"And I bet can't none of y'all guess how Mister Shepherd punishes you if you don't get up your piece to say for Friday! Now, Mierd, don't you tell!"
"You've got my curiosity aroused, Wiley. What does he do?"
"Bess, he makes you learn a whole chapter outta the Bible, by heart!"
"I'll have to remember about this next summer when I start teaching. I sort of dread the Friday programs, especially when the parents will be coming."
"Have you got you a school already, Bess?"
"She sure has," Papa told Walker. "Come June, Bess is gonna get her high school diploma in one hand and her teaching certificate in the other! And the folks over around Ellen School want her to teach their three-month summer term."
"Gee, that's good! How much are you gonna make?"
"I'll get fifty dollars a month, but of course that won't all be profit. I'll have to pay out at least ten a month for room and board."
"Oh, well, you'll still have plenty left. How 'bout making me a little loan?"
Mama started passing around the pies and cakes. All the laughing and talking died down for a few minutes as we raked the bones and scraps to one side of our plates to make room for the sweets.