"It's a judgment on me." Mother said. "But I'll be gone too, soon.
"Here." Jason said.
"Whoa." T.P. said.
Jason said,
"Uncle Maury's drawing on you for fifty.
What do you want to do about it."
"Why ask me." Mother said. "I dont have any say so.
I try not to worry you and Dilsey.
I'll be gone soon, and then you "
"Go on, T.P." Jason said.
"Hum up, Queenie." T.P. said.
The shapes flowed on.
The ones on thc other side began again, bright and fast and smooth, like when Caddy says we are going to sleep.
Cry baby, Luster said.
Aint you shamed.
We went through the barn.
The stalls were all open.
You aint got no spotted pony to ride now, Luster said.
The floor was dry and dusty.
The roof was falling.
The slanting holes were full of spinning yellow.
What do you want to go that way, for.
You want to get your head knocked off with one of them balls.
“Keep your hands in your pockets." Caddy said. "Or they'll be froze.
You dont want your hands froze on Christmas, do you."
We went around the barn.
The big cow and the little one were standing in the door, and we could hear Prince and Queenie and Fancy stomping inside the barn.
"If it wasn't so cold, we'd ride Fancy." Caddy said. "But it's too cold to hold on today." Then we could seethe branch, where the smoke was blowing. "That's where they are killing the pig." Caddy said. "We can come back by there and see them." We went down the hill.
"You want to carry the letter." Caddy said. "You can carry it." She took the letter out of her pocket and put it in mine. "It's a Christmas present." Caddy said. "Uncle Maury is going to surprise Mrs Patterson with it.
We got to give it to her without letting anybody see it.
Keep your hands in your pockets good, now."
We came to the branch.
"It's froze." Caddy said. "Look." She broke the top of the water and held a piece of it against my face. "Ice.
That means how cold it is." She helped me across and we went up the hill. "We cant even tell Mother and Father.
You know what I think it is.
I think it's a surprise for Mother and Father and Mr Patterson both, because Mr Patterson sent you some candy. Do you remember when Mr Patterson sent you some candy last summer.
There was a fence.
The vine was dry, and the wind rattled in it.
"Only I dont see why Uncle Maury didn't send Versh." Caddy said.
"Versh wont tell." Mrs Patterson was looking out the window. "You wait here." Caddy said. "Wait right here, now.
I'll be back in a minute.
Give me the letter." She took the letter out of my pocket. "Keep your hands in your pockets." She climbed the fence with the letter in her hand and went through the brown, rattling flowers.
Mrs Patterson came to the door and opened it and stood there.
Mr Patterson was chopping in the green flowers.
He stopped chopping and looked at me.
Mrs Patterson came across the garden, running.
When I saw her eyes I began to cry.
You idiot, Mrs Patterson said, I told him never to send you alone again.
Give it to me.
Quick.