"Mama, lem'me get in yours and Papa's bed."
"Not tonight." Mama turned down the covers.
"Just for a little while?"
"No, no. You're supposed to sleep with Mierd."
I climbed in while Mama was fluffing up my pillow. "Remember your prayer."
"I will, Mama."
Papa and Mama watched the fire and talked for a long time—about a letter from my married sister Gertie, and about Clyde and Walker finally coming home from the war.
Papa said, "You know, Nannie, I'm in hopes Walker will stay on here at home and plant a crop, come spring."
"Me too. It'd be a sad mistake for him and his wife to settle in town and him take up public work."
"Yeah. Working for the other fellow's no good. Besides, town ain't a fit place to live—folks all crowded together! A man needs room for his own shade tree if he's to stand the heat of the day."