My Dog Skip

Memory is a funny thing.

Recollections slip in and out

and around in time...

...leaving plenty of room

to weave and backtrack...

...and drift and glide.

In my life, I've found that...

...memories of the spirit

linger and sweeten...

...long after memories

of the brain have faded.

My fondest memories are

of my childhood days...

...back in Yazoo, Mississippi.

I can still see the town now.

Ten thousand souls, and nothing doing.

Where the old men sat drowsily

in straw-bottom chairs...

...watching the big cars

with out-of-state plates whip by.

Drivers hardly knowing...

...and certainly not caring

what place this was.

There was a war going on then.

And it touched our lives every day.

War, President Roosevelt

reminded us...

...required everybody to make

sacrifices. And boy, we did.

The cotton grew tall that year,

the summer of 1942...

...but I sure didn't.

Matter of fact,

I stayed so small and puny...

...I was a target

for the neighborhood bullies.

Fortunately, I lived next door

to Dink Jenkins...

...Yazoo's best athlete

and favorite son.

Dink?

Where do you think they'll send you?

Probably Fort Benning for basic,

then overseas, I reckon.

How long will you be gone?

That's hard to say.

If you're not home, who will

show me how to throw a curve ball?

You promised to show me.

Partner, you're gonna do just fine.

While I'm gone, you'll make

friends your own age...

...and who knows,

you might even meet a girl.

Will!

Suppertime!

This was a time of large families.

Four or five kids, sometimes more.

So needless to say,

ours was already unusual...

...what with me being the only child.

My mother was lively and talkative.

Certainly didn't fit

the housewife mold.

And my daddy...

Well, my daddy was

stern and overbearing.

He was a war veteran

and had lost his leg in battle.

And from most accounts,

it changed him.

Sometimes it seemed that

along with that leg...

...he'd also lost

a piece of his heart.

You know I.C.? Colored fellow

at the service station?

Sure.

- His son came back from Europe today.

- Wonderful.

In a box.

Somebody around here's gonna

be having a birthday pretty soon.

You been thinking about

how you want to celebrate?

A party maybe?

Will, your mother

asked you a question.

Stop. You're lucky to have

that food, with the rationing.

Would you like a party?

I guess.

I picked these up today

at Carr's drugstore.

Invitations?

You can't very well have a party

without guests, now can you?

After supper, you fill them out and

give them to your friends tomorrow.

Like who?

What about John Abner?

He's 5. He still wets his pants.

There are plenty of children

who would love to attend your party.

Your mother went to a lot

of trouble to get invitations.

And you will fill them out.

Can I be excused?

Yes, you may.

Don't forget your invitations.

What are we gonna do?

He's gonna be so lonely without Dink.

Maybe we should reconsider

what we talked about before.

Absolutely not.

We've been over this already.

It is not a good idea.

Not for Will, not now.

He is still too young.

- Y'all be careful.

- All right, we will!

Hey, you wait for us!

Smile.

You take care, you hear?

Come on, Jenkins!

Can't keep old Adolf a-waitin'!

Fellas, y'all want to come?

We was wondering...

We wanted you to sign our football.

You know, as a souvenir.

All right.

Beside Slingin' Sammy Baugh.

His name came with the ball.

This might be a little soon,

don't you think?

I ain't even played college ball yet.

Jenkins, come on. Let's go!

- Thanks, Dink.

- Let me see!

Willie-boy, aren't you

gonna wish me luck?

Y'all give me a second, okay?

What's the matter?

When I get back, I'll show you

how to throw that curve ball.

Really?

Shoot, yeah, really.

Don't forget to write me.

Give the letters to my mama.

She'll send them.

I want you to tell me everything

that happens around here, okay?

Don't leave nothing out.

All right?

This is mine.

I hope it'll mean something to you.

You didn't think I'd forget

your birthday, did you?

Thanks, Dink.

I'll see you.

See you!

Good luck!

Here we go now!

Bye-bye, ladies!

Twenty-four, 32,

hut, hut!

Pass it. Here, I'm open!

Hon.

Hon?!

Goofball can't even catch!

Time to come in.

Why didn't you catch it,

you big titty-baby?

Let me see it.

I can't believe that titty-baby lives

right next door to Dink Jenkins.

What a waste!

Here, let me help you.

They say this is what all the dapper

young men in Memphis are wearing.

Thank you, Grandma.

Huck Finn! Thank you, Grandpa!

There's cussing in it.

There.

A pocketknife!

Relax, worry-boy.

It's just fingernail clippers.

It does have a blade, though.

Thank you, Aunt Maggie.

This one's from me.

It was mine when I was a boy.

Thank you, Daddy. It's nice.

Say thank you for your nice presents.

Wait.

There's one more.

I thought we agreed.

You agreed.

This is from Daddy and me.

I hope you like it.

You mean he's mine?!

He's all yours.

I hope you like it.

I'm sorry.

Jack, be sensible.

Your mother made a mistake.

- We can't keep a dog. Not now.

- What?

Maybe next year.

But why?

I know you're disappointed...

...but I want you to know that...

...I'm gonna find

a real good home for him.

I know you're upset with us.

I'm so sorry about what happened.

Did you ever get your birthday present

taken away from you?

Your father just doesn't think

you're quite ready for a dog yet.

I am ready to have a dog. I'm 9.

Lots of kids younger

than me have dogs.

Ralph Atkinson. He's only 3.

He has two dogs, a cat and bird.

He can stick his head

in the dog's mouth.

That's impressive.

I can take care of a dog, Mom.

Really, I can.

You just be a big boy

about this, okay?

He'll be fine.

I don't think so.

You know...

...if anybody here

deserves to be angry, it's me.

You went behind my back.

You didn't give me any choice.

I tried to reason with you.

- That was dishonest.

- You want to talk about honesty?

Then you tell the truth.

- Why don't you want him to have a dog?

- I already told you.

He's a little boy,

and a dog is a big responsibility.

He's not a baby. He's a

responsible boy who needs a friend.

And what happens when

he becomes attached to that dog?

Learns to love it?

I thought that was the general idea.

Dogs die. They get sick.

They run away, get hit by cars.

They're a heartbreak waiting to happen.

He's not ready for that.

He's frail, he's sensitive

and he can't handle it.

How do you know what he can handle?

You don't give him a chance.

I know all about loss.

Experienced more than my fair share.

It's hard enough on an adult.

A boy shouldn't have to.

So you're gonna

shelter him from life?

For how long?

He keeps the dog.

For two weeks.

If there's a problem,

I'll take it to the farm myself.

Jack...

...Will deserves this chance.

He needs it.

Wait, ...

- I haven't agreed to that.

- I'm not asking.

Hey, boy!

What's the matter?

You miss your mommy and daddy?

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