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a shovel-run fetch it."

Charlie stood with his mouth agape, wondering what on earth this woman had just said to him.

Tootie looked at Carla. "He don't listen to awful well does he?"

Carla gave Tootie a strained smile. "Charlie could you get the shovel and bring it back, please?"

"Oh," the boy said. He turned and walked to the house, taking hold of what he hoped was the shovel among the six or seven different tool-like objects that leaned against the back wall. He held it up as he walked back to the women, "This it?"

"He's a bright lad," Tootie said. She moved like a stiff-legged drunk as she scanned the ground for a good and likely spot to install the new hole for the outhouse. "Right here looks good enough. Shouldn't have to move it too far this way, see? When you get ready to move it come knock on my door and I'll call some boys to come help you get it situated-all right, son?"

"Okay." Charlie said. He sounded morose as he looked at the spot of ground that Tootie had pointed to with the toe of her shoe. He placed the shovel down and tried to shove it into the hard-packed sand. It didn't budge.

"You gotta get up on the ends of it with your feet, son." Tootie said. She used her old frame to suggest how one stands on a shovel blade and wiggles it in. Charlie obeyed and found, to his delight, that it actually worked! "There you go!" Tootie said. "You'll be digging holes like ole Silas in no time at all."

"Who?" Charlie said. His head bent down as he once again shoved the blade down into the sand.

"Oh, I'll save that story for another time. We're celebrating it all this week. Town's a hundred."

"We heard about it on the way in." Carla said. She was fighting back a yawn.

"Lord, child, but you look as tuckered as a mule after plow day." Tootie said.

"I'm afraid I drove all night." Carla said. This time the yawn wouldn't be held back and she stretched it out; her body shuddering with the need for sleep.

Tootie's old hand came to Carla's shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze. "Well, come on inside then and let's get you situated. You can unpack your things tomorrow. Nelley's beds are all made and there's even a few things in the cupboards as I last recall. We played poker here every forth Wednesday, so I know my way around. When the boy gets done moving the outhouse, I'll sit him down next door at my place and feed him so you don't have to get up."

"Oh, wellyou really don't have-"

"I know well and good what I don't have to do but I've always been a good neighbor and I'm still

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