introduction Baldwin's frst ceal experionco with racian oocurred when he was ¢ighteen and working in defenseplantin New Jersey darag Werld Wer “I knew about the South, of eaurte, and about how Southerners trated Negroes ani how they expected therm vo behave,” secalls Baldwin, "bat ‘nad never entered my mind that anyone would look al me and expect me to ‘chavs that way.” Ateountiss lunch counters, bars, 2nd bowling alleys he was tad, "We don't serve Negroes bere," or he was simply ignored. [twat fusing this pecod that he first contracted "that creed chron tisease, tbe lnfsiling symptom of which a kand of tind fever « pounding in theshll snd fire in the bowels” The disesse, of courses hatred. And hetred bad Consumed his father, ‘Baldwin was never close to his father, preacher Likelitle to's father in the story, Baldwin's father was a proad man “who lived ane did in an intolerable bitterness of sprit” Aftr ia fathers denth, Baldwin came to ‘pale that bisterness was folly, and that hatred never filed te destoy the due wha hate, ‘About his writing Baldwin ssid xecenty: “You waite in order to change ‘he world, nowsing perfectly wel Usatyou probablyeaa, but also knowing ‘hat literatare is indispensable tothe worl. In ome way, your aspirations and concern fra singlemann face bopin to changethe world The world anges according to the way people see it, and if you aler, even by 8 nillimetar, the way a person lok or people lok st reality, thon you ces hangs [the works} ogo stv tute sau een one" tf abo smal oy nazsed Loo Broudhasamer who live in Haslem with hie parents and his elds broth, Caleb. Leo is ten, and just learning what it means to grow up Black fa & shits society. Leo has not had much contact with whites. Racial boundaries in Now York City are vigidly defined, as Teo discovers tding the subways vue Saturday evening. When he rst get on, the passengers are mosdy Black, Beyond scerain point, however, the Black people abraply ivappeer and ho ear fills with whites, Close up Wke this, white people ane ea allen ptces hora Loo regards with a mixture of fear and fascination But even from a (stance, they dominate his lif and thst of his family in exbile ways th ‘Leo it only beginning to understand. ‘Leo's father, who i from Barbados isa proud man whe lls hissonsthat {hear the descendant of Black hinge. But in Harlem, Mr Proudhammer Arsake to much and groves before the whltalandlord. Lee'smothercajoles he stoekeepersinta accepting partial payment fet the weekly grosmien, Dut she'pays dearly in both inflated prions and lost dignity. And Leste ‘brother, Celeb, shows signs of the sme biterness that hea driven hele father to drink. “Are white people— people?” Leo ask his brother, “People ike wa?” Bat {his is one question Leo must answer forhimsel So lke cues ‘osmyreny, ‘Loois collecting facts, pushing them around inhis heat andloskiag fore ‘answer to & gutstion that is beeoming more and move centel t hs fe Like Leo Proudhammer, James Baldwin grew up in Harlem, Locking back on bis childhood Baldwin once sal “We can dismiss it with the ‘istrainod observation that Icerainly would not cmaiderliving itagain” ‘he eldest ofnine children, he grew up holding e eb} wih one handcnd's book with he othe, and began plating novels at about the ime helaraed UNIT 2 TELLue HOW LONG Tu TRANS BREN GONE e Tell Me How Long the Train’s Been Gone James Baldwin My brother, Caleb, was ssventon when I wes ten. We ware very good ‘Benda, Ta fash he woe ty bat fend and, fora very ng Ga oy eee fd oot mean say that he was always neta me. Igoten his nerves a Jot and he resented having totale me around wth hit sndGereonene fer me when tire were co meay athe things he mantis temo ‘Therefor hs band wes often ap agaist thesideof myhend andor caused i to bepunished anny nes Butlin sociog Goes tee ‘whep he was beng puniehod for my tar, he wasnt tng ponte Tnvthing he tad done wine be was belng punted bene Renee ‘oy wo lve; and his ponihsnent edly beled nitaue Mareotal ett ren aa Ms grat hand caused ey hea fosretoer aad deme ge ccload cuss before nay eyen I tadrsoed that ewan et totes His hand leaped out becaue he cold uot help nd reine ae ees becrune wat there And ithappened, eoudtinea boeiocdae ek 2y breath tohow) that thehaad thet nad stuck wesabbol og estes Sie and ft was GEDeut indeed to now which afar maa ene oe sesking, sting ousting out tbe hand asked ne alone ie ‘eerie duh he wamlernotny vm fa tat hers to tnch me something. ABdT had, Ged knows ake tare [ tev ecchaver Seth! osateroer tig? wei sea beasont eld ina Haslem which belated, wherehenearasete ce Hiyheresembere, where life took place neerindocrner wide ed ‘Wherere war oy. By which moan nofeythatheveeaboret tae ‘een able obeng wilt io any ofthejoyinesaddtvon er sti ‘hen the aio ht ben an the hapule te dancog seald pee oe ‘Bansfigured our dreadful rooms. Gur live might have ben very ieee ‘But no, be brought with hin fiom Barbados say Sectors aa eee de and magic incantations, which nether healed nar cared Ho did not understand the people among whom he found himself they Dad no coherence, no stature and no pride He came fom race which had been flourishing al the vary dawn of the world —a race greater and nobler than Rome or Judes, mightier than Egypt—he canoe fom a rece hing ngs who hadnever been taken in butte kings wha hanover been slave, He spoke to us of tribes and empires Dales, victories and monarchs of whom we had never heard—they were not mentioned in ou Lertooks nd invested us with glories in which we felt are awewerd thea fa the Secondhand shoes we wore, Inthe stifling room of his pretensions and fepociatons, me stumbled wretchely about, stubbing our toe, aait wer, ‘en rubies, scraping our shins on golden caskets, binging down, with illdsh ey, the splendid purple tapestry on which, in pounding fold and ‘cores, our destinies and our inheritance ware figured, It could seatery ‘have been otherwise, sine a childs maior ettantion has o be conoastated an how tot intoa world which, wilh every passing hour reveals autor ‘mercies, ‘Mouz fathe: wae ofoyal blood and we wareroyal chiles our father was ‘gzztsnly the only person inthe world who lew it, The landlord dil not Jnow it our father never mentioned royal blond ta him, Whea we were ate ith our rent, which was often, the landlord thesateneé, in terms no cams 'moner had ever ased before king, to put us in the streria He complained ‘that our shiftesaneas, which he cid not hesitate to consider an ausntutes? ‘the race, hed foread him, an old man with » weak neers toca ll these stairs to plead with us to givehim the money we omelhimn Andhis was the last time: he wanted to make surewe undersiond that this was helene, Our fsther was younger than the landlord, lene, sironger and bigger With one blow, he could have brought the landlord to his inees, And we Jkxew how much he hated tho man. For days on end in the wintertime, we ‘huddled around the gas stove inthe Kitchen, becstse the landlord gave ue ‘oheai, When windows were broken thelandloed tock his fare about Saag. thems; the wind made the cardboard we sffed in the windows rae al, Aight long; and when snow came, the weight of the anaw forced the cead- board inward ard onto the oor. Whenever the apartsient recived # ash eat of paint, we bought the paint and did the painting ourssivee we kled the rata, A srest chunk of the kitchen ealing fell one winter; narrowly ‘missing oar mother, Weallhatedthelandlord with a perfectly exquisite hateed, ond.wewould have been happy to saecur proud father lil hea, We-would have been glad to help. Butour father dd nothing of the sort He stood before thelandlors, looking unullerably weary. He made excuses, He apologized Hesware hat it would sever happen again. (We knew that it would happen agein) le Degged for tne Tse landlord would finally go down the claire fetta us sandal the neigibors know how good hearted he was, snd our father would Walk into the Etchen and pour himself « glass of rom But we mew that our father would never nave alowed eny Vlada to sptak to bien as the landlord did, ae policemen did, ss stotekewpers sod ‘elfare workers and pawnbrokeredid No, not fora moment lie would have ‘thrown him out of the house. He would cartainly have made a black mas « BEST SHORT STORIES‘know that he was not the descendant of slaves! He had ads them know it sooftea that he had elmostno lends among them, and if we had followed hls impossibe lsd, we would have had no fiends ether Te wes scarcely ‘worthwhile being the desoandantofhingsifthekingeweretlack and noone Td ever heard of thers, “Andit was becanse of ou fother, perhaps thet Celeb and I dung toeach other inspite of the great dferencein ou ages; or, in another wey stmmsy Ihave been pracgsly'the diffrence in our aget that meds the clinging ‘possible I don't know. Its veally not the kind of thing anyone can ever Enow. I thing it may be easier ta love the really helpless younger brother, ‘because he cannot enter into competition with one on one’sown ground, of (om any ground at all, and ean never question one's role or jeopardize one's ‘guthorty. Tn my own cae, certainly, it did nctocew to me to compete with Caleb, and I could not have questioned his rele or his authority, Because ‘edad both, He was my toushstone, my meds) and my only guide, ‘Anrwoy, our father, dreaming bisterly of Baxbados, despised andacocked ‘by his nsighbors and allbat ignored by his sons, held down hisunapeskable factory ob, spread his Back gospel in bare on the weekends, and drank his ‘run. Ide net knew if e loved our tothe 1 think he da “They had hed five children —only Celeb andl, the Sratandthe leet, were lofi, We were both davk, lke our father; but two of the three dead git had been fe ike our moter ‘other skin reminded me ofthe colar ef baanas, Herekin was ac bright ee that, and oonteined thet kindof promise, andshe ‘had tiny feces around ber nose and a small black mole just above her upper lip. Te was the mole, I don't know why, which made her beeutfal ‘Without it, her face might have been merely ewer, merely pretty. But the sole was funny. Ithad theetfactof making one ealizethat our mother liked fanny things liked to laugh. The mole made one lock at her eyes large, extraordinary dark ees, eyes which seemed always tobe amused by ome’ thing, eyes which loked ivaight ou, seeming to see overythingeceming to be aftid of nothing. She waa a soft round, lamp woman. She liked nice lothes sand danglingjewery, whichshemocily didn’vhave,andahe ike cook for large cumbers of people, and she loved our father ‘She knew hie-—kaew him through and through T am not being coy or collogulal but blantiy and eadly matieroftact when say that] wil aow never know what shesaw in him What shesaw was omainly notoriany yes; what she saw got him through his working week and hie Sundey re ‘what ehe saw saved him. She caw that he wes a men. For her petheps he ‘vas 8 great man. think, though, that, for cur mother, any man was great ‘who arpized te become aman: this meant that our fether wasvery reeond precious [used to wonder how she Wok it, how abe boreit-hie rages ie tare, ie cowardice (On Ssturday nights, be was almost always evil, drunk and maudlin, He came home from work in the early afrnoon snd gave our mother some ‘money. Ii was never enough, of couse but he always kept enowgh tage out ‘and get drunk. She never protested, atleast not a8 far as Timow, Then she UNIT 2 TELLSIEHOW LONG THE TRAINS BEEY GONE ® ‘would go ont shopping, ! would usually go with her, for Caleb would elenost lways be out somewhere, and ourmother didn't ike theides of leaving te slone i the house. And this was probably, aftar all the best posse arrangement Peopie who disliked our father were cure (or that very rom son) to like our mother and peoplowho fle that Calebwas growing tobe too such like his father could feel that I, afterall, might tuin ott ike ey ‘other. Besides its not ae a general ue, cany ig hate atl cid One runs the isk of ooking ridiculous, espocially ifthe child with hs macther, Just al yon was going 1 pay?] wantsame cornflakes too, and soca milk” Such merchandise as she could reach she had alrondy placed ‘on Tha counter “When do you think you're going tobe able to pay this Wi? AU oft, “You know I'm going to pay it just as soon as can. How much doesit el came io? Give me thst end you got there of that chocolate cake” The thocolate cake wat for Caleb end me, "Well, no you put this aginst the ‘oIL."Imperiously, as though it were hemestmeturalthing in the world, she Dut two or three dellare om the counter, “You lucky I'm softhesrted, Mrs. Prondhammer.” “Things sure don't cost this much downtown you think I don'tknew it? ers" And she paid him for what ebe had bouglie "Thank you You been ‘mighty Kind: ‘Andi we left the store oft felt that in ovdee to lp her, should have Siled my pockets with merchandise while she was talking. But Enever dd not only because tho siore was often crowded er because Iwao eivid oF being eaught by the storekeeper, but because I nas aftald of humiliting ‘her. When Tbegan ta staal, not very much later, Iatlein stores that were moe ‘in our naighborinood, wheze we were not known ‘When we had to do "heavy" shopping, we went mezketing under the ‘ridge at Park Avonue—Caleb, our mother and lj and somelines, bul "rarely, our father came with us The most ural reason for heavy shopping as that some relatives of our mothers, old friends ofboth our mother’s ‘and ovr father's, were coming to visit We were certainly not going to et thet go away huingry—not even ifitmeant, ssitofe die, pending more than we bad. In spite of what I have bess euggesting about our fathers ‘tamperement, and no matier how difficalt he may sometimes have boss with us he wag much too proud to offend eny guest of his on the contrary, Iisinnpiles was to make them fel tat hilasie wes theirs end besa e o est suorrstoauss‘wes lonely, oncly for his past, Ionely for those faces which ad borne ‘witness to ‘that past. Therefor, he woul sometimes Pretend that cur aother didnot know how ta shop, endour father would comewithus under the bale, in order to tesch her ‘There be would be, then, uncharactritically, in shistalsves, which rade im look rather borish; and as our mother showes no desire take Shopping lessons from him, he tured his attention to Caleb edie, fle ‘would pickup ash, opening the ills and holding it clase fis nose. "You see that? Tha fish looks fresh, dor’ tit? Well thst sh ain tas ech as 1am, ‘and I bron oat af the water, They dane doctored that Ssh, Comneos” Ang we ‘wouldwalkaway,alitteembarrassed but, on the whole rether pleased thst (our father was 83 smare. Meantime, cur mother was getting the marketing done. She was very ‘nappy on days lke ths, bovause ou father wae happy. Hewes happy, odd his expression oft may sound, to beout wilh is wile end hietwocons. If ‘webad been onthe sland that hed been witness vo is bith, instead ofthe Snspeskableislond of Manhatian, he fl: that it would not have been 52 dhard far us all to rast and love each other. He sensad, and think he wat ‘ight, hat on that other, nevar to bo rocvered island, hie ons would have Jookedon him very aiffereaty, and he would have looked very diffrensy on dis sons. Life would have been hard ther, too; we would have fought chere #0, and more or less blindly suffered and mereor lens Hindly diet, But we ‘would not have been (rao ft was # ase to al of us Zoreve) so wickedly ‘menaced by the meve fect of our ralatonship, would not have bean 29 ‘ightened of entering into the central, most beaut and valuable facto ‘or lives, We would have bean leughing end cursing and fureing in the ‘water, insteed of stammering under the bridge; we wuld haveknawn lst about vanished African kingtoms and more aboat eachother. Or,nobatll Jmpoctibly, mare about both. fit was summer, we bought s watermelon, which either Caleb or ou father carried home, Sighting with cach oher for this privilege. They leokad ‘ery like each otie on those days—both big, both Black, both Inaghing. Galeb always locked abolutaly helpless when he leughed. He leaghed with all his body, pechops touching his shoulder aginst yours, or patting his head on your chest fora moment, sod then caresning off you halfway scrote the room or down the Sock, [vil alwaye hear his laughter Hle was slways happy on such day’, to. If oar father needed! his sen, Cal tainly nowothisather Suen daye, howover, worerar robably, that [vers ‘The bathtub could not yetbe filled with old water andthe melon placedin thetub, beeauee this was Saturday, and comeevening, weall hadtabathe ‘The melon was covered witha basket and placed on the Sresacape, Then ‘wounleaded what wehad bought,»atherimpressed by our opulence, though our Gather was alwys, by this tine, appalled by the money we ad spent 1 ‘was always endly aware that there Would be nothing lef of all hie once UNIT 2 TELLME HOW LONG THE TRAIIS BEY GONE: a tomorow ia cone and gone and thet mat ater al wastet for us, settee (nriotherwasclelting the peanisshewosldnedallec—carare for or ftir and for Cale wha went ta a hgh steal ot hom nage ‘arodney for the ie Sonera, sncey fer mt er oe oe sont feriht and ea; senny pot ame, pole owerdtheen See nwt abat what oat fates adenine pcketecdoaatnte ste ‘im ove ee money Iwuld bony bedeandiora seston Gale d'art tie jb afr schsl end aay haus ones ‘Anyway. alse ha wan in avery golinnedarnesdednel oceans Pe ould note annus to goin he movies wake ‘arin never inal hat Cig taller whtrehe waging ocd she queen hin ato bow heapenttheramey heads Soe eg Acnng hi handed nc nat ws cng hin eS ee ersten the nnumption bat ewes enable xathed Somme Ses oguabl nd that be now more then eves nosed hepa Bu ue a very Sn wh hi, coretins “a at we ose you xollnginbur a treen morning Caleb want ounces ocr fd ou tgow you got te pour Sate "es nec an. Wy en take my ath a he ming sDontgutsartbig nay. Youknow yovaintaving operoretine ‘take no bath in the morning.” zl re “Dont by wast you tasing aoand in that bathroom all mersng long maa sid father "You at gtk in thence bear oe dt” Tai you never wash out the tu." Cathie tine nic eure ad Som ogre! eight allowing hie itallapouy Sop endowing hsheadswr ios “see end that everyone fn this family is zanging p on me All "ght Tg. Iwas planning to tae You tothe show with mg et now Poe Stenaed my mind” ‘eoey Tai ikl." take it back" oo tae what bak? “What Tseid-sbout oa nt wathing out the ah "At no need take t back” our ator eid eather. “Teste. A saa don't tke bck nothing hate re ‘a youray Cala with aint ao ner But bf anyone eed posibly ceo thi, he picknd me tp scowling inte mpiace eich neka Just above his own. *You tale it back?” me fae “Lao int ging to tae atk ou father soit Now Iwas tosble Caleb wasSed evn arin. om his fac. “You takemtback" ap lesng that sha, and oti down” oor mether i. “The tropa tet Caleb don't woah ou the ohh wach ine “ners kya to wash it ot our ther sid, "uses Twas stan ‘behind him.” a . F ai 2 PRsTsHionr stones‘Well sin'tnsther one of you much good around the hows,” our mother ss (Caieb laughed and set me dow. Tesid nothing. “T guess Pm just going to have to goon without you." Sell, eald moshing, "You going tohave that child to crying ina minate," our mother said. “If you going to take him go on and take him. Don't do him like that.” Celeblausted again. “Tm gcingto take him. The way he got them eyes all ready to water, I'd better take him fomewhere” Wewalked tonard tne door. “But you gottomake up yourmind,” hesaid ome, Yoeay whatyouthinks ight! ‘grabbed Celeb's hand, thesigna for the descent ofthe dzawbridge, Our smother watched us choorfully as we walked out; our father watched ws Salefy Yet thane was a cetis humor ois face fo ande end ofp fon didn't take it bac," ho said. Tada like Cole's friends, because Iwas afraid of them. Tknew the only xosson they didn't try to make feel forme, the way they made fell for lot ofthe other kids, wasbecansethey were afraidf Caleb Twent through {tue door, pessing between my brother andhisriends, down tathesidewalk, {ocling, 2 they looked beiety at me and then consinued jing with Celeb, ‘what they felt that here was Caleb's rounded, frail end ules heey of 2 litte brother. They ped Caleb for having to take me out. On the other end, they also wanted to go to the show, but dida't have the money. Therefore, in slenc, I could erow over them even se they despised me But ‘this was always a terribly risky, toueh-andigo busines, for Caleb might at ‘any moment, change his mind and drive me awey. Teliwaye ood, thoseSatarday afternoons, in fear and trembling, holding conto he small shield ofmy oravado, while woiting or Caleb ocamedown ‘heateps ofthestoop, away frome his fen do, tome [braced myself awaye, {or the moment when he would turn to me, eaving, "Okay, kid. You run long. Pll see you Inte.” ‘This meant that { would have to go tothe movies by myself and hang ‘around in front ofthe box ofice, waiting for some grownsipto take mein foald not go back upetare, for thia would be informing tay mother and {father thet Celeb hod gone off somewhere after promising totale me othe movies. ‘Neither coald I sinmply hong around, playing with the ids on the block. For one thing, my demeanor, as T came out Of the house, very clearly Indicated that Thad beter things to d0 than play with shen for another, they were not taribly anzious to play with me: and, Gnally, my remaining fon the block would have had exactly the esme affect as my going upetaire. UNIT 2 TELLME HOW LONG THE TRAIN' BEEN GONE « ‘To romain on the block after Caleb's dismiscel was to put myself at che ‘mercy of the block nd to put Caleb atthe mercy of or parents. Se propared mysel, those Saturdays, ovespond witha cool “Okey. See you lata" and then to turn indifferently away, and walk This wee sualy ‘the most terible moment The moment I turned away, was commie, I was trapped, and then had miles t walk soltstemed tome, before would bbe out of sight, before the block ended and I could tara onto the avenue ‘wanted torun out ofthat block, but I never did Ineverlookedback Tforced ‘ys’ to wale vary slowly, looking neither right nor le tvingto eet at once distracted and offaand: concentrating onthe cracks in the eidewalk fand stumbling over thems tying to whistle, fling every usc ny body, feling that all the block was watehing me, and feling, which wa ove, that T deserved i ‘And then T reached ihe avenue, and turned, still not looking beck, and was zelessed dom these eyes at least; but u9W I faced ether eye, eyes ‘coming toward ma Thare eyes were the ayes of children etrongor then ma, ‘ho would steal my movie money, these eyes Were the eyes of white cops ‘whom I feared, whom Thated with aitarally marderous nated thes ey ere the eyes of ald fake, who might wonder what I res doing on this venue by mele “And then f gotta the show. Somotmes someone would fake mein wight sway, and sometimes I would have to stand there end wot, watching the facestoming tothe axallion And this wae notensy, ince dda’ aitar el, Want everyone in the neighborhood to Imow I waa loitering outside the ‘movie house waiting {er someone to take me in. Tf i earae fo our fathers Aaftenten, be would kil both Caleb and me, ‘Eventually, would seea face whichlockod susceptible Twosla rash apto hhim—it was usually « man, for men were les kay tobe disapproving snd whisper, "Take mein” and give him my dime Sometimes the man simply took the dime and disappeared inside; ometizes be gave my dime ‘back to me and took me in enyway. Sometimes I ended up wantaring sround the strectsbut I couldn't wandar into a strange neighborhood, ‘Because I woule be beaten up if Taidunt I Squred the show was out Tt (Was dangerous to get home teary, an of couse, ewes practically thal fo arrive too lateral went wel, could cover for Cale, eaying that had left him with come boyaan the stcop, Then, if heeamein tote teould wot De considered my fault ‘But if wandering around this way was not without ite dangers neither wae it without its discoveriea and delights. I discovered subways, {disco ‘ered, that, Chat could vide onsubwaysby myeelfand, furthermore chat Teould usually ride for nothing. Sometioes, when I ducked under the ‘turnstile, Twas caught, and sometimes great blac lndies osied ce me ae relent for long, very lov, sneffebly moral lectures about waywad chen Dresking ther parents’ hearts. Sometimes, doing everytning im my power ot to aliract their attention, I endeavored toloak as though [were in the chargoof arespectablelookingman or woman, entering chesubwey inthe shadow and sitting vey stil beside them. Te was best t try ta at betoeen ‘hwo such people, for each would eutomatially samme that was with theether, There ¥ would st then, im a precarious anonyrity, watching the Serle Hstsning tote oar, watching the ght of ations Dash by, Foci oe tht nothing was fater than asobway ein, andTlovedthe ‘Speed, bncause the sped nas dangeovs ya nm rng thes eration, Iempy stand waichotbe pea ets of poop would be dresed up, for tht was Saturday night The Menncn'fai role bal eared and stained, end Bpatickon the [Ei Upe looked purple and make-believe epsine tbe dark shins of thelr {oes They wore very faney capes or enata in wondefal clos, na ong este, snd svnctne ney hd owes in thera, and sometime hey Store lowarson ther dents. They were almost ac beavis movestars [Rnd ao the spn wih them asemod fo think “The hats oe maea weaslice and wary, broshed wp into poropadoor or shy wore very snmp hal, brim ficked down dongeroely over 006 oe, eu petnepe ne tower tothe Tepe of Grr manyoolored suit. Ther Treghed and aed with ter pla bt quel for thre were mite poopie {bie cer Toe ite pop woud sear ever be dressed up and didnot ‘peak fo each olber at all~only tend he papers and stared athe adver. ‘Speen Sut they fascnated mermore than ecole poople di bea Tinewaotungetalabout them and coaldnotimapinewhatthey meres, train di not pap at any of he top rome sail more hhtened,ghtentd of geftng of the tan nd frightened cE iping oil ghtenedefeaying anythin othe an and igbtened hat SENOMS tet ct tae ain tederet cold eny appt to him He was ay ‘stelen and he el thee in thoanapprnsheble and fightening form avait es fen thas At esc tnp {waiched hin wih despi. "To 'mmke mates more, 1 suddenly renizd that I hed to pee Once sazel hin eed Pee orn the bocor of wating my panei Ein otall ite pnre made tho torment great Fly 1 ogee atthe ‘Sait levee down ote ih ra enue coer; the, Randunredeubtto the dnprstion i my farm, he bet clots. Tan hin there mane broom on the fat. i Fe loupe. "No" bean, “otter x betiroom nthe tation" He leaked a we again, "Whee you go” Teblc hin eat we gone Home "Aa wine heme?" Tela him : Ths tine he aH not Inugh. “Do you know where you ace?” he aid LMT 2 TEULME vOWLONG THE TRAINS BEBY GONE 6 thn i a an, acai oS eee ee ccaenaat Senin eae cy amine ee oT eT ae en eat aia sda Ta Se Sc wt A Fl ta Fees ne ems ew twee et vegeta a ee Tarr SANIT ttt andtria sofort eum atte eee Say Settee Ea Ee wy me eehte kr caress RNS Ste run ent rn fig lentes ie ® TETAEL Cit pment doesnt tad ee aon ce reese erp etn eae [Edeipens near taal cee eee eee ‘him if he had a little boy. i if Feet unyuaewy.ripatnper ere on iat ete Ue tweet a AE nent mah“ ae aga ta ne ache, TTI aa waste co ep Heli gcs e Ceara ES amt mmeat Recriarireste ll treme ag Vttewe encarta ara cr Ramat Serene aetna et TEIN 2 ante tapactstaet fe erase emer eemarer SE ie ha ecamears SE nies Sareea ped nny neat aed ie ue taritate De SRT ierimed rea rrrart Sosigeiitaanr inlet mae TNS ttn testa - mist stoxrsroRtEsee eee agnor Tien ee ode ing ge ten elicednasTaa eee ers ree pa gor pe eae ges ee asm el i oe op a ee Pectin oe hss venus tenet nee asee / EE actrees fen eR jaws as eee ee te iat dcaraiberhn ror “a ‘want to be—" and I had never said this before—'T want to be s- more etter ee a : Heer ae i a tetova TE aetunms sentence se ST we nud cere y ng em ein wih orn Sie wok neste sentra oes ee eee Fag wa bt ftp dane aie oe Tie at tan Bt te il ne Ue a a am ae, By in cpa ni aon cre Tesla aoe Sa ternceghiag tae cee se Reet te cone ry Rms ei an Tee uy paar ey whee ne ont sere ti aos! ie acne ‘unin 2 TRL, ME HOW ONO THE TRARIS BEEN GON « Tb eT goed memory,” he ad, “vee your des Jutsu ‘So said i staring into his face asthe train came roaring in. “If you don't go eteaight home,” he esi, "I'm going ta come co your addy, and when we find you, youl be mighty srry." He pushed mento ‘thetrtin and put one shoulder against the door. "Go on, now,” hesald, lod ‘enough forall the eer to hear." Yourmama'll mest yeu atthestation where] “ld You to get off” He repeated my subway sop, pushed the angry door with hisshoulder, ond then said gently, "Sit down, Leo.” Heromainodinthe {oor until Tat down. “So ong, Leo," he sald then, and stepped backward fut. The doors closed, He grinned at me and waved, andthe vain beganto Twaved back. Then he was gone, the station was gons, and Twas ony way back home. Thever sar that man sgain, but T made up stores ebout him, Téveamed boat him, Teven waste a letter to him and his wife nd hist boy, but newer mail i never told Caleb anything about my solitary expeditions. I don't know why. T think that be might have Hiked to know about them. 1 suppose, finely, at botiom, I eaid nothing because my expeditions belonged ome “Ancthersime,t ae raining, andit was silltoscuay formeio zohome. {ole very, very low that day. Tt was ane of the tes thatmy tongue end my ‘ody refered to obty me, and I had nat bean abletowort up the courage’ ask anyone to take mei to the show. The ticket taker was Watching me, ot 2 I thought, with a hostile saepicion. Actually, its very ualikely he was ‘thinking at all and certainly not of me But walled away fram theshow, ‘because T could no longer bess his eyes, or anybody's eyes T walked the long block est from the movie house Tha test was empty, ‘lack and glittering, The water soaked Unrough my coat a the shoulders, ‘and water dipped down my ned rom my cap. bepsn tobe frsie. Leold not say ootin the ran, bocaure then tay father and mother would know I Jhad boon wandering the eect. I would get a bacting, an, hough Caleb ‘wos too old to gets benting, he and my father would havo tambo Sight, nd Caleb would blame i ll on me and would not speak to me for days. Thogan tohate Caleb. wondered whore he was. Istartdin the diction ‘of our house, anly because [did not know what else to de, Pethaps Caleb ‘would be waiting for me on the stoop. ‘The avenue, loo, was very long and silent. Somehow, it seamed ol ikea picture in'a hook Te ateetched straight before me, mdiess, and the street lights did not eomuch iluminatait as provehow dark twee. Thovain was falling harder Care sloshed by, sndingup sheets of water. From the ars I hheaed susie, fant, and many voles. Seraight ahead of me a women walked, very fast, head down, carrying ashopping bas. Treachedmay corer {nd crossed che wide avente, There was'no one on my sloop. ‘Now Iwas not even certain whot tine stan but eno twasn’ttmne yet ‘oe the show to be over. walked ito my hallway and wrung out my ea. ‘was cory thet ed not ede somesne takemelatotheshow, because now Tiidnotknow what odo.1could coupstaire snd say that wehad not liked‘he movie end had Je early end thet Caleb was with some boys on the stoop. But thie would sound strange, and Caleb, who would not know what story Thad tld, would, therefore be @eatly handicapped when he came ome ‘Teouldnét stay because may father might not bein my hallway, athome sand might come ia, | sould not go into the hallway of ancther balding, ‘eeause if any ofthe ide who lived in the building found mo, they would ‘Rave te right fo beat we up. Ica not go back out ino the rain. stood ‘next to the ig, coldvacinter, nd bagan fo ey. Butrying wan't going to dome any good, either, especialy as there was no one t hear xe ‘Sol sapped out on my’ stoop again and stood therefor a leng time, ‘wondering what ‘9 do, Thea I thought of a condemned house, round the ‘comer fom ve We played thors sometimes, though it was vary dangerous land we were not suppeced to, Wht posaeoaod me fo gothare nev, Ldoa't Know, evap hat ood nt think of another dry placein he whole world. I started ranning ese, down our block turned tie comers and cameo the Ihoase, with ts black window rockets The house was completa dark. bed forgotten how afreid Iwas ofthe dark, but thevain wes drenchingas, [ren down the caller stepe and clambered into the house trough one of the ‘broker windows [equated thereln stil dry dread notdaring tolockinto ‘thehowse bot staring outward. Iwas holding my breeth hosed ancncloss sctrrying in che darkness, a perpetual busynecs, and thought of rats, of ‘her toth and ferocity and fearful size, and J bogen to cry again. Tdomt know how long Taqustind there this way or what wasin my mind I listened is therain andthe rate Then 1 was ewere of ancthersoune—Thed ‘been heating it fare whlewithoutreslisingt This Wasamoaning ound, sighing sound, a sound of strangling, which mingled with the sound of the tain and with amtterng, cursing naman Voice. Thoeomdscemeteom the oor that le to the backyard, Trwantadto tang, bt ercuched lower; wanted rm, butcouldmot move Sometimes the sounds seemed to come closer, and! knew that this meant ‘By doth; sometimes they diminished or cessed sliogeter, and chen Tew {hat my assnlant was looking forme. looked toward the beckyard door, ‘andl seamed toe, silnovetn against the drivingrain,2 figure half bent, ‘osning, leming against the wall, in indascribable ferment, then there seemed tobe two farm, sighing and grappling, moving so quickly thatit ‘mpoctible ts tol which was which, evo creatures, exch in dread, ‘eolute, sent singlemindednestattompting to strangle the other! T watched, crouching low. A very powerful and curious excitement singled te with my tor and made the terror groatr.1eoudnot move L {Bd not dare move. The figures were quieter now. [tseeaied tomethatonect them was a woman, and she scemed to be crying, pleading for her life, Bt Ihr sobbing was answered only ly a growling sosnd. The mattered, joyous ‘eumses began again the murderous ferocity began again, morebitely than vee, The eating began to vee in pith, lke a sang "Then, everything wee sil, ell movement ceased. Then Thesrd only the fain andthe courrying ofthe rats. It was over, onoe cham, or bath f hex, lay stretchel out, daad or dying in this Slshy placa Itheppened in Harlem UNIT 2 THLDIME HOW LONGTHETRALI'S BEEN CONE ° ‘very Saterday night. 1 ould otoatch my breath to cereaz Thea Theseda Inu, «low, bapyy, wicked Tough, end the fgte turned in my cretion ‘Sid seemed io sat toward me “Then Iecreaned end stood up arog bumping my head onthe window feome and ling my cap, and seambled up the cla tee Tren head don like abut swy Eom that howe and et ofthat Hore Tren ep toe ‘ape ofmy stovp and bumped nla Caleb “Rare the bel eve you been? Hey! Whats the mtr with you?” I had Jumped wp hy almost necking him dow, ening on sobbing “owe sogked, Leo, whats the matter? Whew's son cp.” But Icon not say anything. 1 eld him around the nec with ll ay snight, and cold net stop ehaicng "Corse on, Lon” Caleb ssid, inn different ton, “Yall me what’ the smatier" He vied my arms loote sod hel oe away from hm, so that touldcck ita mysace "Ot, ede Leo Lites Whos hematin, bby? Le looked as thous he were bow to ery heel, an thin aoads ae ny hander thanever Hetookouthishanduerhieand wipedmyfaseand made ae blow my ete. My sobs began olesren, xt | ould not inp een, He thought that Twas trembling from eal and he Tabbed Me bends oughly up abd dows sy bask nd robbed my bands betmee hia “What's emaater™ “ai nd know how to el his, "Somebody ty fo beat you ap Tabook my bead “Nae “What marie did you best ‘Tl gp Teles find nobody to take mia." ‘And you jst bun wandering sroend nthe anal ight?” Fe sat down onthe hallway slaps “Ob, Lon” Theo, "You mad ef me?” ‘Lesid, “No. Iwas scared.” ae He noddet“Treckon you wer, man.” He wiped my face agein, “You ready to go opera t's geting fale” ee {Hw yoa lose your cap?” “Tent in allway to wring tout—and—T putt on theradistor, andl ard some people coming andl ran away, and I Fnge “ell ay you forge tia the movies” ia We started up the sti "Leo." he sel Tm sorry sbost tonight. Ha really omy, woot lett Jaap again: You babeve a “Burn [believe you." sled up at hi, He stuatad down "Give wea Hae Tsar hi “Okay. Clin up 1 give you aie. Hold on, now.” He carried me piggybsck up the tac. ‘Theseaier, we evalved a ayaten, which didnt, in fact, work too bay 0 ust son srontesWhen things wont wrong and be could not be found; T was to leave # message for him at a cera store on the avenue, Tose stove had a bad ‘eputation--more than sandy and hot doge and soda pop were sold there, (Caleb himeelfhadtoldme this andtold menetto hang outthere Hutheseid Ihe would see toit chat they treated me all ight 1 wont in the store one Saturday night, and one of the bays who was always there, aboy about Cole's age looked up and smiled and sai, "You looking for your totes? Cote om, take you to hima” ‘This was not the agrestion formls. Iwas to be then to Caleb only in cases of zeal emergency, which wasn't the ease this time. I wes there bocaace tha show was over ile earier than usual, and since tas only bout a quartar past eloven, I figured [hed ebout half ax hour to wait for Calas, ‘When the boy made his invitation, I assumed it was becouse of seme preariangement with the owner of the stare, avery dour slent black man, ‘who looked et me from behind his counter and aaid nothing. Tseld, "Okay," and the boy, whose name was Arthur, said, "Come on, Sonny. Iim going otakeyoutoaparty” He took my handendled me acroos the svenue und into along, dark block, ‘We walled the length ofthoblecl i lence crossed another avenue and weat into # bg house in Une midele ofthe block. We ware in big vestibule, vith four locked apartinent doors staring away fora ench other It was oct eclly cloany bat it wae fainly clean. We climbed threa Highte of tars. ‘Arthur knocked on the dor, avery funny knock, notloud. ARer amoment, I ‘heard a seraping sound, then the eound ofa chain vatting and a bolt bing pulled back. The door opened. “A lady, very black and rather fat, wearing a blue dzess, held the doo for ‘uc, Sho Seid, “Come on in. Now, what you deing hava with this child?” “Had to doit Ir all ight Ws Caleb's brother” “Flere's your litle brother,” said the fat black lady in De. Acthar gid ta Cale, "Te wes jut better for him not to have to wait there pid Caleb stiledatme: I was tremendously relieved that he was not angry. 1 ‘yas delighted by this party, even though le made me shy, “Come on over bee.” Caleb anid, Tent the sofa. "Tas omy ied brother. His names ‘Leo. Leo, this is Dolores, Say hello to Dolores.” Dolored smiled at me—I thought she was very pretty—and seid, “Tim vay happy lo meet you, Leo, Howe you been?™ ‘Just fin," Feaia. “Don't you want to know how she's been?” Caleb grinned, "No," seid the fat black Indy, and leughed. "Tim sure he don't want to ‘know that, bethe's hungry. You been stusing yourself ll night, Cale. Lat ‘ne give him a litle bit ef my berbeeue and a glans of gings? ale." She alzesdy as beginning to propel me out ofthe room ‘Hooked at Caleb, Cale gad, "Just remember we ain't gotall night Leo, ‘his is Mise Mildred, She cookod everything, and she's a might good fiend of mine What do you eay 49 Bice Mildred, Lao?” ‘Dig Caleb being the big brother,” Arthur mutired, and laughed. “Thank you, Mise Mildred" Teal “Come on i the Iitchen,” she sai, “end etme try to put some flesh on ‘hem bones." She walked me into the kitchen. "Now, you elt right over “here.” she sald. "Won't take me bats minateto warm thie up” She gat me tthe kitchen tsble and yave me anapkinand poured the ginger ale. "What ‘ade youin at school, Leo?" I told her, "You must be a ight smart boy, ‘then," she esi, with a pleased smile. "Do you like schoo! Las?” 1 fold her what T ited best wer Spanish end history and English composition, Bhs cause ert oo more plese than eves “What do youwant ta be when you g1oW up?” Somehow I could not tall her what I had told the man, my find, onthe fasicn I said I wasn't sur, that maybe I would bea schoolteacher “That's just what I wanted tobe," she seid protdly, “ana | etudied sight ‘hard for it to, and Tbelieve I would have madeit,Dut then Thad wo ge and fet myself mixed up with rome no-count nigger {didn’t have no oente] ‘didn't have no better senso to marry him- Can you beat that?” Andshe lsughed and setmy platein front of me. “Ge an, now, est Foolish me Now, Your brother” she said sudéenly, “he's right fine boy. He wants ta me something of himself He's got ambition. That's what T lke ambition ey once in a while, [heard Caleb, booming ikea trumpet, drowning tt the music. I wondered iow often Caleb came here and how be bad met these people, who were go different, atleast ast zemed tome, rom any of the people who ever eame to our hovee ‘Then Caleb's hand wae on my neck Doleres stood in the doorway, 2 ‘Bue? etionr sTonessmiling. "You staffed yourself enough, litle brother? Calc said. “Because wwe got to get out of here now.” “We wailed slowly down the hall, Miss Milrod, Dolors and Caleb and se We reached the dove, which had a metal poe blltintoitin such away tn prevent ts being opened from the ousice, and aheavy pieceofchsin round the top ofthe three looks. ‘iiss Mildeed began, patieatly, t0 open the door. “Leo,” sho saié, “don't you be no stranger, You make your brother bring you beck to see me, you 35.9" She got the pole out ofthe way and then anldthe chain, ToCaleb, Cho caid, "Bting hie by some afternoon, Tsin't got nothing odo, 11Ubeglad {a lock aftr hin,” Theat lock yielded, and Miss Mildred opened the door. ‘We were facing the bright ball ight: no, the building was not very clean, "Good nigist Len.” Mise Mildred wei, and then she anid good night fo Delonas and Cale, She closed the door Tincerd the scraping sovnd agen, and we walled down the ear. ‘She's nice," I said Caleb said, yawning, "Yeah, shelsa very niceledy’" Then he aid “Now, 41Gon't want Jos fling nobody st bome about tis, vo bear?” T swore I ‘wouldn't tall. "I's pur sre," Caleb said, St wa colder in the atraets than it had been before Caleb took Dolores’ arin “Lots gat you to your subway,” be said, ‘We stated welling up the wide, dark avenue. Weracched the brightly it rdewelklikesoretnbelievably melevelent fwnlag or the suction spparstas of a monstrous vacuum cleaner. i }aseed Dolozes on the nose. "Tot toron. See ““Byebye, Lao, Be good.” She hurried down the steps. ‘Gatch endT began walking very fast, down the avenua, toward ou block ‘The subway station was none the movie house, and the movie house was ark We know we were late, we did not think we were that late “id waa a ry long shaw, wasn't it?” Cale said Mea," Tsai. ‘oinged we see? Better tall me about both pictures, Justin case.” Told hisn cn well as I could aa vo Buzred down the avenue. Celeb bad gut powersofconcentraton and could fgurocut enough from what said fo now what ay if tho necessity arose ‘But oor thien, thet night, came fom a very differnt source then our porenta [had just veachod the point ia my breathless narretion where the {ood gil is rdered by the Indiane and the hero vows revenge. We wore Rizeylng down the long block that led aaatto our house when weheard x car Srakiag*and were blinced by bright lights and were pushed up egainst & ‘wall “STuen azound,” a voios sid. “And Keep your hands inthe a.” ‘may soem fanny, but I fle ae though Caleb and I had conjured wp a movie taal had hot been dererbing a movie to im, we waulé not have ‘Ruddealy found ourslvesia themidaleafone. Orwasittineend?Ihacnever ban op Srgbtened in my Tie OT 2 TBILME HOW LONG THE TRAINS BEEN GONE n epee on turtae patted me all over my body, every touel sting. Beside me, ea seeps ery aheee ae cece picts entra at subsea iater tacts aac ‘tight lipped and selfimportant. 7 eae gn And be gave ha area 7 MY None “We vein the net setae yar WeJut nk ny gt the mwa ation Weare ie ove tice sires av ne ones BRERUSILE foes gry Durga SESS oeaeaa asa ‘might also know ihe: But they didn't. oa seat? ees oe nse batdite Cee tt a oumtmenen a ee EG! Oa eat ame ce Oo a et A mate Beene Pectre ear enero toa ret ¢ looked down at me and langhed and hugged me. “Come on, let's get eee ie roe Smee ‘Deman right, wae seared, But damn!—they mus! have sen thet ES ‘esr suonr eTomE3thoes hands Wie they pope? "Gale" Tanbed, are white pole peopl?” “Wt are ou tldog about La “Tipetn, ae whit polepeope? People ke w?* Helookad dowa ame His aces ver strange andond Twas afaceT hadneverseen lore Weversin thetic ow, tod mechaelatearee {fats vey slomiy. Then, “All Tenn a yo, Laie they sen tok frase Tohowgat of th lepaord Then {shovght of my atholeacher, lly game is Nelo! Led hr very mass {hoop abe wae ay eee Shotiad ng elim hii somesoe ld aes nthe movin andes Insp nde a iked berate ike, The ide who wrt clase whe they were ike fo wt cmpontons fr her, Sessa ie ested tal inset. Bat she was me Would se hats cl ny has reuse was ack? adn soon poole Soe tnt bate we sows es Pag esto tha, And yt Caleb aa asd wan tae “Caleb T ened “are ll white people the ome?” “Tawvar ett pod son” {asked No nen hen sou were it? In chr?" Geis said "Napbe I dot romemlber" He sale ae. "Tnevermeta god one Lee, But thate ot sales thal you won Den loa se Eigitenel™ ‘Ne waren front of our dor. Cale aie his hand to nook: Thai Eis hand. "Call whigpared, “hat sheet Masel ‘at do you orem wit about Seana?” “Waly Marsa" stare thin: he watched me very gravely. "Mama Maza’ aloet white” “But that don't make he whit You got ob all eo be white" He lnuped “Poor Leo, Do' el ba ina go don tundertana tao Fl tty to explain itt you ela by lise” He poased. "But our mana it clare woman. Youn elshe's colored woman bcauneshy sasied io Scolred mn, and sh got tro cael exsren. Nev, geulmon site thie lay gong tod nthng ie Gat” He waichene wing "You Sndustand that Twat Wallon going toveopmehersalinsehiwik urges orca we go on in sow” = Ee knocked, and our mother opened the door. “About time,” shesaid drily, Sheba erat piled na knoton te ap erhend ted her hatwog, ‘Non must have ast hosah that movie oarer five ines Youve gtng> rinyour yen tad thal fenbe tooba er fou,bonuscyoe ee aeeied fot no mooy to be baying om no lesen. Leo, you room isa pt ready tothe your bat “athig come cer sere inst” or father ei owas iting in dhe one any char atte window, Hs was dr, bene sndeosk eed ‘exh, qnathis wana gost ooderuie In hbsneod betaling boat oe ‘anes, his acter and father end nil and fen, ae feat legen Signe Sedepcog ndhesen ie ‘approached hin, end he pelos mea hissing, and eld meborween Lisihphs. "lows ay bg tan” br asked, tig rung a son UNIT 2 THLE HOW LONG THE TRANS BEBW GONE sl tently over my hae. "Di you have good tine tonight Gather ont sagt chr ear enn vers “Lt Lot oa wy we oats Tall th whet opponent “Ne wae coming down te ook I began and I watched my tethers fac Saddell a wat tl hic Something nna et alerted him and he wathed ne mith astern and fiphenchopreseeee mother ane and dont baieins chanon Re thaloe Tekst (ait ayn so soul tl i eter “Geom te Fi in “Me wie cing dove the Mock" Is “ming om the movies” looked st Caleb. zi “Oeste way we usally come" Csi My ater edie ata ses Ses Sdeny,awoen on creretainingsoren. Icha came Som aovaere"Wegeeeneed aie ope Tait then T cod not ents flaked hepac age a GER dtd hence 25 Cale sal, watcha ny father’. now hw tn dence what mim Til sane then, ghtan hs pe teeee ee {9st ey dul Iiwas en hosgh~afrinfcewib le senate erg yeect faring and payer abate hath ae Sng tes rmtsn by tbe Almighty tate heaped eaten ‘Eee Would rane oh oa nih me athe eaee hae thoughja temas yl texting end Seung coomnshondiciet esengeanivel ital nin tats pectovahatior eee eee asalltbe dane again Belorelie sen ten, hsbanguctenddonter nee osand the beng! gues cepavindinersbe end eeene tee Lewasalone one otefbinaieam mthalonioeiot amie thought was bed hie No father nok asstumaandeiand asso mpdnesaathat and taalag tm began ohm tl didnt eomnlng trates onbie fae andere! tome Se oalod “he waar pantaat eae adhe put hi tat hand on top of mina He raed Caled Tete ‘Bat happened? ou did't say tahoe” “ota any Tagine rn ei? Sen by mye Bat wth and wen ada wha iy might pags oon dh man Igotno ato fiad Yon Eos abase badge (Caleb enickered, “What for? Youlnow a friendly judge? We otmoney fr 4 lawyer? Somebody they going to listen ta? They get usin thet srecect ‘Rouse and make us confess to allkindsofthings snd peractimes evenly, «znd don's ucbody give e dams, Don't nobody care whet happens Bleck ‘man, I they didn't need us for work, they'd have illed ue allefalong tne go. They didi to the Indians,” “That's tha trth" our mother said “T wish Lcould sey diferent, butt’ the truth.” She stroked our father's shoulder, "We jut aank the Lord it ‘wasn't no warse, We oat got to say: Wal the boss got home tafe tonya asked, "Dads, how come they do us Uke they do? My father looked stusforalong time. Finally, heeaie,"Leo,ifTeoslatall * usr sioxr stones youthat maybeT'abe ablato make hem stop But don'tlet them make you Bfesld You han?" Tesi, “Yes, si.” But] knew that Iwas already afraid. “Lot's pot talk about tno mors,” ur mother sai, "you twois hungry, 1 sot some pork chopa Back there” Celeb grinned atme. “Little Lcomighthe hungry. Hestulfshimediken ig, But ain't hungry, Hey, old man" he nudged my father’ shoulder, Dothing would be refused us tonight-—"why don't we have stasta of your ram’? All ght” (Our mother laughed. “Tl go get it" she anid She startad ou af thereon. "Reckon we can give Leo site bit, too?” our father asked He puledme conto his lap. “in biggles of water.” our mother aid, sughing. She ookonelastlook at us before she wont into the Kitchen. "My," ehe said" sure em su rounded by some prety mea! My, ay, my!