Papa said something about being glad of the day I was born, but I couldn't understand much of it because the men were still laughing.
"You ain't gonna switch my legs?"
"No. But I was just thinking—if your legs were growing as fast as your ears and tongue, you'd be grown already."
"I'd be a lady?"
"No doubt of it!"
"Could I go to school?"
"I aim to send you to school right this minute! Wiley, son, you take Bandershanks over to the schoolhouse. Just ask the teacher to let her sit in one of the empty desks 'till dinner time. She's got no more business here at the store right now."
"But, Papa, how'll I get across that branch?" Somehow, I didn't want to go to the schoolhouse. I wanted to go home and hide under Grandma's bed.
"Wiley can show you a narrow spot."
"Come on, Bandershanks, I'll help you jump the branch! It ain't wide!"