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           Tomasked,"WhereisGrampa?Iain’tseentheol’devil."Mastackedtheplatesonthekitchentableandpiledcupsbesidethem.Shesaidconfidentially,"Oh,himan’Granmasleepsinthebarn.Theygottogetupsomuchinthenight.Theywasstumblin’overthelittlefellas."

           Pabrokein,"Yeah,ever’nightGrampa’dgetmad.TumbleoverWinfield,an’Winfield’dyell,an’Grampa’dgetmadan’wethisdrawers,an’that’dmakehimmadder,an’purtysoonever’bodyinthehouse’dbeyellin’theirheadoff."Hiswordstumbledoutbetweenchuckles."Oh,wehadlivelytimes.Onenightwhenever’bodywasyellin’an’a-cussin’,yourbrotherAl,he’sasmartalecknow,hesays,’Goddamnit,Grampa,whydon’tyourunoffan’beapirate?’Well,thatmadeGrampasogoddamnmadhewentforhisgun.Alhadtasleepoutinthefiel’thatnight.ButnowGranmaan’Grampabothsleepsinthebarn."

           Masaid,"Theycanjus’getupan’stepoutsidewhentheyfeellikeit.Pa,runonoutan’tell’emTommy’shome.Grampa’safavoriteofhim."

           "Acourse,"saidPa."Ishouldofdiditbefore."Hewentoutthedoorandcrossedtheyard,swinginghishandshigh.

           Tomwatchedhimgo,andthenhismother’svoicecalledhisattention.Shewaspouringcoffee.Shedidnotlookathim."Tommy,"shesaidhesitantly,timidly.

           "Yeah?"Histimiditywassetoffbyhers,acuriousembarrassment.

           Eachoneknewtheotherwasshy,andbecamemoreshyintheknowledge.