``/`` And/cc I'll/ppss+md take/vb you/ppo with/in me/ppo ''/'' ./.
The/at two/cd of/in them/ppo against/in the/at world/nn ./.
That/dt had/hvd been/ben how/wrb she/pps imagined/vbd it/ppo ./.
For/cs when/wrb he/pps began/vbd to/to talk/vb and/cc dream/vb all/abn at/in the/at same/ap time/nn ,/, making/vbg his/pp$ plans/nns as/cs he/pps went/vbd ,/, she/pps had/hvd begun/vbn dreaming/vbg too/rb ./.
But/cc now/rb the/at dream/nn was/bedz over/rp ./.
The/at big/jj waking/vbg up/rp had/hvd happened/vbn ./.


	``/`` What/wdt did/dod I/ppss imagine/vb ''/'' ?/. ?/.
She/pps thought/vbd ./.
``/`` Did/dod I/ppss see/vb him/ppo about/rb to/to swing/vb low/rb in/in a/at chariot/nn ?/. ?/.
Or/cc maybe/rb poling/vbg up/in the/at south/nr fork/nn of/in the/at Forked/vbn-tl Deer/nn-tl River/nn-tl braving/vbg the/at wastes/nns dumped/vbn in/in it/ppo ?/. ?/.
Maybe/rb I/ppss saw/vbd him/ppo on/in a/at barge/nn with/in a/at gang/nn of/in Ethiopians/nps poling/vbg it/ppo ''/'' ./.


	And/cc I'll/ppss+md take/vb you/ppo with/in me/ppo ./.
He/pps had/hvd taken/vbn her/ppo all/ql right/rb ./.
Wednesday/nr nights/nns after/in youth/nn fellowship/nn ./.
Out/in of/in the/at church/nn and/cc into/in his/pp$ big/jj car/nn ,/, it/pps tooling/vbg over/in the/at road/nn with/in him/ppo driving/vbg and/cc the/at headlights/nns sweeping/vbg the/at pike/nn ahead/rb and/cc after/cs he/pps hit/vbd college/nn ,/, his/pp$ expansiveness/nn ,/, the/at quaint/jj little/ap pine/nn board/nn tourist/nn courts/nns ,/, cabins/nns really/rb ,/, with/in a/at cute/jj naked/jj light/nn bulb/nn in/in the/at ceiling/nn (/( unfrosted/jj and/cc naked/jj as/cs a/at streetlight/nn ,/, like/cs the/at one/pn on/in the/at corner/nn where/wrb you/ppss used/vbd to/to play/vb when/wrb you/ppss were/bed a/at kid/nn ,/, where/wrb you/ppss watched/vbd the/at bats/nns swooping/vbg in/rp after/in the/at bugs/nns ,/, watching/vbg in/in between/in your/pp$ bouts/nns at/in hopscotch/nn )/) ,/, a/at room/nn complete/jj with/in moths/nns pinging/vbg the/at light/nn and/cc the/at few/ap casual/jj cockroaches/nns cruising/vbg the/at walls/nns ,/, an/at insect/nn Highway/nn-tl Patrol/nn-tl with/in feelers/nns waving/vbg ./.
And/cc the/at bed/nn that/wps sagged/vbd in/in a/at certain/jj place/nn where/wrb all/abn the/at weight/nn had/hvd been/ben put/vbn too/ql many/ap times/nns before/rb and/cc the/at walls/nns fine/vb and/cc thin/jj for/in overhearing/vbg talk/nn in/in the/at next/ap room/nn when/wrb Gratt/np went/vbd out/rp for/in ice/nn ,/, the/at sound/nn coming/vbg through/in the/at walls/nns like/vb something/pn on/in the/at other/ap side/nn of/in the/at curtain/nn ,/, so/cs you/ppss knew/vbd they/ppss heard/vbd you/ppss when/wrb they/ppss were/bed quiet/jj and/cc while/cs you/ppss lay/vbd wondering/vbg what/wdt they/ppss had/hvd heard/vbn you/ppss listened/vbd ./.


	And/cc Gratt/np Shafer/np would/md be/be in/in Memphis/np today/nr for/in the/at wedding/nn rehearsal/nn and/cc then/rb tomorrow/nr he/pps would/md marry/vb just/rb like/cs everybody/pn knew/vbd he/pps would/md ,/, just/rb like/cs everybody/pn knew/vbd all/abn along/rb ./.
Like/cs Mattie/np and/cc the/at mayor/nn up/rp there/rb gripping/vbg the/at microphone/nn and/cc Toonker/np Burkette/np back/rb in/in his/pp$ office/nn yanking/vbg out/rp teeth/nns ,/, like/cs they/ppss all/abn knew/vbd he/pps would/md ./.
Just/rb like/cs the/at balloon/nn would/md go/vb up/rp and/cc you/ppss could/md sit/vb all/abn day/nn and/cc wish/vb it/pps would/md spring/vb a/at leak/nn or/cc blow/vb to/in hell/nn up/rp and/cc burn/vb and/cc nothing/pn like/cs that/dt would/md happen/vb ./.
Or/cc you/ppss could/md hope/vb the/at parachute/nn wouldn't/md* open/vb just/rb so/cs you/ppss could/md say/vb you/ppss saw/vbd it/ppo not/* open/jj ,/, not/* because/cs you/ppss meant/vbd any/dti harm/nn to/in Starkey/np Poe/np in/in his/pp$ suit/nn of/in red/jj underwear/nn ,/, but/cc mainly/rb because/cs you/ppss were/bed tired/vbn of/in being/beg an/at old/jj maid/nn --/-- a/at thing/nn which/wdt cannot/md* admit/vb when/wrb it/pps thinks/vbz it/ppo might/md be/be pregnant/jj ,/, but/cc must/md stand/vb the/at dizzy/jj feeling/nn all/ql alone/rb and/cc go/vb on/rp like/cs everything/pn is/bez all/ql right/jj instead/rb of/in being/beg able/jj to/to say/vb to/in somebody/pn in/in a/at normal/jj voice/nn :/: ``/`` I/ppss think/vb I'm/ppss+bem pregnant/jj ''/'' ./.
You/ppss could/md wish/vb that/dt ./.
Or/cc you/ppss could/md wish/vb your/pp$ daddy/nn would/md really/rb do/do it/ppo --/-- kill/vb Gratt/np Shafer/np like/cs he/pps said/vbd when/wrb you/ppss all/abn the/at time/nn ,/, all/abn along/rb ,/, could/md feel/vb the/at nerve/nn draining/vbg out/in of/in him/ppo like/cs air/nn out/in of/in a/at punctured/vbn tire/nn when/wrb you/ppss are/ber on/in a/at muddy/jj road/nn alone/rb and/cc it/pps is/bez raining/vbg and/cc at/in night/nn ./.
So/cs you/ppss sit/vb in/in the/at car/nn and/cc listen/vb to/in the/at air/nn run/vb out/rp and/cc listen/vb to/in the/at rain/nn and/cc see/vb the/at mud/nn in/in front/nn of/in the/at headlights/nns ,/, waiting/vbg for/in you/ppo ,/, for/in your/pp$ new/jj spectator/nn pumps/nns ,/, waiting/vbg for/in you/ppo to/to squat/vb by/in yourself/ppl out/rp there/rb in/in your/pp$ tight/jj skirt/nn ,/, crying/vbg and/cc afraid/jj and/cc trying/vbg to/to get/vb that/dt damned/vbn son-of-a-bitch/nn tire/nn off/rp ,/, because/cs that/dt is/bez being/beg an/at old/jj maid/nn too/rb ,/, if/cs you/ppss happen/vb to/to drive/vb a/at car/nn ,/, it/pps is/bez changing/vbg the/at tire/nn yourself/ppl in/in the/at night/nn ,/, and/cc in/in the/at mud/nn and/cc the/at rain/nn ,/, hating/vbg to/to get/vb out/rp in/in it/ppo but/cc afraid/jj to/to stay/vb and/cc afraid/jj to/to try/vb to/to walk/vb out/rp for/in help/nn ./.
And/cc every/at sound/nn that/wps might/md be/be the/at rain/nn also/rb might/md be/be the/at man/nn who/wps thinks/vbz after/cs he/pps has/hvz raped/vbn you/ppo he/pps has/hvz to/to beat/vb your/pp$ brains/nns out/rp with/in a/at tire/nn tool/nn so/cs you/ppss won't/md* tell/vb ,/, a/at combination/nn like/cs ham/nn and/cc eggs/nns ,/, rape/vb her/ppo and/cc kill/vb her/ppo ,/, and/cc that/dt is/bez being/beg an/at old/jj maid/nn too/rb ./.
It/pps is/bez not/* having/hvg his/pp$ baby/nn nestled/vbn warm/jj and/cc fat/jj against/in your/pp$ breast/nn and/cc it/pps is/bez not/* having/hvg somebody/pn that/wps really/rb gives/vbz a/at damn/nn whether/cs some/dti tramp/nn cracks/vbz your/pp$ skull/nn ./.
And/cc most/ap of/in all/abn it/pps is/bez not/* having/hvg the/at only/ap man/nn you/ppss could/md love/vb ,/, whether/cs he/pps drives/vbz a/at bread/nn truck/nn or/cc delivers/vbz the/at mail/nn or/cc checks/vbz the/at berry/nn crates/nns down/rp at/in the/at sheds/nns ,/, or/cc owns/vbz seventeen/cd oil/nn wells/nns and/cc six/cd diamond/nn mines/nns ,/, for/cs if/cs you/ppss are/ber anybody/pn what/wdt he/pps is/bez or/cc does/doz makes/vbz no/at difference/nn if/cs he/pps is/bez the/at one/pn ./.
He/pps can/md even/rb be/be a/at mild-voiced/jj little-town/nn guy/nn with/in big-town/nn ideas/nns and/cc level/jj gray/jj eyes/nns and/cc a/at heart/nn even/rb Houdini/np couldn't/md* figure/vb out/rp ,/, how/wrb it/pps is/bez unlocked/vbn ./.
And/cc he/pps can/md be/be on/in the/at way/nn to/in Memphis/np ,/, your/pp$ Gratt/np Shafer/np can/md ,/, and/cc you/ppss discover/vb you/ppss can/md stay/vb alive/jj and/cc hate/vb him/ppo and/cc love/vb him/ppo and/cc want/vb him/ppo even/rb if/cs it/pps means/vbz you/ppss want/vb him/ppo --/-- really/rb want/vb him/ppo --/-- dead/jj ./.
Because/cs if/cs you/ppss can't/md* then/rb nobody/pn else/rb can/md either/rb ,/, nobody/pn else/rb can/md have/hv him/ppo ./.
For/cs you/ppss don't/do* share/vb him/ppo ,/, not/* even/rb with/in God/np ./.
If/cs it/pps is/bez love/nn ,/, you/ppss don't/do* ./.


	And/cc I'll/ppss+md take/vb you/ppo with/in me/ppo ./.
Even/rb if/cs that's/dt+bez all/abn the/at promise/nn he/pps ever/rb gave/vbd or/cc ever/rb will/md give/vb ,/, the/at giving/nn of/in it/ppo once/rb was/bedz enough/ap and/cc you/ppss believed/vbd it/ppo then/rb and/cc you/ppss will/md always/rb believe/vb it/ppo ,/, even/rb when/wrb it/pps is/bez finally/rb the/at only/ap thing/nn in/in the/at world/nn you/ppss have/hv left/vbn to/to believe/vb ,/, and/cc the/at whole/jj world/nn is/bez telling/vbg you/ppo that/dt one/pn was/bedz a/at lie/nn ./.
Even/rb when/wrb he/pps is/bez on/in the/at way/nn to/in Memphis/np you/ppss will/md still/rb have/hv the/at promise/nn resting/vbg inside/in you/ppo like/cs a/at gift/nn ,/, and/cc it/pps is/bez he/pps inside/in of/in you/ppo ./.
And/cc in/in a/at way/nn the/at promise/nn works/vbz out/rp true/jj ,/, for/cs whether/cs he/pps wants/vbz you/ppo or/cc not/* ,/, you/ppss go/vb with/in him/ppo in/in your/pp$ heart/nn ./.
You/ppss feel/vb him/ppo every/at mile/nn further/rbr away/rb ./.
You/ppss feel/vb where/wrb he/pps is/bez and/cc what/wdt he/pps sees/vbz ,/, and/cc at/in night/nn you/ppss feel/vb when/wrb he/pps is/bez asleep/rb or/cc with/in the/at other/ap woman/nn ,/, the/at one/pn that/wps never/rb could/md love/vb him/ppo the/at way/nn you/ppss do/do ,/, the/at one/pn who/wps got/vbd him/ppo because/cs she/pps didn't/dod* particularly/rb give/vb a/at damn/nn whether/cs she/pps got/vbd him/ppo or/cc didn't/dod* ./.
And/cc you/ppss know/vb you/ppss will/md always/rb wonder/vb all/abn of/in your/pp$ life/nn whether/cs it/pps was/bedz because/cs you/ppss wanted/vbd him/ppo so/ql bad/rb that/cs you/ppss didn't/dod* get/vb him/ppo ,/, and/cc you/ppss can/md feel/vb nearly/rb sorry/jj enough/qlp to/to cry/vb when/wrb you/ppss think/vb of/in that/dt other/ap guy/nn ,/, the/at chump/nn who/wps begged/vbd you/ppo to/to marry/vb him/ppo ,/, the/at one/pn with/in the/at plastered/vbn hair/nn and/cc the/at car/nn he/pps couldn't/md* afford/vb and/cc the/at too-shiny/jj shoes/nns ./.
You/ppss think/vb :/: ``/`` Did/dod he/pps feel/vb that/dt way/nn about/in me/ppo ''/'' ?/. ?/.
It/pps comes/vbz to/in you/ppo that/cs probably/rb he/pps did/dod feel/vb that/dt way/nn to/to let/vb you/ppss use/vb him/ppo like/cs you/ppss did/dod when/wrb you/ppss couldn't/md* have/hv Gratt/np Shafer/np ;/. ;/.
that/cs he/pps must/md have/hv since/cs he/pps was/bedz there/rb like/cs the/at radio/nn for/in you/ppo to/to turn/vb on/rp or/cc snap/vb off/rp when/wrb you/ppss got/vbd tired/vbn of/in him/ppo ,/, that/dt other/ap guy/nn ./.
It/pps dawns/vbz on/in you/ppo that/cs instead/rb of/in a/at lump/nn to/to fill/vb the/at seat/nn across/in the/at bridge/nn table/nn from/in you/ppo ,/, he/pps was/bedz a/at man/nn ,/, and/cc that/cs because/cs Gratt/np Shafer/np was/bedz making/vbg you/ppo miserable/jj ,/, you/ppss were/bed passing/vbg it/ppo down/rp to/in him/ppo ,/, to/in Gratt/np Shafer's/np$ substitute/nn ,/, that/dt other/ap guy/nn ./.
And/cc you/ppss wonder/vb if/cs that/dt is/bez why/wrb the/at little/ap man/nn lost/vbd his/pp$ job/nn and/cc his/pp$ car/nn and/cc stayed/vbd drunk/jj about/in a/at year/nn before/cs he/pps straightened/vbd out/rp and/cc moved/vbd to/in St./np Louis/np ,/, where/wrb he/pps got/vbd to/to be/be a/at big/jj unhappy/jj success/nn ./.
You/ppss wonder/vb if/cs he/pps looks/vbz at/in his/pp$ wife/nn now/rb and/cc thinks/vbz of/in you/ppo ./.
You/ppss wonder/vb about/in the/at Christmas/np card/nn with/in no/at name/nn on/in it/ppo ,/, and/cc it/pps comes/vbz to/in you/ppo that/cs maybe/rb it/pps would/md have/hv been/ben better/rbr to/to have/hv made/vbn somebody/pn else/rb happy/jj if/cs you/ppss couldn't/md* be/be happy/jj yourself/ppl ,/, to/to give/vb somebody/pn else/rb the/at one/pn they/ppss wanted/vbd --/-- to/to give/vb them/ppo you/ppo ./.


	``/`` Damn/vb the/at world/nn ''/'' ,/, she/pps thought/vbd ./.
She/pps looked/vbd out/rp at/in the/at corn/nn field/nn ,/, the/at great/jj green/jj deep/jj acres/nns of/in it/ppo rolled/vbn out/rp like/cs the/at sea/nn in/in the/at field/nn beyond/in the/at whitewashed/vbn fence/nn bordering/vbg the/at grounds/nns ./.
The/at mayor/nn envisioned/vbd factories/nns there/rb ./.
Homes/nns and/cc factories/nns and/cc schools/nns and/cc a/at big/jj wide/jj federal/jj highway/nn ,/, instead/rb of/in peaceful/jj corn/nn to/to rest/vb your/pp$ eyes/nns on/rp while/cs you/ppss tried/vbd to/to rest/vb your/pp$ heart/nn ,/, while/cs you/ppss tried/vbd not/* to/to look/vb at/in the/at balloon/nn and/cc the/at bandstand/nn and/cc the/at uniforms/nns and/cc the/at flash/nn of/in the/at instruments/nns ./.
The/at bands/nns were/bed impatient/jj ,/, but/cc they/ppss were/bed the/at only/ap ones/nns ./.
The/at others/nns ,/, the/at ones/nns in/in the/at stands/nns ,/, were/bed spellbound/vbn ,/, for/cs hearing/vbg the/at mayor/nn was/bedz for/in them/ppo like/cs listening/vbg to/in a/at symphony/nn was/bedz for/in sophisticated/jj folks/nns in/in New/jj-tl York/np-tl City/nn-tl ./.
It/pps was/bedz like/cs being/beg in/in the/at concert/nn hall/nn in/in the/at afternoon/nn and/cc hearing/vbg the/at piano/nn virtuoso/nn rehearsing/vbg ./.
He/pps was/bedz good/jj and/cc they/ppss knew/vbd that/cs what/wdt he/pps was/bedz doing/vbg for/in them/ppo he/pps would/md do/do all/abn over/in the/at United/vbn-tl States/nns-tl some/dti day/nn ./.
So/cs they/ppss stayed/vbd quiet/jj and/cc hung/vbd not/* on/in what/wdt he/pps said/vbd but/cc on/in how/wrb he/pps said/vbd it/ppo ,/, not/* listening/vbg exactly/rb ,/, but/cc rather/rb ,/, feeling/vbg ./.
If/cs a/at man/nn was/bedz good/jj ,/, if/cs he/pps was/bedz going/vbg to/to be/be governor/nn ,/, you/ppss felt/vbd it/ppo and/cc you/ppss wanted/vbd him/ppo to/to go/vb on/rp forever/rb ./.
You/ppss were/bed sorry/jj when/wrb he/pps finished/vbd talking/vbg because/cs while/cs he/pps was/bedz up/rp there/rb you/ppss were/bed someone/pn else/rb and/cc the/at world/nn was/bedz something/pn else/rb too/rb ./.
It/pps was/bedz a/at place/nn full/jj of/in courage/nn and/cc hope/nn and/cc you/ppss were/bed part/nn of/in it/ppo ./.
You/ppss laughed/vbd and/cc then/rb your/pp$ chest/nn swelled/vbd and/cc you/ppss felt/vbd you/ppss could/md cry/vb for/in a/at little/ap bit/nn ,/, and/cc then/rb a/at feeling/nn hit/vbd you/ppo like/cs a/at chill/nn in/in your/pp$ stomach/nn and/cc the/at goose/nn bumps/nns rippled/vbd along/in your/pp$ arm/nn ./.
He/pps hit/vbd the/at theme/nn about/in dying/vbg to/to defend/vb your/pp$ country/nn ,/, and/cc you/ppss were/bed ready/jj to/to do/do it/ppo right/ql then/rb ,/, without/in a/at second/od thought/nn ./.
While/cs he/pps talked/vbd you/ppss wouldn't/md* trade/vb being/beg a/at West/jj-tl Tennessee/np-tl farmer/nn for/in being/beg anything/pn else/rb in/in the/at whole/jj damned/vbn world/nn ,/, no/at matter/nn if/cs it/pps hadn't/hvd* ,/, in/in six/cd weeks/nns ,/, rained/vbd enough/qlp to/to wet/vb a/at rat's/nn$ ass/nn ./.


	She/pps glanced/vbd at/in the/at man/nn nodding/vbg beside/in her/ppo ,/, a/at man/nn with/in weather/nn cracks/nns furrowed/vbd into/in his/pp$ lean/jj cheeks/nns ,/, with/in powdery/jj pale/jj eyes/nns reflecting/vbg all/abn the/at droughts/nns he/pps had/hvd seen/vbn ,/, reflecting/vbg the/at sky/nn and/cc the/at drought/nn which/wdt must/md follow/vb now/rb in/in August/np --/-- yes/rb ,/, with/in eyes/nns predicting/vbg the/at drought/nn and/cc here/rb it/pps was/bedz only/rb June/np ,/, only/rb festival/nn time/nn again/rb and/cc thoughts/nns of/in Gratt/np Shafer/np would/md not/* leave/vb her/ppo ./.
``/`` I/ppss should/md have/hv stayed/vbn at/in the/at store/nn ''/'' ,/, she/pps thought/vbd ./.


	Back/rb at/in the/at Factory-to-You/nn-tl with/in the/at other/ap old/jj maids/nns ,/, back/rb there/rb she/pps was/bedz the/at youngest/jjt clerk/nn and/cc she/pps was/bedz thirty-four/cd ,/, which/wdt made/vbd her/ppo young/jj enough/qlp to/to resent/vb the/at usual/jj ideal/jj working/vbg conditions/nns ,/, like/cs the/at unventilated/jj toilet/nn with/in the/at door/nn you/ppss had/hvd to/to hold/vb shut/vbn while/cs you/ppss sat/vbd down/rp ./.
There/ex was/bedz no/at lock/nn because/cs Herman/np didn't/dod* allow/vb a/at lock/nn ./.
A/at lock/nn on/in the/at toilet/nn would/md encourage/vb malingering/nn and/cc primping/vbg ./.
The/at toilet/nn hadn't/hvd* had/hvn a/at sincere/jj scrubbing/nn in/in years/nns and/cc there/ex were/bed things/nns written/vbn on/in the/at walls/nns of/in the/at little/jj boxed-in/jj place/nn because/cs you/ppss couldn't/md* keep/vb the/at public/nn out/rp --/-- entirely/rb ./.
She/pps could/md not/* count/vb the/at times/nns Herman/np had/hvd rapped/vbn on/in the/at door/nn ,/, just/rb a/at couple/nn of/in bangs/nns that/wps shook/vbd the/at whole/jj damned/vbn closet/nn and/cc might/md ,/, someday/rb ,/, break/vb away/rb the/at pipe/nn connections/nns from/in the/at wall/nn ./.
The/at two/cd little/jj bangs/nns meant/vbd that/cs he/pps was/bedz getting/vbg impatient/jj to/to have/hv a/at crowd/nn of/in customers/nns waited/vbd on/rp and/cc that/cs if/cs he/pps had/hvd to/in he/pps would/md jerk/vb open/vb the/at door/nn and/cc drag/vb out/rp ,/, by/in the/at opposite/jj door/nn handle/nn which/wdt she/pps would/md be/be clutching/vbg ,/, whichever-the-hell/wdt clerk/nn it/pps was/bedz who/wps thought/vbd she/pps could/md waste/vb so/ql much/ap store/nn time/nn on/in the/at pot/nn ./.


	And/cc the/at hours/nns were/bed six-thirty/cd in/in the/at morning/nn until/in eleven/cd at/in night/nn on/in Saturdays/nrs and/cc during/in sales/nns ,/, and/cc there/ex were/bed no/at chairs/nns and/cc you/ppss couldn't/md* smoke/vb and/cc the/at cooling/vbg was/bedz overhead/jj fans/nns and/cc there/ex was/bedz no/at porter/nn or/cc janitor/nn ./.

