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been。 Often his jaw was crooked because he had a habit of
feeling out the sore new teeth with his tongue。
'Listen here； George；' she said。 'Do you love me？
'
'Sure。 I love you O。K。
'
It was a hot； sunny morning during the last week of school。
George was dressed and he lay on the floor doing his number
work。 His dirty little fingers squeezed the pencil tight and he
kept breaking the lead point。 When he was finished she held him
by the shoulders and looked hard into his face。 'I mean a lot。 A
whole lot。'
'Lemme go。 Sure I love you。 Ain't you my sister？'
'I know。 But suppose I wasn't your sister。 Would you love me
then？'
George backed away。 He had run out of shirts and wore a dirty
pullover sweater。 His wrists were thin and blue…veined。 The
sleeves of the sweater had stretched so that they hung loose and
made his hands look very small。
'If you wasn't my sister then I might not know you。 So I couldn't
love you。'
。But if you did know me and I wasn't your sister。
'
*But how do you know I would？ You can't prove it。
'
。Well； just take it for granted and pretend。
'
'I reckon I would like you all right。 But I still say you can't
prove…
'
'Prove！ You got that word on the brain。 Ptove and trick。
Everything is either a trick or it's got to be proved。 I can't stand
you； George Kelly。 I hate you。
'
'O。K。 Then I don't like you none either。
'
He crawled down under the bed for something。
*What you want under there？ You better leave my things alone。
If I ever caught you meddling in my private box I'd bust your
head against the side of the wall。 I would。 I'd stomp on your
brains。
'
George came out from under the bed with his spelling book。 His
dirty little paw reached in a hole in the mattress where he hid his
marbles。 Nothing could faze that kid。 He took his time about
choosing three brown agates to take with him。 'Aw； shucks；
Mick；' he answered her。 George was too little and too tough。
There wasn't any sense in loving him。 He knew even less about
things than she did。
School was out and she had passed every subject—some with
A
plus and some by the skin of her teeth。 The days270
were long and hot。 Finally she was able to work hard at music
again。 She began to write down pieces for the violin and
piano。 She wrote songs。 Always music was in her mind。 She
listened to Mister Singer's radio and wandered around the
house thinking about the programs she had heard。
。What ails Mick？' Portia asked。 'What kind of cat is it got her
tongue？ She walk around and don't say a word。 She not even
greedy like she used to be。 She getting to be a regular lady
these days。'
It was as though in some way she was waiting—but what she
waited for she did not know。 The sun burned down glaring
and white…hot in the streets。 During the day she either worked
hard at music or messed with kids。 And waited。 Sometimes
she would look all around her quick and this panic would
come in her。 Then in late June there was a sudden happening
so important that it changed everything。
That night they were all out on the porch。 The twilight was
blurred and soft。 Supper was almost ready and the smell of
cabbage floated to them from the open hall。 All of them were
together except Hazel； who had not come home from work；
and Etta； who still lay sick in bed。 Their Dad leaned back in a
chair with his sock…feet on the banisters。 Bill was on the steps
with the kids。 Their Mama sat on the swing fanning herself
with the newspaper。 Across the street a girl new in the
neighborhood skated up and down the sidewalk on one roller
skate。 The lights on the block were just beginning to be turned
on； and far away a man was calling someone。
Then Hazel come home。 Her high heels clopped up the steps
and she leaned back lazily on the banisters。 In the half…dark
her fat； soft hands were very white as she felt the back of her
braided hair。 'I sure do wish Etta was able to work；' she said。 'I
found out about this job today。'
'What kind of a job？' asked their Dad。 'Anything I could do； or
just for girls？'
'Just for a girl。 A clerk down at Woolworth's is going to get
married next week。'
〃The ten…cent store' Mick said。
'You interested？'
The question took her by surprise。 She had just been
271
thinking about a sack of wintergreen candy she had bought
there the day before。 She felt hot and tense。 She rubbed her
bangs up from her forehead and counted the first few stars。
Their Dad flipped his cigarette down to the sidewalk。 。No；' he
said。 'We don't want Mick to take on too much responsibility
at her age。 Let her get her growth out。 Her growth through
with； anyway。'
'I agree with you；' Hazel said。 'I really do think it would be a
mistake for Mick to have to work regular。 I don't think it
would be right。'
Bill put Ralph down from his lap and shuffled his feet on the
steps。 'Nobody ought to work until they're around sixteen。
Mick should have two more years and finish at Vocational—if
we can make it。'
'Even if we have to give up the house and move down in mill
town；' their Mama said。 'I rather keep Mick at home for a
while。'
For a minute she had been scared they would try to corner her
into taking the job。 She would have said she would run away
from home。 But the way they took the attitude they did
touched her。 She felt excited。 They were all talking about her
—and in a kindly way。 She was ashamed for the first scared
feeling that had come to her。 Of a sudden she loved all of the
family and a tightness came in her throat。
'About how much money is in it？' she asked。
Ten dollars。'
Ten dollars a week？'
'Sure；' Hazel said。 'Did you think it would be only ten a
month？'
'Portia don't make but about that much。'
'Oh； colored people' Hazel said。
Mick rubbed the top of her head with her fist That's a whole
lot of money。 A good deal。'
'It's not to be grinned at；' Bill said。 〃That's what I make。'
Mick's tongue was dry。 She moved it around in her mouth to
gather up spit enough to talk。 Ten dollars a week would buy
about fifteen fried chickens。 Or five pairs of shoes or five
dresses。 Or installments on a radio。' She thought about a
piano； but she did not mention that aloud。272
'It would tide us over；' their Mama said。 *But at the same time
I rather keep Mick at home for a while。 Now；
when Etta'
'Wait！' She felt hot and reckless。 'I want to take the job。 I can
hold it down。 I know I can。' 'Listen to little Mick；' Bill said。
Their Dad picked his teeth with a matchstick and took his feet
down from the banisters。 'Now； let's not rush into anything。 I
rather Mick take her time and think this out。 We can get along
somehow without her working。 I mean
to increase my watch work by sixty per cent soon as'
'I forgot；' Hazel said。 'I think there's a Christmas bonus every
year。'
Mick frowned。 〃But I wouldn't be working then。 I'd be in
school。 I just want to work during vacation and then go back
to school。' 'Sure；' Hazel said quickly。
〃But tomorrow I'll go down with you and take the job if I can
get it'
It was as though a great worry and tightness left the family。 In
the dark the