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           TakeGranmawithyaifyawant,butyaain’ttakin’me,an’that’stheendofit."

           Pasaidhelplessly,"Nowlistentome,Grampa.Jus’listentome,jus’aminute."

           "Ain’ta-gonnalisten.Itol’yawhatI’ma-gonnado."

           Tomtouchedhisfatherontheshoulder."Pa,comeinthehouse.Iwantatellyasomepin."Andastheymovedtowardthehouse,hecalled,"Ma—comehereaminute,willya?"

           Inthekitchenonelanternburnedandtheplateofporkboneswasstillpiledhigh.Tomsaid,"Listen,IknowGrampagottherighttosayheain’tgoin’,buthecan’tstay.Weknowthat."

           "Surehecan’tstay,"saidPa.

           "Well,look.Ifwegottocatchhiman’tiehimdown,weli’bletohurthim,an’he’llgitsomadhe’llhurthimself.Nowwecan’targuewithhim.Ifwecouldgethimdrunkit’dbeallright.Yougotanywhisky?"

           "No,"saidPa."Thereain’tadropa’whiskyinthehouse.An’Johngotnowhisky.Heneverhasnonewhenheain’tdrinkin’."Masaid,"Tom,Igotahalfbottlesoothin’sirupIgotforWinfiel’whenhehadthemearaches.Thinkthatmightwork?UsetaputWinfiel’tasleepwhenhisearachewasbad."

           "Might,"saidTom."Getit,Ma.We’llgiveheratryanyways."

           "Ithroweditoutonthetrashpile,"saidMa.Shetookthelanternandwentout,andinamomentshecamebackwithabottlehalffullofblackmedicine.

           Tomtookitfromherandtastedit."Don’ttastebad,"hesaid."Makeupacupablackcoffee,goodan’strong.