"I wasn't cut out to be a storekeeper, Bandershanks, and I'll sure be glad when Papa gets his shelves stocked."
"How come Papa goes and goes to town, Mama?"
"He's got to buy his winter goods before bad weather sets in. Once the rains start, the roads get so muddy wagons bog down. But Papa will soon be through. He's got one more haul to make—next Monday."
When Monday came, Papa and Mama got up while it was still night. They didn't wake Mierd or Wiley or me. But when I smelled the ham Mama was frying for Papa's breakfast, I woke anyway.
I slid out of bed and tiptoed into the kitchen.
"Bandershanks! What're you doing up? It's not even three o'clock yet."
"I'm hungry, Papa."
"Here, get one of these biscuits and go back to bed."
"Mama, can I take Trixie a biscuit?"
"Child, dogs don't want biscuits this time of night."