Read Online The Fires of Spring by James A. Michener - Free Book Online Page A

snapped.
    “He’s got old shoes, Miss Reba. All wore out.”
    “I seen ’em the other
day
. Nothin’ wrong with ’em.”
    “But Miss Reba!” Tom pleaded. “They ain’t good enough for him to go to church in. And maybe the Paxsons’ll take him to they home atterwards.”
    “The
Pax
sons! Them against
Sole
bury?” She flung her thin arms into the air and rushed at Tom. “
You
done
this!
Iknow it!
Fillin
’ that boy’s
head
with big
ideas. Makin
’ a poorhouse boy so high and
mighty
.”
    Doggedly Tom insisted, “The boy’s just got to have shoes, Miss Reba.”
    “No!” she screamed. “And
if
he leave
s this
place
Sunday
I’ll beat him till he can’t sit
down
. Nor lay down,
neither!
”
    Tom reported Reba’s decision to the long hall. “We’ll figure some other way,” he said, and next morning he and Luther sneaked David and Daniel’s tobacco pouch into Doylestown. They went to Ely’s and said, “We want a pair of pants for this boy.”
    “What size?”
    “You kin see ’im! That size.”
    The clerk studied David and said, “He’s big enough for a suit.”
    “We only want pants,” Tom replied.
    “Here, sonny. Try these on.” The clerk handed David a trim pair of boy’s pants, stiff and clean. David started to take his own off. “Not here!” the man said. He opened a cubicle, and when he saw David’s underwear he gasped.
    “I told him to wear clean ones!” Tom protested, but David blandly reached for the new pants. He could never understand why people worried about underwear. He had two pairs and this pair had been worn for much less than two months. There were walnut stains, ink stains, green stains from leaves, and other odd marks on the cloth. But they weren’t torn.
    “Thank heavens the pants fit!” the clerk said to himself. Aloud he waxed enthusiastic. “Perfect. Turn round in a circle, my little man.” David complied and decided that the view he caught in the mirrors showed a well-dressed chap. The brown pants made his hair look darker, the way he liked it.
    “And how much would some shoes be?” Tom asked.
    “$1.30,” the clerk replied. Tom and Luther retired to count their money.
    “Could I speak to you, please?” Tom asked the clerk.
    The two men went to the back of the store, and pretty soon the clerk blew his nose. Then he wiped his glasses and went to the phone. “Wilmer?” he called. “That you, Wilmer? Is there any more money left in that fund?” There was a long silence and then the clerk whispered something. “OK, Wilmer.” He blew his nose again and said, “First! Some underwear.”
    “What shall I do with the ones I have on?” David asked.
    “Throw them in the corner!” the clerk directed. “No! Don’t! Put them in this bag.” Shoes, stockings, two shirts, a coat to match his pants, four sets of underwear! That’s what Old Daniel’s pouch of dimes and quarters and one bill purchased.
    “A pretty neat little man!” the clerk beamed. When the trio left the store the clerk joked, “Now when you grow up, remember where you bought your first suit!” He winked at David and shook hands with him. When David opened his fist there was a bright dime in it.
    “What can we get for ten cents?” he asked his cronies. Luther, being a Dutchman, was all for saving the dime. Toothless felt that a celebration was in order, so David led the way to a candy store.
    “I like suckers,” Luther said.
    “I like marshmallows,” Toothless reported. But there were some jelly beans left over from Easter and the storekeeper gave David two pounds for ten cents. Luther popped a handful in his mouth and started chewing violently, but Tom said he didn’t care for any. David was about to eat a black one, but he looked up at Tom with childish horror. He had forgotten that Tom had no teeth.
    “I’ll trade ’em back for some marshmallows,” he insisted.
    “I’ll suck one,” Tom said. But to David the candy was sour, and mad Luther ate the whole two pounds.
    On