"We oughta've had this celebration supper before dark. I can't half see what I'm doing."
"Ah, Gertie," Grandpa told her, "your eyes are just spoiled to them electric lights."
"I guess so, Grandpa. Electric lights are wonderful."
"It's all in what you're used to. Our coal-oil lamps still seem bright to us poor country folks."
Mama was crowding more and more food on the supper table. Bess was fixing the tray to send out to Grandma, and Gertie had started dishing up some things in saucers for her young'uns.
"Bandershanks, you go with me into the fireplace room and eat with Farris and little Cleburne at Mierd's and Wiley's study table."
I couldn't do that! Gertie hadn't noticed that I was too big to eat with little kids!
"See, Gertie. I'm big! I don't wanta be with them babies! And I just ain't!"
She didn't answer me.
"Soon's I eat 'nough 'taters, I'm gonna get real, real big. And my legs will get long and fat! And y'all won't call me Bandershanks no more! And I can go to school!"