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Show 138 Karl spread two slices of bread thick with grape jelly to mollify Henry. He cut bacon and laid it across the cast-iron frying pan, then built a fire in the stove. The bacon was sputtering noisily by the time his father came into the kitchen. Hugo looked at Maggie Rose, shook his head, and sat down at the table. "Do you know how to make coffee?" he asked Karl. "No." "Neither do I." Getting to her feet as stiffly as a marionette, Maggie Rose left her rocker and lifted down the blue enamel coffee pot. When the pot was filled and set on the stove, she took the fork from Karl's hand, shoved him aside, and began to turn the bacon. All the while she fried eggs and filled plates for her men, she remained silent "Aren't you going to eat?" Hugo asked her, but she returned to her rocker without answering. Karl cleared the table and washed the dishes. After the kitchen was clean, he dug through his mother's sewing basket for a big button, looping string through the holes to make a whirley-twirley for Henry, because the little boy was upset by his mother's cold withdrawal. After breakfast, Hugo had gone to buy the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, and returned to sit at the table paging through the newspaper while Karl read the funnies to Henry. Maggie Rose never moved from her rocker. As the hours dragged on, the house sank deeper in gloom. A knock on the kitchen door at midafternoon made Karl jump as though he'd heard a cannon shot. He opened the door to find Bridey |
