They backed away and squatted down against the far wall, knowing they would not be inspected.
Ma asked, “Is it bad?”
“Nose busted.”
“I mean the trouble?”
“Yeah. Bad.”
Al opened his eyes and looked at Tom. “Well, for Chris’ sake! What was you in?”
“What’s a matter?” Uncle John asked.
Pa clumped in. “They was open all right.” He put a tiny bag of flour and his package of lard on the floor beside the stove. “’S’a matter?” he asked.
Tom braced himself on one elbow for a moment, and then he lay back. “Jesus, I’m weak. I’m gonna tell ya once. So I’ll tell all of ya. How ’bout the kids?”
Ma looked at them, huddled against the wall. “Go wash ya face.”