Mad Mary said. “I can’t!” Junior sobbed into her ragged clothes. “Junior!” “I can’t, I just can’t!” She pushed him back so he had to look at her. He closed his eyes and shook his head blindly back and forth. He held her clothes so tightly that the old cloth ripped in his hands as he swayed. “Junior, I have got to see to your grandfather. Now, you can either come with me or go up to the house. But let go!” Junior did not answer so she said, “I mean it, Junior! We’re wasting time.” Junior thought about it. “I’ll go with you.” His voice wavered. “But I can’t look.” “That’s better. Junior, I got to make sure whether he’s dead or passed out.” “I think he’s dead.” “Well, don’t be too sure. I found a possum one time, took him home, got ready to skin him, and he blinked. I said, ‘Well, that blink just saved your life.’” Junior stumbled down the hill, his face buried again in her clothes. He heard her say, “Shoo!” then, “Git!”
