The Yearling Page #7

Flag. Stop that. Oh, Flag.

You'll knock this milk over.

He missed me, Pa.

Flag sure missed me yesterday!

He just tags after me like a dog.

Just like your old...

What's happened, Pa?

We been saving a long time to get

enough to set out them tobacco seeds.

It weren't Flag done it. Weren't Flag.

It were Flag.

It won't do no good.

He ruined half the crop.

But Flag didn't mean it, Pa.

Ma, listen, Flag didn't mean it.

Ma, listen. Ma!

She figured at last she'd get a well.

That's why she's quiet.

- Flag didn't mean it.

- I don't figure he done it malicious.

He were just racing back and forth,

and it were something to jump on.

What you looking at him that way for?

He's a yearling now, for sure.

- You think a heap of him, don't you?

- Why, sure.

Yes, you're a pair of yearlings now.

It grieves me.

What you do that for?

You're a yearling now.

You're growed up.

You gotta be good.

- I can do that, Pa. I know just how.

- No, we'll do it together, boy.

There's a good few he ain't touched.

Think we got enough for Ma's well?

No, I'm afraid not, boy.

But I got a little idea.

Let's clear the field

behind the pot garden.

There's a few stumps there. If we can

get them out, we might plant cotton.

Pa!

A money crop, so your ma

can still get her well.

Hey, Pa! We can do it! We can do it!

Giddap, Caesar. Go on. Giddap.

This is the last one, Pa. Where do

you figure we best dig Ma her well?

We best get this field in cotton

before we figure on that.

Now, giddap, Caesar. Go on.

Giddap now!

What's the matter, Pa?

It's all right.

I'll be all right in a minute.

- I reckon I strained myself.

- I'll get Ma.

No!

I'll be all right.

Unhitch Caesar. I'll ride him in.

You don't never know when to quit.

If you had a mite of sense...

- You likely ruptured yourself.

- Please to hush, Ora.

Is it easier, Pa?

Feels mighty good,

laving down this way. Hardly feel it.

You're obliged to take it easy.

I reckon.

If it happens that I ain't out of bed

for a few days...

...you think you can take charge?

- I can take charge.

- Know what is to be done?

Cowpeas need hoeing.

I best watch for worms. And...

You know as good as I, you got to

keep that yearling out of the fields.

- I'll keep him out, Pa.

- That's fine.

You keep him out, religious.

Yes, sir.

I'll just take charge of everything.

You best get to bed, now.

You got a lot to do tomorrow.

You get a good sleep too, Pa.

Got to get your strength back.

All right, son.

Night, Pa.

Good night, son.

Your pa asleep?

He's getting to sleep.

You best get to bed too, Ma.

What's that?

I said, you best get to bed.

Mr. Impudent Bigmouth,

you just get to your room.

Yes, ma'am.

- Some people getting mighty important.

- Yes'm.

- Night.

- Night.

Look. These here's for your supper.

I only wasted two shots.

That's mighty fine.

I'm taking charge all right.

Everything's coming along fine.

Why, the corn is the best

I ever seen and...

What's the matter, Pa?

- When did you see the corn last?

- Yesterday. It's near an inch high.

Your ma here says...

She says something has ate it.

Ate the corn?

She says nearly

the whole crop is gone.

But that ain't right.

Yesterday it was all right.

It appears like something

must have ate it during the night.

- Flag ain't ate it.

- He did.

He wouldn't eat the corn!

He never ate nothing he shouldn't.

Go and see!

And that settles it!

That deer has got to go!

It were Flag.

I reckon. Yes, sir.

But he won't never do it again, Pa.

I'll whip him with a stick, Pa.

- He ain't been whipped.

- You don't think whipping will help?

I'll pen him up...

We got no place to pen up

a wild thing like that.

I'll halter him. I'll tie him

and let him kick...

Now, wait a minute, boy.

Just listen to me.

Yes, Pa. I'm listening.

What's happened is powerful bad.

You know that.

- Yes.

- But your ma and me have an agreement.

We're going to have a try at a remedy.

- You'll work extra hard to fix things?

- Oh, Pa, I'll do anything.

- I'll work like you never seen!

- All right, all right.

First, you get whatever corn

we got left.

Then you plant it

like we done before.

Then you build our fence up high.

When it's higher than you can reach,

I hope I can help you.

But you got to get it all up

before the corn starts showing again.

Maybe that way we're safe.

- You understand, boy?

- You can depend on me, Pa.

Soon as I get the corn planted, you'll

stay in the barn till the fence is up.

Jody.

I'm proud to see you

working so hard, boy.

But the yearling ain't worth killing

yourself over.

I ain't killing myself, Pa.

I ain't killing myself.

I'd give a year of my life

to help you with this.

I can do it all right, Pa.

I can do it.

We done it, Ma! We done it!

Hey, Ma!

- Never mind squeezing my life out.

- I sure thank you for helping me, Ma.

I never figured you had it in you

to work this way.

Looks as if we're gonna

have a crop after all.

And a fence, Ma!

Ain't it wonderful!

Let's go in and tell your pa

we're done. He'll be mighty proud.

Jody.

Come here, close to me.

You know we depend on our crops

to live, don't we?

Yes, sir.

- We can't go on having them destroyed.

- No, sir.

There is no way in the world to keep

that yearling from destroying them.

I'm sorry. I can't never

tell you how sorry.

But all's been done was possible.

Take the yearling out in the woods

and tie him and shoot him.

Pa...

Pa...

You gotta go away, Flag.

You gotta go away

and never come back.

You're growed up now. You gotta

go out and find yourself a doe.

We can't all live together

like I planned.

You've been bad,

without meaning to be.

You can make out by yourself,

can't you?

You'll be all right. You're smart.

Besides, I don't care for you no more.

You ain't cute like you used to be

when you was little.

You go now. Ain't nobody got any use

for you around here anymore!

Go on, you hear me? You go!

There's nothing I can do to save you!

Go on! You gonna get killed

if you stay around here!

Get out before I shoot you!

And don't you never come back!

Don't you never!

How come you not to do

what I told you?

I couldn't.

I just couldn't, Pa.

Tell your ma to come here.

Go to your room and shut the door.

Yes, sir.

Pa says you're to go to him.

I didn't mean to hurt the critter.

I can't shoot straight.

Flag!

Jody!

You got to finish him, boy.

You got to put him out of his torment!

You done it on purpose.

You always hated him!

You went back on me!

You told her to do it!

I hate you! I hope you die!

I hope I never see you again!

It's me, Flag.

It's me, Jody.

Jody!

Jody!

Flag.

Flag.

Ma! I'm hungry, Ma.

I'm hungry.

Look sharp there.

Something ahead. What is it?

Reverse engine. Lower the aft boat.

- What's he doing on the river?

- Skinny, ain't he?

- Try him something to eat.

- He ain't awake.

I'll get him some soup.

Pa!

- Pa!

- Take it easy, kid.

- He's feverish, ain't he?

- He's waking up.

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