“No, sir!” repeated Buddy. “Cause I know! Uncle Peter's going to bring me back my mama.”
X. A VIOLENT INCIDENT
BOOGE waited until he knew Peter was well on his way. Then he took Buddy on his knee.
“Where is your ma, Buddy?” he asked. “Mama went away,” said Buddy vaguely. “Did she go away from this boat?”
“Yes. Let's make a wagon, Uncle Booge,” but Booge was not ready. He considered his next question carefully.
“We'll make that wagon right soon,” he said. “Was Uncle Peter your pa before your ma went away?”
“I don't know,” said Buddy indefinitely. “You'd ought to know whether he was or not,” said Booge. “Didn't you call Uncle Peter 'pa,' or 'papa' or 'daddy' or something like that?”
“No,” said Buddy. “You said you'd make a wagon, Uncle Booge.”