"Just let me look at her!"
"Grandma saved that flour-sack doll pattern just for me."
"She's fine as silk!" Mama held my homemade doll out at arm's length, looking first at her purple dress and the freckle dots on her face, and then at her long, soft legs. Sookie's legs were turned up at the ends and made black so she'd look like she had on Sunday shoes.
"Bandershanks, this is the kind of girl you want to be: one who wears her smile all day long!" She handed Sookie Sue back to me.
Mama stood up straight again and started toward the kitchen. I followed her.
"Me and you've got lots to do today, Bandershanks."
"What?"
"First thing is to finish working up the light-bread dough, else it won't have time to rise once, much less twice."
"Mama, can I shake the sifter?"
"Sure. Soon as I dip the flour outta the barrel. Hon, you better lay your doll on the bed, or you'll get her all mussed up."