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Show 158 One night I came home from rehearsal dead tired. The dishes were not done and they looked unsurmountable. Macel and Revo had gone to bed bolstered, no doubt, with the fact that it was my turn to do dishes. I simply did likewise, told myself that I would get up early in the morning and have them done before Papa found out, that rattling the pans at this hour would wake up the household. Alas for the sleep of the young! I was still struggling with dirty dishes when Papa came in for breakfast and I caught the full blast of his fury. I talked back to him, my face not six inches from his and he slapped me. I turned my other cheek. "Slap the other side, " I invited him, making a sudden decision that if he did, I would leave home. He slapped the other side and stalked out of the kitchen. So now, I would leave home! Where would I go? To the ranch. Uncle Will, Eldon and Ershel were up there putting up the wild hay, timothy, which grew the length of the pasture. Specifically, I would go to Ershel. I would tell him yes, that I would marry him. Right now. I would never have to go home again, never have to listen to Papa swearing at me. So, as soon as Papa left for the field, angry and without breakfast, I gathered my belongings into a pillow case. These included my yellow crep de chine dress I had made in school, my copy of Scott's "Lady of the Lake, " my buckskin gauntlet gloves, which I wore, and the split khaki skirt Aunt Rachel had helped me make. There was not a horse on the place for me to ride, so I went to Mr. Mills and asked him to loan |
