The World Made Straight Page #4

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Gone to Nashville,

tried my luck.

That never tempted me much.

Now, I sang

at a big tent revival

up in Hot Springs.

And them that

was never saved,

and them that

was backsliders,

were wailing and crying and

getting right with the Lord,

because of my song.

Even the preacher said so.

So, the way I figure it,

I've done

enough good for Jesus

that the Lord just might cut

me some slack in other aspects.

Just like he did

old King David.

There she is.

All prettied up.

We going or what?

Yes, ma'am.

Don't you worry,

we'll bring her

back safe and sound.

Something you want to say?

She's 30 years old,

she should look after herself.

I don't think she knows how.

Well, maybe not.

It's too late

to teach her now.

What happened

here anyway?

Why is it so special?

People died.

Families turned on

each other, starved.

Typical Appalachian story.

It was his kin, right?

That's all he talks about.

The war and this boy.

David Shelton.

I think it's good.

Good to know

where you come from.

Yeah, I don't know.

I think he needs to start

worrying less about the past

and start thinking

more about the future.

I can feel it now.

It's haunted.

It's a haunted place,

all right.

Hey, are you okay,

little girl?

- I'm freezing.

- Freezing.

Hey, come here.

We'll get going, come on.

You all right?

Hey, there you are.

Will you boil some water?

- What?

- Just do it, please.

Why?

You're always

taking care of me.

Always despising me for it.

I'd have stayed with them

if they would have let me.

At least I don't

pretend I'm someone else.

Came to

speak to Carlton if he's home.

Don't tell nobody that you

caught me with the newspapers.

It's bad for my image.

You get a fellow believing

that he's smarter than you,

you can get him to do

any damn thing you want.

How are you on crosswords?

What are you stuck on?

Ten-letter word

for "surrender. "

Seventh letter is "L."

"Capitulate. "

There you go.

What can I do

for you, Professor?

I'm not gonna deal anymore.

"Detract from authority,

reputation or prestige. "

Eight letters,

starts with "D."

"Derogate. "

No, third letter is an "M."

"Diminish. "

You got a gift, Professor.

I always said so.

So, why are you

telling me this now?

I just figured

I'd get out while I was ahead.

Spence is starting to make...

He won't bother

anybody that works for me.

Here's a big'un.

Fourteen

letters for "mistake. "

"Miscalculation. "

I'm bored.

It's boring here, you and

him just reading all the time.

Why don't you put on the TV?

I don't wanna put on the TV.

Give me something.

That all you got?

Ain't very many.

Maybe you ought to

think about cutting down.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm serious.

You ought to try it.

I'm a f***ing drug addict,

Leonard, have you noticed?

I'm sorry.

I was like this when

we started, remember?

Remember?

You said you didn't mind.

It was like this, too.

I didn't mind.

But things have changed.

I went to go see Toomey today.

And told him that

I didn't want to deal anymore.

We can still get stuff, right?

Not if I'm not

working for him.

Calm down. Calm down.

No, wait a minute.

Why'd you do that?

'Cause I'm trying to do right.

And I'm sick of it.

You're sick of it?

You're sick of it?

What about me?

What about what I need?

You're sick of it?

Then tell me, son of a b*tch.

What about what I need?

What am I gonna do?

Wait a minute.

Don't walk away from me.

Don't walk away from me!

You motherf***er!

"July 14th, 1857, 10:00 p. m.

"Summoned to Winchester Farm.

"Hayley Winchester, age 19.

"Fifth day after child birth.

"Complaint, remittent fever,

three days, abdominal pain. "

Can I get

a beer, please?

"Diagnosis,

"puerperal fever due to rupture

and infection of uterus. "

- I'm Dena.

- Leonard.

- Leonard, nice to meet you.

- And you.

Thanks for saying hello.

What you reading?

- A book by Walker Percy,

- Love in the Ruins.

Is it about love?

"Treatment... "

"... camphor, boneset tea, but

patient too distressed to drink.

"12:
00 a. m.

"Fever unabated,

"galloping pulse,

violent shivering. "

Did you do those

questions I set out for you?

Yeah, almost.

Well, do them.

I'll check them.

"1:
20 a. m.

"Patient deceased.

"Husband inconsolable, as would

any man brought to such a pass.

"More distressing, the cries of the infant,

as though the infant fathomed its loss.

"Fee, none. "

This is the spot.

I thought

they'd each have a grave.

No, it was January,

remember?

The ground was

harder than this.

It's amazing one hole got dug.

- That colonel?

- Keith.

Yeah, Keith.

Book said he

tried them as looters.

It's a legal distinction. A bushwhacker

is a common criminal, not a soldier.

The same rights don't apply.

Well, I guess you were happier

before you knew any of this.

Wasn't like I was so carefree.

No?

Not really.

I was just asleep, I guess.

Same as everybody.

Still, there ain't

no going back now.

All right,

open your booklets and begin.

That's all.

Put your pencils down

and bring your test to me.

How'd you do?

Okay, I guess.

That math was tough.

I did what you said. Narrowed it

down to two and guessed, but...

How long

till you find out the result?

Mr. Edwards said we could call

him at home. Anytime after 5:00.

Well?

I passed.

- Congratulations.

- Well, thank you.

You know, I do appreciate

everything you've done for me.

No, I do.

You didn't know me from Adam.

And I won't forget that.

So, are you gonna just keep

on going, maybe get a degree?

Sh*t, I don't know. Maybe.

'Cause there's Western, there's

Appalachian. Hell, there's even Chapel Hill.

- Jesus, Leonard!

- I'm just saying.

You play this right, this could be

the start of a whole big thing for you.

All right, I know.

Don't go planning out my

whole life for me just yet.

Just wanted you to be aware of

the possibilities, that's all.

Anyway,

you gotta go celebrate.

- You and Lori.

- Yeah.

You know what,

I'm gonna call her now.

Hey.

She's dressing up special

pretty for you tonight.

You're gonna think she's one

of those models in the catalogs.

Hey.

- Wow, you look incredible.

- Didn't I tell you?

My girl polishes up real good.

Mama!

You have a good time.

I guess we'll hit the road.

- See you later, Mama.

- All right. Thank you.

Come here.

There'll be

more of that later.

I invited your

mama and your daddy.

Which one of them you talk to?

I talked to your mama on the

phone and she was real nice,

and she said she'd

been wanting to meet me.

- She said he was coming, too?

- Yep.

She said both of them

were coming. Come on.

I'm so proud of you.

- You must be Lori.

- Yeah. Nice to meet you.

Well, look at how

pretty you are!

- Sit down.

- Thank you.

Daddy couldn't make it

tonight. He's just so busy.

And he's got so

many things to do.

Like what?

Well, he fixed

that fence out back.

In the dark?

Why you being so rude? You didn't

say near two words all dinner.

It don't matter

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