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Show -70- Peppermint Monda; take her kid brother for a walk and not have to worry about a lot of cars and people getting in our way. All the interruptions we'd had was a big, black dog chasing Carson's cat in front of us. I was glad to see that dog get even with that miserable cat. I'd never forgiven that wandering cat for eating my baby chicks. "I'm never going to leave here. I'm going to be part of the Ozarks, like Jake is." For once I wasn't angry when Russ mentioned Jake. Jake was part of the Ozarks, and if that's what Russ wanted to be, it was fine. I wasn't sure what I wanted to be part of, but I knew it wasn't Cleveland. At least not while Barton was still there. '"You're already part of the Ozarks. You belong here." Russ smiled when I said that. I smiled too. I was glad we'd come for a walk. I was glad Russ was my brother. It was almost dark when we got home. It was getting cool,too. I hadn't done any of my usual chores, but ma just seemed happy I had spent time with Russ. It was something I was going to do more of. Barton had gone to Renae's for supper. I could imagine how Mrs. Todd would flutter around, spoiling Barton with creamed vegetables and rare meat. It wasn't every day she could entertain a future Senator's son. It was nice just to have our family eat a quiet meal complete with well-done meat and plain peas. By Friday, I wasn't so sure I wanted to go to Renae's party. I'd seen her all week long and I was tired of her. She even dared sit at the back of the bus Thursday. Nobody really cared where anyone else sat, but usually everybody sat in the same place. It was totally out of character for Renae to move from her seat in the front. We just expected her to be there. |
