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Show in my father's house/ 236 from the beginning, but no one wanted to make trouble -• you've been fine citizens, and your kids a real asset to the community. The way I felt about it - and I told the County Attorney this, myself - the Allred kids set a real good example for the other young folks in this town - not smoking or drinking, and clean-talking, too. Why, I'd have trusted my own girl with your Saul if he'd seen fit to date her. Way I felt, we needed you folks." He scratched his head. "That's why I hate to make trouble for you now, but when we get a complaint, we have to deal with it, you understand. All of Wells is crying for something to be done, and I expect it will be...soon. Some of those kids aren't too well-dressed and they're hungry. Folks get upset over things like that. Anyway, I thought you should know." My mother nodded and leaned against the door. "Thank you. I'll speak to..,uh...Something will be done right away. I'm sorry you had to...bother with us." She peered through the drapes until the black-and-white disappeared over the hill. Then she sank her face into her hands. I couldn't hear her weeping, but saw a flush creep up her neck and into her face. After a moment she lifted her head and I saw the same misery in her eyes that I remembered from her newspaper portrait;when the family was arrested in '45. She went to the phone and soon I could hear the distant crackle of my father's voice. "The Law's been here, Rulon," she said, and began to weep. She told him everything in a wet, snuffling rush, then calmed immediately as his baritone registered reassurance. |