While we were eating Sunday dinner, Mama said, "Jodie, I know it'll make you mad when I tell you what I've got to do this evening. But I can't help it." "What're you talking about? We've been married nearly twenty-seven years, and I ain't got real mad at you yet, have I?" "Well, it's this— Our Missionary Society voted to take turns carrying foodstuff over to Ophelia and her young'uns. Today's my turn!" "You're aiming to take groceries to Ward Lawson's house? Good Lord, Nannie!" "It's our Christian duty!" "Christian duty?" Papa had to grab his glass of water and take a gulp to keep from choking on the biscuit he was eating. "We can't let old Miss Dink and Ophelia and them nine young'uns suffer! Vic took vittles to them Wednesday, and she said they're on starvation—not a crumb in the kitchen! No bread, no meat, just nothing." Papa put down his knife and fork. "Nannie, it ain't my Christian duty to feed the family of a sorry, no-'count sot who nearly beat me to death, then burned down my store and kidnapped my baby! And he ain't through yet! He'll poison our livestock or—" "But, Jodie! The poor little young'uns! They can't help it! They—" "All right! All right! I'll hitch up the buggy and take you—this one time. I declare, womenfolks don't look at things like men do. You see Christian duty where all I see is plain, hard facts!" It was rather late when we got to Miss Ophelia's place. We didn't see anybody on the porch, in the hall, or anywhere. But there was a little streak of smoke rising from one chimney. Papa hitched Dale close to the yard gate, and we sat in the buggy to wait while Mama went inside with her box of eggs and butter and stuff. We'd been there a few minutes when Papa noticed two people coming up the trail from Ned's house. "Looks like two women, Bandershanks." "It's Shoogie! And Doanie! Papa, lem'me run to meet them!" "All right." Shoogie was glad to see me. Doanie, too. When we got back to the buggy, Doanie asked Papa if Shoogie could ride back home with us. "Yeah, I reckon so, Doanie. What's going on?" "Trouble, Mister Jodie. Trouble's pilin' up! Shoogie, she is plum puny. And now, Huldie and me just got word to go quick and help with a birthin'. Huldie see'd you pass Ned's house. She said ask, maybe y'all carry Shoogie back. She just in the way. Huldie said tell Black Idd he better put her in the bed. She look puny, plum puny!" "In that case, we'll take her." Shoogie didn't look puny to me. She was grinning and eating hickory nuts. She let me have a bite and whispered that she knew where we could find lots, lots more. "They's just lyin' on the ground—right down yonder at the field. Wanta go get some, Bandershanks?" "Yeah, let's do! Papa, I'm going with Shoogie. We're gonna pick me up some hickor'nuts!" "No, no, I don't want you out of my sight." "It's just right yonder, Papa." "Where's the tree at, Shoogie?" "This side o' that rail fence."