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Chapter 22
«Youdidnot,"saidWinfield.
Ruthiesaid,«Le’slookaroun’.»Theystrolleddownthelineoftents,peeringintoeachone,gawkingself-consciously.Attheendoftheunittherewasalevelplaceonwhichacroquetcourthadbeensetup.Halfadozenchildrenplayedseriously.Infrontofatentanelderlyladysatonabenchandwatched.RuthieandWinfieldbrokeintoatrot.«Leaveusplay,"Ruthiecried.«Leaveusgetin.»
Thechildrenlookedup.Apig-tailedlittlegirlsaid,«Nex’gameyoukin.»
«Iwantaplaynow,"Ruthiecried.
«Well,youcan’t.Nottillnex’game.»
Ruthiemovedmenacinglyoutonthecourt.«I’ma-gonnaplay.»Thepig-tailsgrippedhermallettightly.Ruthiesprangather,slappedher,pushedher,andwrestedthemalletfromherhands.«IsaysIwasgonnaplay,"shesaidtriumphantly.
Theelderlyladystoodupandwalkedontothecourt.Ruthiescowledfiercelyandherhandstightenedonthemallet.Theladysaid,«Letherplay—likeyoudonewithRalphlas’week.»
Thechildrenlaidtheirmalletsonthegroundandtroopedsilentlyoffthecourt.Theystoodatadistanceandlookedonwithexpressionlesseyes.Ruthiewatchedthemgo.Thenshehitaballandranafterit.«Comeon,Winfiel’.Getastick,"shecalled.Andthenshelookedinamazement.Winfieldhadjoinedthewatchingchildren,andhetoolookedatherwithexpressionlesseyes.Defiantlyshehittheballagain.Shekickedupagreatdust.Shepretendedtohaveagoodtime.Andthechildrenstoodandwatched.
