"Cotton don't burn as fast as that fire's going. It's blazing like an old house made out of heart pine."
Papa gave the mules another slap with the lines.
"Jodie, what if it's the church? Who was supposed to tend the heater last night after services?"
"Wallace Goode and Wiley. Son, did y'all douse it good with water like we've always told you to do?"
"Yes, sir. Me and Wallace drowned it slap out! Say, maybe it's the schoolhouse, and we won't have to go to school no more!"
"Son! You oughtn't to say such a thing!"
"I didn't mean it, Papa."
We wheeled around the last big curve in the road and began climbing the high hill between us and the fire. Just as soon as the mules could pull our wagon to the top, we'd see what was burning up.
For a minute I wondered why nobody had said it might be Papa's store. Then I knew. It was his store, and they all knew it.
"Papa?"