| Show Clark both sad and scared and he still shuddered when he thought about that day He closed his eyes in an effort to block out the memory from his mind It made him feel queasy down in the bottom of his stomach likewound that never really healed It had only beenfew months while longer and he might start to get over it allbit But for now he still missed Papa every day sometimes even more There was so much he didnunderstand about the world around him and who could he ask Mama was already burdened enough and his older brother Lyman was working such long hours that he came home too tired to talk at all He had feelings he didnunderstand certain bitterness that would well up in his stomach and claw at his throat demanding release The first time he felt this way was when Mrs Porter came over to buy raspberries last summer She wore fancy clothes and smelled of perfume Even her housedress was better than MamaSunday best She lived across the street and would order berries from Mama at the going rate of seventy centscase Mama would spend the better part of the early morning picking and filling the twelve pint baskets Then when Mrs Porter arrived she would eye the berries hesitating and questioning Mama about when she had picked them Mama knew Mrs Porter knew and Clark knew that Mama had picked them that morning Each berry wasdark crimson and so plump they made the saliva in his mouth swirl around his tongue as he peered into the too full baskets Spring Cityclimate was perfect for growing berries The cool mornings and long growing season madeperfect balance to produce the sweet red fruit Looking at the berries once again she would tell Mama that she had hoped to buy the berries for fifty centscase that she just couldnpay the full price she didnhave that much money Mama consented He knew it made him hate Mrs Porter yet he knew better than to fuss in Mamabusiness It hurt him to see her taken advantage of he felt helpless and weak His thoughts were interrupted by Mamavoice calling him for breakfast He hurried into the house 114 |
