percy　Latcher　had　taken　control　of　my　brush　and　was　hard　at　work。　Without　a　word；　he　handed　it　to　me　and　went　to　sit　under　a　tree。　I　painted　for　maybe　ten　minutes；　then　Gran　walked　onto　the　porch　and　said；　〃Luke；　e　here。　I　need　to　show　you　somethin'。〃
　　　She　led　me　around　back；　in　the　direction　of　the　silo。　Mud　puddles　were　everywhere；　and　the　flood　had　crept　to　within　thirty　feet　of　the　barn。　She　wanted　to　take　a　stroll　and　have　a　chat；　but　there　was　mud　and　water　in　every　direct