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           Hishumilitywasinsistent."Weneedbreadandthereain’tnothin’forquiteapiece,theysay."

           "’Fwesellbreadwegonnarunout."Mae’stonewasfaltering.

           "We’rehungry,"themansaid.

           "Whyn’tyoubuyasan’widge?Wegotnicesan’widges,hamburgs."

           "We’dsureadmiretodothat,ma’am.Butwecan’t.Wegottomakeadimedoallofus."Andhesaidembarrassedly,"Weain’tgotbutalittle."

           Maesaid,"Youcan’tgetnoloafabreadforadime.Weonlygotfifteen-centloafs."

           FrombehindherAlgrowled,"GodAlmighty,Mae,give’embread."

           "We’llrunout’forethebreadtruckcomes."

           "Runout,then,goddamnit,"saidAl.Andhelookedsullenlydownatthepotatosaladhewasmixing.

           Maeshruggedherplumpshouldersandlookedtothetruckdriverstoshowthemwhatshewasupagainst.

           Sheheldthescreendooropenandthemancamein,bringingasmellofsweatwithhim.Theboysedgedinbehindhimandtheywentimmediatelytothecandycaseandstaredin—notwithcravingorwithhopeorevenwithdesire,butjustwithakindofwonderthatsuchthingscouldbe.Theywerealikeinsizeandtheirfaceswerealike.Onescratchedhisdustyanklewiththetoenailsofhisotherfoot.Theotherwhisperedsomesoftmessageandthentheystraightenedtheirarmssothattheirclenchedfistsintheoverallpocketsshowedthroughthethinbluecloth.

           Maeopenedadrawerandtookoutalongwaxpaper-wrappedloaf."Thishereisafifteen-centloaf."

           Themanputhishatbackonhishead.