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casings. The weather is hard on us, but we endure it." "The weather's hard on people everywhere,"

Uncle Jacob declared. "But it's good to us too, and we

should be grateful for our blessings. Mark that," he

said sharply, waving his long right forefinger at us

like some Biblical prophet.

"I can help you clean the windows after school

today," I told Aunt Sara.

"Why thank you, dear. It's kind of you to offer." "Kind? She should do nothing less," Uncle

Jacob fixed his eyes on me. "Most young people today

don't know what it is to have regular chores and

responsibilities. They think everything is owed to

them just because they were born."

I wanted to snap back at him and

tell him I

hadn't been brought up to be spoiled and selfish. I did

plenty of work around our home in Sewell, and I often

helped Mama Arlene and Papa George with their

housework, too. I never asked them anything for it

and I never expected anything. It was enough that

they gave me their love.

I glared back at Uncle Jacob, the crests of my

cheeks burning. He didn't know me. He had hardly

spoken ten minutes to me my whole life. What right

did he have sitting there on his high and mighty

throne and lumping me in with all the spoiled young

people he saw in town?

Cary must have sensed those words were at the

tip of my tongue, for he shot me a look of warning

before I had a chance to part my lips. I stared at him a

moment and saw a gentle, but definite shake of his