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Show Peppermint Monday "So what's he done so fantastic?" I didn't like to be sarcastic around ma, but I didn't like the way she was accepting Jake now. She was acting as if Jake was Russ' lifeline. I was sorry I'd ever gone to the cabin for him. "Just watch them together sometime. He's good for Russ. I hate to see you acting so prejudice. You're usually fair with people." Ma's smile had faded some, and I hated being responsible for that. She busied herself making a tray of sandwiches. They weren't meatloaf either, but deviled ham. I seldom rated so well at school lunch. Ma loaded the sandwiches, mugs, and a pitcher of her homemade apple juice on a large tray and headed for the door. That was the first it dawned on me where she was going. Peanut butter and meatloaf were fine for me, but Jake got ham. Next thing we knew he'd be eating with us at the table.Ma would invite him each Sunday and get out the china and fancy silverware as if he were special company. This week he could sit by Barton and she could treat them both like kings. That was when it hit me. Not just a light tap, but a jolting shock. Barton had never met Jake. I smiled then. I smiled one of those great big smiles that showed all of my metal. Barton thought we were hicks. He'd called us backwoods. What would he think of Jake? I'll bet he wouldn't believe his own eyes. People from Cleveland, Ohio probably didn't think Jake-type people existed anymore. Boy, was he in for a surprise. "Barton, come here." It was more of a command than Barton had received since he'd been here. Maybe it was more than he'd ever received. Uncle William and Aunt Georgia had given in to him a lot because he was the only child and all. He was used to having things his own way. I wasn't even |
