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〃Randy'll be down pretty soon。 He was up late last night working on an article； and I didn't have the heart to wake him。 He likes to work at night； he says； when it's quiet。 But if it was any quieter in the daytime I don't know what I'd do。 We never go anyplace or do anything anymore； it seems to me。〃 She sipped her hot coffee black and then fanned a dimpled hand in front of her pursed lips。 〃This isn't getting your breakfast ready now； is it？〃
Because Frances knew how fond I was of eating； or because she used my visit； as an excuse； she prepared a large and wonderful breakfast。 Fried pork chops； fried eggs； grits； with plenty of good brown milk gravy to pour over the grits； and fresh hot biscuits。 I ate heartily； hungry after walking out from town； listening with stolid patience to the steady flow of dull gossip concerning various kinfolk and townspeople。 I was finishing my third cup of coffee when I heard Randall on the stairs。 As he entered the room； I got up to greet him。
〃Well； well；〃 he said with false heartiness； holding onto my hand and grinning； 〃if it isn't the junior birdman！〃
He patted his wife on her broad rump； crossed to the sideboard and poured a shot glass full of bourbon。 He swiftly drank two neat shots before turning around。
〃Wele home； Bubba；〃 he said； 〃how long are you going to stay？〃
He sat at the table； and I dropped into my seat again。 Randall looked well。 He always did； whether he had a hangover or didn't have one。 His face was a little puffy； but he was freshly shaven； and his curly russet hair had been cut recently。 His starched white shirt； however； was frayed at the cuffs。 The knot of his red…and…blue striped rep tie was a well…adjusted double windsor； and his black； well…worn oxford flannel trousers were sharply creased。
When I managed to catch his eyes with mine； I shrugged。
〃I see；〃 he nodded； 〃the enigmatic response。 Before I came downstairs I looked outside； both in front and out back； and didn't see a car parked。 Until I realized it was you； I thought Frances was merely talking to herself again。 But if you're broke； you're wele to stay home as long as you like and close ranks with me。 I've never been any flatter。〃
〃I saved two pork chops for you； Randy；〃 Frances said quickly。
〃No； thanks。 Just coffee。 Save the chops for my lunch。〃 Randall smiled abstractedly； clasped his fingers behind his head and studied the ceiling。 〃It isn't difficult to divine the purpose of your visit； Bubba；〃 he continued。 〃When you're flush； you wheel up in a convertible； your pockets stuffed with dollar cigars。 When you're broke； you're pletely broke； and on your uppers。 But if the purpose of your visit is to collect the honest debt I owe you； you're out of luck。 Three hundred dollars！〃 He shook his head and snorted。 〃Frankly； Bubba； I'd have a hard time raising twenty！〃
He leaned forward in his chair and said derisively； 〃But you can live here as long as you like。 We can still eat； and thanks to Daddy there's a wonderful roof over our heads。 And whether we pay our bills in town or not； the Mansfield credit is still good'
To drink the coffee Frances set before him； Randall gripped the large white mug with both hands。 His fingers didn't tremble； but it must have taken a good deal of concentrated effort to hold them steady。
〃Going to see Mary Elizabeth？〃 he asked suddenly。
I shrugged and lit a cigarette。 I offered the pack to my brother。 He held up a palm in refusal； changed his mind and took one out of the pack。 He held both of his hands in his lap； after putting the cork tip in his mouth； and I had to lean across the table to light it for him。
〃You kind of believe in long engagements； don't you； Bubba？〃 he said； smiling sardonically。 〃It's been about seven years now； hasn't it？〃
〃Eight。〃 Frances emended。 〃Eight years e November。〃
〃Well； you can't say I haven't done my part to bring you together；〃 Randall said wryly； watching my face closely。 〃Five years ago our farms were almost three miles apart。 But thanks to selling land to Wright Gaylord； we're less than a mile away from them now！〃 He laughed with genuine amusement。
I was unable to listen to him any longer。 He made me feel sick to my stomach。 I rose from the table； and picked up my shaving kit from the sideboard。
〃There's plenty of hot water upstairs if you want to shave； but not enough yet for a bath。 Lately I've taken to turning the heater off at night and not lighting it again till I get up；〃 Frances said。 〃Your room is dusty； too； but when Leona es over this morning I'll have her do it up and put fresh sheets on the bed。〃
I nodded at my sister…in…law and left the room。 As I climbed the stairs to the second floor； Randall said； 〃Maybe you'd better scramble me a couple of eggs； Hon。 But don't put any grease in the skillet； just a little salt 。 。
Not only was Randall weak； he was a petty tyrant to his long…suffering wife。 Before she could scramble eggs she would have to pour the good milk gravy into a bowl； and wash and dry the frying pan。
My old room was at the very end of the upstairs hallway； next to the bathroom。 When Daddy bought the farm and moved us out from town； I had been elated about the move because it meant having a room to myself。 And somehow； Daddy had made a go of the farm when many other good farmers were half starving in Georgia。 He had earned a fair sum by not planting things and by collecting checks from the government。 But even when times were excellent； he had never made any real money out of the farm。 He was a fair farmer； but a poor businessman。 Daddy had only been good for giving Randall and me advice； cheap advice； and he had never found anything in either one of us except our faults。
My room was dusty all right； as Frances had said。 It had also been used as a catchall storeroom during the two years I had been away。 The stripped double bed had been stacked with some cardboard cartons full of books； two shadeless table lamps and two carelessly rolled carpets。 Extra pieces of dilapidated furniture had been tossed haphazardly into the room； and the hand…painted portrait of Grandpa was lying flat on top of my desk。 A thick layer of dust was scattered over everything。 When I opened the window； dust puffs as large as tennis balls took out after each other across the floor。
For a moment or two I looked out the window at the familiar view； but it didn't seem the same。 Something was missing。 And then I noticed that the ten…acre stand of slash pine had disappeared…cut down and sold as firewood probably； and not replanted。
I lifted the stern…faced portrait of Grandpa off the desk and leaned it against the dresser。 I wiped the surface of the desk with my handkerchief。 After rummaging through the drawers； I found a cheap； lined tablet with curling edges。 Sitting down at the desk； I took out my ballpoint。
It took approximately a half hour to write out a list of instructions for Judge Brantley Powell。 I wanted to be sure that I covered everything pletely so he wouldn't have any questions。 After rereading the list； and making a few interlinear corrections； I folded the sheaf of papers and stuffed them into my hip pocket。
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