“Brudge is got a pair Breeze kin borrow an’ wear. I ain’ got time to go to de sto’ now.”
“Please go git ’em fo’ me.”
April got up stiffly and walked away. In a little while Brudge came bringing a pair of Leah’s shoes. He had lost one of his own, but Leah sent her slippers instead. April said they would do. They were low-cut and shiny, with high heels and a strap across the instep. Breeze made such a poor out at walking in them, Big Sue couldn’t help laughing, although she declared she was not making sport of him.
“Take ’em off, son. Tote ’em in you’ hand till we git to Sandy Island,” she suggested, and Breeze did.
Uncle Bill rowed the boat that took them to Sandy Island, and although he pulled hard with his oars, the sun was almost down when they reached the cabin up on the hill above the river.
Mules and oxen hitched to carts filled the yard, and the house was crowded with people.
Big Sue made Breeze sit down on the ground and put on Brudge’s stockings and Leah’s shoes. They made his feet stumble about miserably, but Big Sue said that made no difference, since they looked nice.
He was terribly excited, but as he walked hand in hand with Big Sue up the steep path into the yard he could hear people say:
“Lawd, Breeze is grow fo’ true. Looka e fine clothes!”
Seeing his old home made him forget to be polite.