Where the Red Fern Grows Page #2

All right, baking powder,

a pound of pork,

- and... Hey, Billy. How you doing?|- Ah, hey, Billy.

Well, I sure thank you,|Miss Carter, and I, uh...

I'm just gonna put this on your bill.

- Appreciate it.|- OK.

- D.J., here you go.|- Thank you.

Well? Are they here?

What are you talking about?|Is what here?

Oh, you know what?

I think something did come for you...

Oh, I had it on me.|Wait a minute, now. Just...

There it is, yeah. There you go.

What's this?

- Where are they?|- Tahlequah.

- Tahlequah?|- Yes, sir.

Doggone.

That's halfway down the river.

Well, why didn't they come here?

Well, the mail buggy|don't deliver dogs, that's why.

Tahlequah?

Well, don't get all upset.|I already talked to Jim Hedges.

He's going over there Saturday,|he'd be happy to give you a ride.

- What if he forgets?|- Well, he ain't gonna forget.

Have a piece of licorice here, and stand|on your head. That'll calm you down.

Oh.

I have something else for you.|It'll make you feel better.

There you go.

- Well, what's this for?|- Well, that's the Depression.

Price is going down on everything,|including hounds. That's your change.

A whole week.

Hey, Billy. You waited this long.|Few more days ain't gonna hurt.

Now, go stand on your head.

Didn't think hunting dogs|was on the schoolwork schedule, Billy.

I'm sorry, Ma.

I just get so excited,|thinking about having my own little pups.

Now, I need you to promise me|that you'll put your schoolwork first

and you put away|this daydreaming about dogs.

I promise.

Cross your heart?

Cross my heart and hope to die.

My ma was always worried|I was gonna turn out a hillbilly.

and this was just|the sort of behavior that would prove it.

I was in trouble.|But there was no way around it.

My pups might be starving to death|15 miles away in Tahlequah.

and I was never gonna|make it back in time for supper.

Remember the traveler

Bring us safely home

Heavenly father

Remember the traveler

Bring us safely home

Safely home

There was this old wives' tale|that two owl hoots means bad luck.

I was busting to take this shortcut.|so I had a real good listen.

'Course. I missed it.

Hey!

Who's there?

I'd never been|in a big city before.

and I'd never seen half this stuff|in Grandpa's store, that's for sure.

Anyway. I reckoned|I was fitting in pretty good.

I just needed to find them railway tracks.|'cause I knew where they'd take me.

I look around at all the faces and I see

All the lonely people|looking back at me

Hey, look what we got here.

Rich, poor, don't matter.|we're all the same

Everybody's hungry in a different way

Look at that. Barefoot and all.

But really.|what the world needs now is love

Love and only love

A little help from up above

Are you the-

Morning.

- Morning. I was wondering-|- Kinda warm out there today, isn't it?

- Yes, sir, sure is.|- Might be fixing to rain, though.

We could use some up where I come from.

Oh, where might that be?

Up the river a ways. About ten,|twelve miles as the crow flies.

You know, I've got a crate back there|making some strange noises,

for a boy who lives up the river.

The name is Billy Coleman.

Yes, sir. That's me.

Come on back here, now. I'll show you.

Well, there they are.

What do you think?

Aren't you gonna pick 'em up?

They already know you.

You're gonna need|a gunny sack to carry them in,

and I've cut a couple of slits|in them so that they won't smother.

- Do I owe you anything?|- Oh, no.

There's a small feed bill, but I'll|take care of that. T'ain't much, anyway.

Well, now, ain't that something?

Well, thanks again.

OK.

- Good luck, and good hunting.|- Thanks.

Hey, boy. What's your name?

Billy Coleman.

- How come you ain't wearing no shoes?|- He's one of them hill people.

Think he can feel that?

What you got there?

Don't do that.

I said, don't do that.

So, you want to fight, huh?

Nah. But don't touch my dogs again.

- Beat him up.|- Come on, you can lick him.

He's just a hillbilly.

He's busted my nose!

Grab him.

You're dead meat.

All right, all right.|Break it up. That's it.

- Get up, get up.|- Sheriff.

You boys get on home.|Your parents are going to hear about this.

Go on.

Get!

You all right, son?

My dogs.

Here's your dogs.

- Thanks.|- You're welcome.

Come over here and sit down.

Here you go.

There you go.

These are fine-looking dogs.

Where'd you get 'em?

From a dog kennel in Kentucky.

They cost me $40.

You mean to tell me|you paid for 'em yourself?

Yes, sir.

Well, you had to slop a lot of hogs

and cut a lot of cordwood|to get that kind of money together, son.

I sure did.

What's your name?

- I'm Billy Coleman.|- I'm Sheriff O'Donnell.

You any kin to Will Coleman|up the river?

Yes, sir. He's my daddy.

That explains a lot.

Is there a place nearby|that sells things like overalls?

And candy?|Candy with mushy centers?

One of 'em's calling for you.

You cleaned up good.|Good-looking shoes, mm-mmm.

Listen. Let me buy you a soda pop|before you head for home.

Oh, I ain't never had any before.

Well, for one who's just|starting a soda pop habit,

I would suggest strawberry.

Well. that strawberry soda|was about the best thing I'd ever tasted.

I couldn't figure out why anyone'd put|these things on their feet on purpose.

But I had my pups. and them dogs|was already about to bust my heart in two.

I tried not to think about that black cloud|hanging over me when I got home.

Yaa, yaa!

Dan! Ann! Come here.

Well, I'll be.

- Billy.|- Ma, I-

Don't you say a word, Billy Coleman.|You broke a promise to me.

I had to get my pups, Ma.|They might have died.

You never would have let me go.

Turns out it was|Billy Coleman's lucky day.

This here's little Ann, and that's Dan.

Just as I'd hoped.|the sight of me all beat up and sore...

Well. it was too much for her.

Poppa went over the hill looking for you.|Come on home, now.

- Well, Jenny, will you looky here?|- Are those your dogs, Billy?

Mm-hm.

Did you bring me a treat?

- There you go.|- What about me?

Thanks, Billy.

Here you are.

- They're sure fine hounds, son.|- I figure they'll do.

Here. This is for you, Pa.

Thank you, son.

This is for you, Momma.

Let's open these up.

Oh, well, now.

Will you looky here? And just in time.|These old ones are barely keeping me in,

and the breeze out.

Jenny.

Your momma's|been wanting a new dress.

Looks like there's enough|material there for half a dozen.

You like it, Momma?|The colors are all right?

It's perfect.

Thank you, Billy.

Yeah, thank you, son.|It's mighty thoughtful of you.

- Tell your pa their names.|- Well,

this one is old Dan,|and this one's little Ann.

I'd say that fits 'em both just fine.|What do you say, Jenny?

I think it's about time|this boy has a decent meal.

Go find Dan.

Over here, Dan.

Come on, old Dan. Get it. Get it.

All right. Come here, Dan.

Time for the big test.|You two wait here.

All right, let's go.|Come on. Come on!

Gimme a little more water, son.

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