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Chapter 10
AndUncleJohnmovedtowardhimandsquatteddownbesidehim.Theireyeswerebrooding.Grampacameoutofthehouseandsawthetwosquattingtogether,andhejerkedoverandsatontherunningboardofthetruck,facingthem.Thatwasthenucleus.TomandConnieandNoahstrolledinandsquatted,andthelinewasahalf-circlewithGrampaintheopening.AndthenMacameoutofthehouse,andGranmawithher,andRoseofSharonbehind,walkingdaintily.Theytooktheirplacesbehindthesquattingmen;theystoodupandputtheirhandsontheirhips.Andthechildren,RuthieandWinfield,hoppedfromfoottofootbesidethewomen;thechildrensquidgedtheirtoesinthereddust,buttheymadenosound.Onlythepreacherwasnotthere.He,outofdelicacy,wassittingonthegroundbehindthehouse.Hewasagoodpreacherandknewhispeople.
Theeveninglightgrewsofter,andforawhilethefamilysatandstoodsilently.ThenPa,speakingtonoone,buttothegroup,madehisreport."Gotskinnedonthestuffwesold.Thefellaknowedwecouldn’twait.Goteighteendollarsonly."
Mastirredrestively,butsheheldherpeace.Noah,theoldestson,asked,"Howmuch,alladdedup,wegot?"Padrewfiguresinthedustandmumbledtohimselfforamoment.
"Hundredfifty-four,"hesaid."ButAlheresayswegonnaneedbettertires.Saystheseherewon’tlast."
ThiswasAl’sfirstparticipationintheconference.Alwayshehadstoodbehindwiththewomenbefore.Andnowhemadehisreportsolemnly."She’soldan’she’sornery,"hesaidgravely.
