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/> hills. Felt freer than bein some city gal who'd have to lock away all her sexual feelins till she was sixteen or so. Went t'school only three years, hardly ever learned anythin. Didn't like spellin, readin, writin, didn't like nothin but t'boys. Fanny an me, no different. Couldn't keep my eyes offen boys. When I first saw yer son my heart did likkity-splits an flip-flops, an he were a man, almost. I were jus a kid. Used t'go t'all t'barn dances, every last one, an I'd hear yer Toby playin his fiddle, an see yer son dancin with all t'prettiest gals, an somethin deep inside me told me I jus had t'have Luke Casteel or die tryin." Sarah paused and sighed, and when I took a peek in the window, I saw a tear

coursing its way down her reddened face.

"Then there goes Luke off t'Atlanta an meets up

with that city gal, an he ups an marries her. My face,

when I saw it sometimes in mirrors, looked coarse as

a horse as compared t'hers. But didn't make no difference, Annie, it didn't. Married or not, I still wanted

Luke Casteel . . . wanted him so bad I'd do jus anythin

t'get him."

Grandpa was on the porch rocking, whittling,

paying no mind. Granny was rocking, not even

seeming to be listening as Sarah talked on and on.

"Luke, he didn't look at me, though I tried t'make

him."

I kept on scrubbing dirty clothes, keening my

ears to hear better. Near me was a rain barrel full of

frogs croaking. Clothes I'd already washed were

flapping on the line drying. Another peek inside

showed me that Sarah was working near the stove,

cutting biscuits with an inverted small glass, and in

her low monotone she continued as if she had to tell

someone or burst--and Granny was the best kind of

listener. Never asking questions, just accepting, as if

nothing she said would change anything. And no

doubt it wouldn't.

I was all ears, and I kept sliding closer and

closer to the window in order to hear better.

"I hated everythin bout her, that frail gal he

called his angel; hated how she walked an how she

talked--like she was betta than us--an he doted on

her like some jackass fool; tryin t'act fancypants like