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