A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Page #2

from him, though.

He grinds it behind closed

doors and heaven only knows.

Go to Werner's

for the meat.

Ask for round steak,

chopped, 10 cents' worth.

And don't let him give

it to you off the plate.

Take an onion, Neeley!

And ask him to chop it in.

And then just at the last, ask

for a piece of suet to fry it with.

But he won't always

do that, Mama.

Tell him

your mama said.

And then go

for the bread.

It's Saturday, Mom.

All right. Ask for a

nice pie, not too crushed.

Now, go on.

But, Mama, we know

Aunt Sissy's been

married before.

Sure. I can remember

two Uncle Bills.

That's nothing for

you to talk about.

Now run along now

and get things done.

You got no right, Mr. Barker, to

be carrying tales about my sister

as though there were

something wrong.

She may be funny some ways, but

she wouldn't do nothing wrong,

so I'd like it if you didn't

talk to people like it was.

Strike me dead if I'd ever

think of mentioning it to anyone

but you, Mrs. Nolan.

Yeah, sure. I know.

Well, you might as well go on

now and tell me what you do know.

No point in my being the

only one who don't hear it.

Well...

Ten cents' worth of round

steak? You want it ground?

No, thank you.

You're sure now?

It wasn't 20 minutes ago I

ground that whole plateful fresh.

No, thank you.

Oh, I forgot.

My mama wants it ground.

You don't tell me.

And she said to

chop that in with it.

She did?

And a piece of suet to

fry it with, Mama said.

Sweet jumping

Christopher!

Olives!

Sweet potatoes!

You know, Mama thinks

we don't know anything.

Yeah. She acts like we

were kids or something.

I bet she has a fight

with Aunt Sissy tonight.

It's got something to do with

men like Aunt Sissy too much.

But Papa says we ought

to make everybody like us.

I guess maybe

ladies shouldn't.

Maybe Aunt Sissy wouldn't

have changed husbands so much

if any of her babies

would've lived.

She's crazy

about babies.

Look who's talking about

babies. A lot you know.

I know as much

as you do.

You don't know nothing.

You think you're so smart.

Boys make me sick!

What do you think

girls make people?

Here she comes!

Come on!

Mister, give us a white bread.

Six loaves!

And a pie,

not too crushed!

This bread's fine.

I wouldn't be surprised

if wasn't more

than three days old.

Is that all, Mom?

Can we go now?

Yes, you're free.

Where's the fire?

There's a scout for

the Brooklyns around.

They're looking

for a catcher.

Where are you going?

No place much.

Well, don't go dream

walking crossing the street.

"Browning."

"B-U... Burton."

Anatomy of Melancholy.

Burton's

Anatomy of Melancholy.

Burton's

Anatomy of Melancholy?

Are you sure

you want this?

Yes, ma'am.

Don't you think it's a

trifle over your head?

Yes, ma'am.

Well, then,

why did you select it?

Well, I've read all the

authors beginning with "A"

and all the "B's" down

to Burton. It's next.

You mean you're trying to read your

way straight through the library?

Yes, ma'am.

But a book like this,

you'll only be confused.

Please. I wanna read

clear through the alphabet.

I want to know

everything in the world.

Well...

All right. Only do

something for me, will you?

Take another book,

too. Here.

When Knighthood Was in

Flower, just for fun.

It's Saturday. I'll have a

headache thinking about you

wrestling with The Anatomy

of Melancholy all weekend.

Will you?

Yes, ma'am.

A little more to the left,

Mr. Crackenbox!

You think I want Mrs.

Whittely's baby clothes?

It's your wash,

your baby.

Don't forget to fix

mine, Mr. Crackenbox!

Maybe you'd like to come up

here and fix it yourselves

and that's just what you'll

be doing if you don't shut up!

Mr. Crackenbox, it still sags!

Now, Mr. Crackenbox, get it just a

little bit higher, if you don't mind.

...her wheelbarrow

Through streets broad

and narrow

Crying cockles and mussels,

alive, alive-O

I won, I won!

Well, now, I wouldn't be too

sure about that if I was you.

But I did! I got it open before

you finished and that's the rules.

But I came up one flight two steps

at a time before I remembered.

Don't that make

a difference?

No, sir.

The rules...

And in a manner of speaking,

you never did stop me at all

because my heart kept

right on singing.

Papa, you're joking.

Well, I guess

I'll let you get away

with winning this time,

prima donna.

And where's your beautiful

mama? Finishing the hall.

She must be on the top floor

or she'd have heard you.

Well, in that case, why

ain't you getting busy?

Why ain't you

laying out my clothes?

Papa,

you always make fun.

You know you haven't

any more clothes.

Haven't any

more clothes?

What's this?

A tie.

And this? And this?

A dickey. An apron.

Them's clothes, ain't they? And you'd

better be getting that apron ironed, too.

Papa, you got a job

for tonight?

You see the palm

of that hand?

That's right where

I got the world tonight.

Where's the job, Papa?

Klommer's.

A big wedding party.

And you know something, prima

donna? There'll be plenty of tips.

Singing or waiting?

Both.

Maybe tonight will be it.

Maybe tonight he'll be

there, the impresario.

And he'll hear you sing, and

he'll put you on the stage.

And why not?

Ain't I the Brooklyn Thrush?

Papa!

And now you'd better be

getting my apron ironed.

Have it in a jiffy, Papa.

The coffee's on.

That's my prima donna.

Early one morning

I heard a maiden singing

Oh, Papa, I can't sing.

Come on, now. You're

holding up the singing.

Oh, don't deceive me

Oh, never leave me

And better singing

I never did hear.

I love to iron

for you, Papa.

You know something,

a day like this

is just like somebody

gave you a present.

Everything just right.

I wonder what people did

before they invented coffee.

This sure could be

a fine world if...

Hey, you know something,

prima donna?

You're going to make somebody

a mighty fine wife someday.

Papa!

And very pretty, too. That is,

if your nose doesn't grow crooked.

Could it really?

Honest?

No. It's the prettiest

nose in all Brooklyn.

Papa, it isn't.

Who says it isn't?

You just tell me who said it

and I'll take care of him.

Papa, you're crazy. And

you know something else?

You're not gonna be ironing like

this when that impresario comes along.

Things are gonna be different

around here. You wait and see.

Yes, Papa.

Hey.

What's the wish

you wish the most

when our ship

comes sailing in?

Well, it already

came true.

What is it?

Come on and tell me.

Well, I wished that when

you came home today

you wouldn't be sick.

Who told you to

call it "sick," baby?

You shouldn't waste your

wishes on things like that.

You should be saving them

for a silk dress or something.

Haven't you got a better wish than that?

Well...

Come on.

Well, I hope Mama won't be

too mad with Aunt Sissy.

What about Aunt Sissy?

She's gone and got herself

another husband again.

No!

No! Gee, if there

isn't a woman for you.

Hey. What did

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