"Yeah, I didn't want to do anything after Laura
died. I didn't want to work or ever go back to school." "That was the only good thing about us leaving
Sewell," I told him. "Not having to go to the places
Daddy and I used to go to anymore, not having to
look at the coal miners and wait for him to come
home."
He thought a moment. "I couldn't leave here
ever." "Most of the young people I knew were always
talking about getting away from home someday." "Not me. This is where I belong, where I was
meant to be. I got saltwater in my blood."
I laughed.
"I probably won't graduate anyway," he added. "Why not?"
"Doing pretty bad in English."
"Badly."
"What?"
"You're doing badly, not bad."
"See what I mean?"
"Maybe I can help you. I'm a very good English
student."
"It's probably too late. If I don't pass the final--
"
"Then you'll pass it," I told him. "I'll help you
every night. Okay?"
"I don't know. I don't know if I even care." "You've got to care! Besides, I'm sure you'll do
well if you try."
He smiled.
"I understand Laura was a very good student.
Did she help you?"
He looked away instead of answering and then
he turned back and started down the hill. "Let's go