Then, once we all sat down, comfy on cushions on her rug, cup of tea in our hands, she says You out of control, Marshall. This is what my mum would say. I don’t answer. Compo could have had you charged, threatenin’ him like that. You be locked up for a long time. That what you want? Exactly like my mum. Take us down with you, the way you was behavin’. I’m ticklin’ my dog, space between his ears. He like that. Muskrat look like he listenin’ intently. Hard to tell. She goes on. Thought we was plannin’ on how to take down these bugs? Get folk to start believin’ us? Sabes got his muzzle restin’ on my legs, chillin’. I shrug. She shrug back. She is well mad at me. It’s your temper, innit? she say. Well out of order. I ain’t risin’ to that. Come I say to my dog, standin’ up, let’s go. Muskrat comes right out of his trance. Where you goin’? Like you care. From where she is lyin’, Sis hooks her foot around the back of my ankle. She ain’t meanin’ to trip me, but if I want to take a step I gotta lift my foot over hers.
