"Never cook the leaves of rhubarb." "It's deadly poison." "Jason, will you go get Jim-Bob, please?" "Jim-Bob's not around, Mama." "He went out riding Ike's motorcycle." "Well, I'd like to know who gave him permission to go joy-riding on a motorcycle after what happened to John-Boy on one of those things." "Ike did." "Mama, Ike's motorcycle's got a sidecar on it." "It's nothing like the one I was riding." "With each passing year of the 1930s, we reached out for the hope that times were getting better and that the Depression, which had marked our lives, was fading, but, in hard truth, things remained much the same." "There were changes, though, in our family." "We didn't seem much different to each other until something would happen that made us look and see that time was surely changing us." "Esther!" " Esther!" " Down here!" "Esther, where have you hidden my seed catalogs?" "I can't keep track of everything." "Just look the last place you read it." "Hey, everybody!" " Hello, Ike." " I got some big news." "What's the trouble?" "This fool thing broke down, down the road a piece." "Yeah?" "We ought to be able to get a ride for you" " if you want to go somewhere." " No, thanks, Zeb." "I'll tell you what, though." "I'd like to borrow some of John's tools, maybe." "And maybe I can get it started." "Well, you just help yourself in the barn there." " Hi, Ike." " What's the news?" "Well..." "Corabeth and I are going to adopt a baby." " Congratulations." " A baby?" " Well, congratulations." " That's great, Ike." "Yep, Corabeth finally made up her mind." "Boy or girl?" "We don't care." "Either one is just fine." "So when's this going to happen?" "Well, as soon as the adoption agency gets a baby." "They promised us the very first one." "That means any time now." "Corabeth is standing by the phone." "Well, you let us know as soon as you hear, huh?" "And you tell Corabeth not to buy any baby clothes." "We have everything you'll need." "Much obliged, Esther." "Ike, why don't you get yourself a mule?" "It might balk on you, but it'll only drop dead once." "I'll tell you what." "I'll trade you Blue for this bike." "No!" "Hey, Ike, maybe you're not getting any gas in the engine." " Well, I don't know." "The tank is full." " Well, then I don't know." "Where's John-Boy?" "Maybe we ought to get him." "Maybe he could help me get this thing started." "You don't want to ask John-Boy." "He and motorcycles don't get along too well." "You know, you should ask Jim-Bob." "He'd know." "Hey, Jim-Bob!" "Come here!" "Yeah?" "What's the trouble?" "Bike quit on you again?" "Yeah, she quit on me down by the bridge." "See what you can do." "How'd you get it up here?" "Hey, Jim-Bob, you didn't hear the news." "Ike and Corabeth are going to adopt a baby." "That's good." "How'd you get it up here, Ike?" " He pushed it." " Well, think you can fix it?" "Well, the ignition wire's off." " Well, he did it." " I told you he'd do it." "Well, you want to take it for a spin?" "Are you sure it's all right?" "Well, I want to make sure that it keeps running." "I best go inside." "Don't you want to see me ride, Grandpa?" "I'd love to, but I better keep your grandma occupied." "Anything with an engine and wheels on it is duck soup to him." "If he had an airplane, he could fly that, too." "Hey, Jim-Bob, you ride that thing better than I do." "Boy, I love the way you handle that machine!" " It's a lot of fun." " Well, how much I owe you?" "No charge, Ike." " You're kidding." " Well, it's my pleasure." "Well, I tell you what." "You come down to the store, and you can ride it any time you want to." " Really?" " Any time!" " Thanks, Ike." " Now, I got to get going." " Okay." " See you later, Ike." " Bye-bye!" " Bye!" "Ike's going to have his hands full with that baby." "Well, as long as he keeps the sidecar on." "When did you get so smart?" "I've always been smart." "No, you don't." "Ike!" "Hello, Elizabeth." "How are you this fine day?" "Okay." "Is the baby here yet?" "No, the baby's not here yet." "Might be here tomorrow." "Might be here the next day." "Might even be here yet today sometime." "Ike Godsey's Store, Ike Godsey speaking." "Hello, Erin." "Yes, as a matter of fact, she's standing right here." "Is that the adoption agency?" "No, it's just Erin." "Yeah, Erin, what can I do for you?" "Okay." "You're welcome." "Elizabeth, you're to tell your family that Erin has a ride home." "Nobody has to pick her up." "Okay?" "Okay." "Elizabeth, would you like to come and see the preparations I've made for the baby's room?" " Sure." " Would you like a licorice?" "Okay." "And this will be our little one's very own room." "All this for one baby?" "Well, I suppose it may seem a bit extravagant, but it means so much to Mr. Godsey and me." "Well, are you going to sleep here, too?" "No, we will occupy our same room." "You mean the baby has to sleep by itself?" "Of course." "The Ladies' Home Journal says that privacy is important even for an infant." "Well, I hope it doesn't get lonesome." "I miss Erin if she isn't there, and I still miss Mary Ellen." "Elizabeth, you have had the blessings of a large family," "but fate has decreed that Mr. Godsey and I are to have no offspring." "Therefore, we must lavish our affection on the progeny of others." "Is that good or bad?" "Well, I assure you we shall make every effort to see that it's good." "Yes, I can hear you, Maude." "It's Maude Gormley." "Okay, Maude, if I see anybody, I'll tell them." "Bye." "It's Maude." "She's stranded over in Rockfish." "She needs a ride home if anybody's over that way." "Hey, Jim-Bob." "How are you?" "Hi, Ike, I was wondering if I could ride the motorcycle." "Well, sure you can, if you're careful." "Okay, here's for the gas." "Boy, with that much gas, you'll be able to go all the way to Washington, D.C." "I'm just going to be riding around here." " You have a good ride." " Okay." "Thanks, Ike." "And be careful!" "Well, look at that kid get on that bike." "Boy, he rides that like he's been riding it all his life." "Well, he always wanted to." "Cars, motorcycles and airplanes." "He says Charles Lindbergh rides motorcycles." "He does." "Well, he always does things that Charles Lindbergh does." "Hey, Patsy!" "Jim-Bob!" "Did Ike say you could ride that?" "Sure." "Come on, get in." "I can't be gone long." "I have to help Aunt Flossie with the wash." "This is nifty." "You bring those benches." "All this going back and forth..." "One pitcher of milk's going to be enough?" " Erin, should we..." " Well, if it's not, I'll get some more." "Okay?" "Grandpa, you're always the first at the table." "I'm just staking out my territory." "I'm a great believer in "First come, first served."" "Rabbits and pussycats." "Everywhere!" "And where are all these rabbits and pussycats?" "All at Ike and Corabeth's." "Rabbits and pussycats, pictures of them everywhere!" "She's been working on that room for heaven knows how long." "Corabeth showed it to me the other day." "It's beautiful." "I never knew anyone to hunger so for a child." "I sure hope that baby likes rabbits and pussycats." "Where is everybody?" "Boys, would you please bring the rest of the benches, so I can sit down?" "Got room for two more?" "Come on!" "If you'd say no to her once in a while, she'd pay more attention to her cooking." "Well, if you didn't eat so much, you could pay more attention to your doctoring." "What you got there under cover, hon?" "I got rhubarb pie." "I made it." "You made rhubarb pie?" "I'm very domestic, aren't I, Curt?" "Yeah, when she takes a mind to." "Grandma, bring a couple more plates!" " Careful!" " Now, don't rush me!" "You see what happens if you rush me?" "I'm gonna spill everything." "Grandma!" " It's a lazy man's load!" " Got the tomatoes in my hand!" " Don't drop any of those tomatoes!" " Hey, look who's here!" "Would you help me with that?" "Put that over there." "Hello, Mary Ellen." " Take that." " Yeah, I'll put it down right there." "Mary Ellen, take your plates." "Ben, I don't think I'm ever going to get to sit down." "What have we got here?" "What's under the..." "Mary Ellen made rhubarb pie." "Rhubarb pie!" "Say goodbye, everybody." "We're all going to be dead tomorrow." "You don't have to eat it." "Did you put strawberries in it?" "Wild honey and strawberries are the makings of a rhubarb pie." "Grandma, we'll just be lucky to have rhubarb in it." "Just for that, you don't get any." "I'm just trying to taste the pie and see if there's rhubarb in it." "That's all." "Never cook the leaves of rhubarb." "It's deadly poison." " You know that." " Hey, brother." "Where's John?" "He's up in the hills at the Kramer place, fixing up the pipe to get the spring water down to flat lands." "Jason, will you go get Jim-Bob, please?" "Jim-Bob's not around, Mama." "He went out riding Ike's motorcycle." "Well, I'd like to know who gave him permission to go joy-riding on a motorcycle after what happened to John-Boy on one of those things." "Ike did." "Well, Ike is not his father." "He had no right." "Jim-Bob's big enough, Mama." "It's not a question of size." "John-Boy was big enough." "Those things are foolish and dangerous." "They shouldn't be allowed on the road." "Esther, if you had your way, we'd all be riding lazy mules wearing bedroom slippers." "Zeb, I just wish you'd take my side, just once." "Mama, Ike's motorcycle's got a sidecar on it." "It's nothing like the one I was riding." "No way you can tip over with a sidecar on it." "It's just like an overgrown tricycle." "There's no way you can get hurt..." "Well, what did you think of that?" "Jim-Bob, were you trying to give me a heart attack?" "Now, you get off that thing and go wash your hands." "You're late for supper." "Sorry, Mama." "Jim-Bob, you just ruined my argument." "I was telling them all how easy that thing is with a sidecar, and then you come wheeling in like an acrobat!" "Where'd you learn that trick?" "I saw it in a movie." "There's nothing to it." "James Robert, you'll wind up in a circus." "More likely a hospital." "You watch your Ps and Qs, all right?" "I didn't do anything." "I don't know why you're so mad at Jim-Bob." "Daddy rode a motorcycle in the war." "That was in the service of his country." "Your daddy did a lot of things when he was young that he shouldn't have." "How do you think I got these white hairs?" "You remember that bull we had, great big ornery critter with long horns, blood in his eye?" "Your daddy took a notion, one time, to ride him." "Sounds like John." "How long did he stay on him, Grandpa?" "Just a couple of seconds, till the bull figured out what he was going to do." "Then he threw him off, broke a couple of his ribs and kicked him clear across the yard." "What's so funny?" "Well, I was just thinking about Jim-Bob riding in a bull race." "Let's eat." "Sorry I'm late." "Look at him, washes his hands and wipes it on his pants!" "I couldn't find a towel." "Curt, will you say the blessing, please?" "Father of us all, thank you for this day and this gathering." "I hope you'll join us for this good food and good company." "Amen." "Amen." "You're getting mighty familiar with the Lord." "I consider him a good friend." "Let's not start in on religion again." "Hey, Jim-Bob, I've been promising the Baldwin sisters" "I'm gonna fix the spring in their back door." "Would you give me a ride over there on your motorbike after supper?" "Sure, Grandpa." "Grandpa, you won't fit in the sidecar." "Well, if I won't fit sitting down," "I'll ride standing up!" "Mr. Stoker, if you want a real turnout for your race, now," "I suggest you put an ad in The Chronicle." "Do a great job for you, bring people from all over the county." "Well, I was thinking of putting out some posters." "Well, we can print them up for you." "In fact, there's some different kinds of type..." "It's all right." "Ben." "I have a great idea." "If you could put an ad in The Chronicle and tie it in with the poster, see, that'd attract a lot of attention." "Really would." "Lot of attention." "You know, for a slight extra charge, we could even deliver them for you." "Yeah." "Jim-Bob will help us." "See, we got a brother who rides a motorcycle, and he can cover most of the county in just a couple days." "Yeah, sure could." "That's right." "Well, this gonna cost me very much?" " No, not much." " Minimum." "All right." "How soon can you do it?" "This afternoon." "You work pretty fast." "Go ahead." " This afternoon." " We can do it." "This afternoon." " Thank you." " Let's go, Ben." "Hey, Ike." "Hey, Jason." "I'll be with you in just a minute." "No hurry." "Ike, is there any mail for us?" "No, honey." "Nothing for us today." "Corabeth is nervous." "When she's nervous, she bakes." "Expecting mother, huh?" "Yeah." "What can I do for you?" "Well, Mama needs some cornstarch and some bluing and a package of washing powder." "Excuse me." "Ike Godsey's General Merchandise." "Ike Godsey speaking." "Ike, is that the baby?" "No, honey, it's not the baby." "No, we got plenty of gasoline." "I don't need any of that." "But I'll tell you what, how about a half a dozen fan belts, assorted sizes, and some lubricating oil, that heavy stuff." "Right-o." "All right." "That'll be it." "Thanks a lot." "Now, you sure your mama wants cornstarch and not laundry starch?" "No, Grandma's making chocolate pudding." " Well, then it is cornstarch." " Yeah." "Now, Erin, how's she doing on her job over there at the telephone office?" "I reckon she likes it just fine, thanks." "Gets to keep track of what everybody's doing, you know." "Yeah, I'll bet." "Haven't seen your daddy in a couple of days." "Where has he been?" "Well, he's..." "He's working up at the Kramers' place, putting in some new water pipes." "I got a gas customer." "Corabeth?" "Would you take care of Jason?" "That's 24 cents and..." "Right with you, John-Boy." "Jason, I have just baked a superb pineapple cake." "Would you join me for a sample?" " John-Boy, need some gas?" " How you doing?" "Well, I'd love to, Corabeth, but John-Boy's here, and I have to hitch a ride home." " Congratulations." " Well, thank you very much." "We sold it to Eddie Stoker over in Rockfish." "He's having a motorcycle race." "We printed these posters up for him, too." "How do you like that?" "Yeah, we're putting them up for him." "I was just wondering if I could put one up in front of your store." " Sure." "No problem." " Yeah?" "Where do you think we ought to put it?" "Well, that's a good spot." "Why don't you put it right up there?" "Well, what about this here?" "That's all right, put it right over the top." " Well, it'll just be up till Saturday." " Okay." "Corabeth, would you get the phone, please?" " Right here?" "You sure?" " Yeah." "Godsey's General Merchandise Store." "Yes." "Yes, this is Corabeth Godsey speaking." " Hey, what's going on?" " Hey, Jim-Bob." "Motorcycle races." "Yeah, Eddie Stoker's giving motorcycle races over in Rockfish." "How do you like the way it looks?" " It just kind of jumps right out at you." " I think so, too." " I like the picture of the motorcycle." " Ike!" "Ike!" " The adoption agency called!" " What?" "The adoption agency called!" "They have our baby." "What time do we go get her?" " The child is a male." " It's a boy!" "What time do we go get him?" "Right now." "Get your coat on." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Move, Ike!" "Go right now!" " I'm going to be a daddy!" " I know!" "Is there anything we can do for you?" "No." "I'll tell you what." "I'll bring the baby by your house on our way home." "Okay, you be sure to do that." " Can I get a ride home?" " You sure can." "You need a ride, Jim-Bob?" "No, I'll be home later." "Okay, we'll see you later." "Congratulations!" "Talk to you later!" " Bye, Mama!" " Bye-bye!" "It just came off!" " Don't worry." "It's going to be okay, honey." " But the paint." "I'm worried about the paint." " Ike, that's great about the baby." " Big day, huh?" "There you go, honey." "Ready?" "You take my sweater." "All right." "Ike, Ike, Ike, Ike, Ike." "Jim-Bob, I forgot to lock the store." "Here, take my keys, and you lock the store." "Ike, can I ride the motorcycle?" "You can do anything you want with the motorcycle!" " Goodbye." " Okay." "Bye!" "Who's your new boyfriend, Esther?" "Well, I had to do something." "The crows are getting more food out of this garden than we are." "Last year, when you made a scarecrow, the blue jays made a nest in the hat." "Yeah, well, it was that old hat of yours that did it." "Now what?" "John-Boy, I guess." "Hey, hey!" "What's all the hooping-and-hollering commotion about?" "Ike and Corabeth got their call from the adoption agency." " They're getting a baby boy." " Baby boy." "A baby boy?" "Livie!" " It's the quickest way over." " Come on, Grandma." "Come on." "Let's go." "We got you." "Come on, one foot up." "Now wait." "You ready?" " Jump!" "Up!" "There she goes." " Livie!" "Whoever said good news don't travel fast?" "Because it's a baby." "Give a woman news about a baby, and it travels faster than a flash of lightning." "What're you doing?" "I took the sidecar off." "Did Ike say you could?" "He said I could do anything I want with it." "Can you ride it without the sidecar?" "It's a lot easier." "Can I go with you?" "Okay, but you have to hop on the back." "That's okay." "This is going to be fun!" "Did you see the sign about the motorcycle races?" "Yep, I'm going to win one." "Jim Walton!" "Everybody!" "Zeb!" "Esther!" "Have I got a surprise for you!" "Zeb!" "Hey, Zeb, wait till you see what I got." "Esther, are you in there?" "Where's the baby?" "Come on out..." "Wait till you see..." "I would like you to meet our new little daughter, Aimee Louise." "It is spelled A-I-M-E-E, as in the French language." "Aimee Louise, these are the Waltons." "This is Mr. and Mrs. Walton Sr. and Elizabeth, just a few members of a vast clan." "Aimee is 10 years old." "Elizabeth, you'll have a new little playmate." "Want to see my goat?" "All right." "Come on!" "Well, she's a dear child, but I thought you were getting a baby." "All our plans simply vanished into thin air." "The baby's mother changed her mind at the last minute." "Yes, she was a very young mother, and out of the clear, blue sky, she decided to keep that little baby boy." "Well, of course, it was a terrible disappointment to Mr. Godsey, and to me, too." "We couldn't blame her." "He sure was a cute little fella." "Well, we were completely shattered, and then we chanced to observe Aimee sitting there on the bed, so alone and forlorn." "Why, it just wrung our hearts." "We just couldn't walk out of that home and leave that adorable child just sitting there." "It was just love at first sight, wasn't it?" "Two years she had been languishing in that institution, ever since her mom and daddy perished in a nautical disaster." "Well, I..." "I do pray we done the right thing." "Well, that little girl sure needs mothering." "It's written all over her." "Yes." "Yes, I believe you're right about that." "Well, there's no shortage of people who want to adopt cute little babies, but girls Aimee's age and older, well, they need a home and a family, too, don't they?" "Well..." "She and Elizabeth ought to get along like a couple of bears in a honey-bee tree." "Here." "Right here." "Chicken feed." "Come on." "There." "There you go, girl." "Cow wants some." "Go on, get out of here, Mama." "You'll like Ike and Corabeth." "Who are they?" "You don't know who adopted you?" "You mean Mr. and Mrs. Godsey." "That's Ike and Corabeth." "I've known them all my life." "They're real nice people." "You're going to be living in the back of a store with all kinds of neat stuff in it." "Where did you live before?" "Hampton Roads." "Daddy was a fisherman." "What happened to him?" "He and Mama drowned." "That's too bad." "But Ike and Corabeth will love you." " She talks funny." " I know." "It's in better shape than it looks, Mr. Stoker." "That's what you tell me, son, but I've seen a lot better." "Yes, sir." "Sure have." "Well, can I get in a race?" "Son, you ever ride in competition before?" "No, sir." "You haven't got a chance on this old junker." "You know that?" " We'll see." " We'll see, huh?" "I don't want you getting run over." " I'll be way out in front." " You'll be way out in front, huh?" "Okay, you be here in the shop on Saturday." "What did you say your name was?" "James Robert Walton." "James Robert Walton." "James Robert Walton." "Okay, you're number eight." "Good luck." "Cut it out, Patsy." "Try it now, son." "And all of this will be yours one day." "Well, it's all hers now." "She can have anything she wants." "You want some candy?" "Too much penny candy is not good for the system, but perhaps a raspberry pop would be refreshing?" "It makes me belch." "Well, perhaps milk would be best." "Mr. Godsey, we must make some arrangements with the Waltons or purchase a cow." "A growing child needs milk." "If you want a cow, I'll buy a cow." "If you'll milk it, I definitely think we should have a cow." "We want you to enjoy yourself." "You can play right here in the store." "How would you like to punch the cash register, huh?" "Wanna try that?" "Where am I going to sleep?" "Well, you have your own darling room." "I'll show it to you as soon as we complete the tour." "You want to see the pool table?" "Come on." "Mr. Godsey, this child shall be raised as a lady." "I hardly think that playing pool should be one of her accomplishments." "And we have our own fabric department." "I shall fashion dresses for you for church and for school." "And we got all sorts of toys." "Come on over here and take any one you want." "Would you like a doll?" "Hey, hey!" "Take the big one." "Here." "Come, I'll show you to your own room." "I'll get it, honey." "Ike Godsey's General Merchandise." "Ike Godsey speaking." "Hey!" "John Walton!" "How're things up there?" "Good." "Hey, I got some good news for you." "Yeah, Corabeth and I have adopted a child." "A lovely little girl." "Yeah, we're just as happy as can be." "Your family?" "Yeah, everything is going along just fine." "Jim-Bob is riding my motorcycle." "That's right." "Yeah." "He's in a race this Saturday." "A race." "What does Olivia think of it?" "Well, I don't know." "I hadn't even thought of that." "You want to know what I think?" "I think it's just plain crazy." "I think it's foolhardy and dangerous, and I don't know where you ever got such a harebrained idea." "It is not a harebrained idea." "Lots of boys race motorcycles." "If they have experience, yes." "Well, they all started somewhere." "They all had a first time." "Look, Jim-Bob, as far as I'm concerned, you can break your neck." "I just think it's very unfair to do this to Mama, especially when Daddy's away." "Well, maybe I just won't tell her." "You're doing what?" "Sit down, Mama." "I'm going to ride Ike's motorcycle in the race Saturday." "Jim-Bob, do you remember what we went through here when John-Boy got hurt on one of those machines?" "Well, this is different." "John-Boy's a writer, and he doesn't know a thing about motorcycles." "So you just went right ahead and made the decision without asking anybody?" "I didn't want to get you worried." "Mama, this is something I want to do more than you can understand." "I knew there'd just be a big fight." "Jim-Bob, I have put too much love and care raising..." "Mama, we take chances every day, around animals and machinery." "Lots of boys my age drive cars and motorcycles." "Well, I know that, and I can understand it if you have to do it to earn a living, but for me to stand by and watch you risk your neck for..." "For what?" "Mama, I'm different." "I'm going to do things different from Ben, Jason and John-Boy." "I'm going to drive motorcycles and someday airplanes, too." " It's just the way I am." " Jim-Bob..." "Mama, you have to understand." "I'm growing up." "Jim-Bob, I love you very much." "You know that." "And I don't want to stand in the way of your becoming a man." "If I've learned anything at all it's that I can't tie you boys to my apron strings, as much as I might like to." "I just..." "I just wish that when you'd set out to prove yourself, you wouldn't pick something so dangerous." "I won't get hurt, Mama." "Well, you'd better not." "Will I see you at the race?" "You just keep your eyes on the road." " Well, of all things!" " Hello, Liv." "I didn't hear you drive up." "I parked down the road." "I wanted to surprise you." "Well, you sure did that." "I didn't expect you back till Sunday." "I talked to Ike on the phone this morning." "He told me about Jim-Bob." "I thought I'd better come on down." "If there ever was a time I needed you, it was today." "Well, I know that." "Now, listen." "I know how you feel about these things, but we got to remember that Jim-Bob is a very special kind of boy, you know." "He's different." "That's right." "So there's no need to get all rattled and stirred up, is there?" "I'm not stirred up." " You're not?" " I was." "Well, what did you tell Jim-Bob about riding in the race?" "I didn't say he couldn't." "You do all right when I'm not around, don't you?" "Are you home to stay?" "I gotta go, but I can maybe, with some encouragement, be talked into spending the night." " I gotta be going early in the morning." " I don't care." "Come to bed." "Liv, where's my football helmet I used in high school?" "I beg your pardon?" "That football helmet I used in high school, where is it?" "Somewhere in the attic, I think." "You stay right there." "Hey, Jim-Bob." "Jim-Bob." " Hi, Son." " You home?" "But I gotta go back." "I won't be here Saturday." "Did you hear about the race?" "Your mama told me about it." "Now, you be careful." "I will." "No showing off for the girls." "No, sir." "I want you to wear this." "It's my high school football helmet." " Do I have to?" " Yes, you have to." "Good luck." "Esther." "Aimee's in the barn." "Esther, I just had to get away from that General Merchandise store for a little while." "You know, I'd like to give Ike a piece of my mind, him and that fool motorcycle." "You know Jim-Bob talked Livie into letting him ride in that race?" "Well, at least he can talk to his mother." "Esther, I wish I knew what I was doing wrong." "Aimee just isn't happy with us." "Well, she seemed happy enough when she came here a little while ago with Elizabeth." "Well, she treats Mr. Godsey and me as if we were perfect strangers." "Well, you are, aren't you?" "She's just a little girl." "Can you imagine how Elizabeth would feel if she were uprooted like that and everybody was new to her and everything was different?" "Well, I never thought of it quite like that, but she does not respond to us in any way." "Mr. Godsey and I are nearly at our wits end trying to please her, and yet we just can't seem to." "I just don't understand the child..." "At all." "I bet you're having fun, the whole store to play in." "Well, why not?" "They don't like me." "What do you mean, they don't like you?" "They went clear over to Charlottesville to get you." "Have you seen the room I sleep in?" "You mean the one with all the bunny rabbits and pussycats?" " It looks like it's for a baby." " It is for a baby." "But something happened, so they got you instead, but I'm glad they did." "You're a lot better than a baby." "Aimee, are you really going to leave us?" "Yes, ma'am." "But that would make Mr..." "Your father and me very unhappy." "You're just saying that." "Would I say it if I didn't mean it?" "Nobody ever wanted me." "They'd come in and make over the babies and walk right past me." "Aimee, it's true we wanted a baby." "We yearned for one, prayed for one, and the orphanage promised us a baby." "And when the mother decided to keep hers, we felt terrible, but then we saw you," "and it didn't make any difference that you weren't a baby." "You were what we wanted, and you were what we chose." "Why do you act so funny with me?" "Why," "I was not aware that I acted funny." "He's kind of nervous, and you're a little prissy." "Me?" "Prissy?" "Yes, ma'am." "You put on airs." "Well, what's putting on airs to some and being prissy is being cultivated to others." "It's very difficult to keep gentility and grace alive under very trying circumstances." "You're doing it right now." "Doing what?" "Being some kind of a grand lady." "Oh, Aimee." "Do you think that's what I really want?" "I don't know, ma'am." "What do you really want?" "I come from people who were not demonstrative with one another." "My folks believed that affection should be expressed only within the confines of their own chambers, so if you have felt that I have shown you not enough love, perhaps it is because I have found it difficult" "to express all the love I feel." "Please don't cry." "It's all right," "Mama." "All right?" "Please don't cry." "Well, Jim-Bob, remember you're riding a Godsey bike." " I won't let you down." " Okay." "He's gonna do okay." "He'll do just fine." "Now, Jim-Bob, don't you forget to wear that helmet, you hear?" "I cannot believe that my mother would let him ride in that race, after all that carrying on she did about him even being on the bike." "One thing you can always count on with a woman, John-Boy, what you least expect is what they'll do." "You think you know everything." "Well, I do, just about." "You just keep it up, Curt." "How you doing, Grandpa?" "Keep your eye on eight." "Eight is great." "Eight is great." "Go get 'em, Jim-Bob." " "Eight is great."" " What're you looking at me like that for?" "Well, I know what's going on in that head of yours." "You're a mind reader now?" "You'd like to be right down there in the middle of that foolishness." "Well, you're right about that, Esther, but you're wrong about the foolishness." "You are about to witness one of the great moments in a boy's life." "Which boy?" "Ladies and gentlemen, the first race of the afternoon." "Will the contestants please come up to the line?" "This is a free-for-all event, two laps around the course." "Winner receives a $5 gift order from the Rockfish Garage and Motor Supply." "Second prize is a beautiful shirt from the Scottsville Department Store." "Third prize is a box of chocolates from the Robert's Soda Shop." "Gentlemen, start your motors." "Contestant number one," "Clay Jones of Rockfish." "Number two," "Linden Fumia of Westham." "Number three, Mike Adair of Shipman." "Number four, Carl Hansen of Charlottesville." "Number five, Ray Parsons of Scottsville!" "Number six, Rod Peterson, Rockfish!" "Number seven, Neil Thompson, Shipman." "And riding his first race is James Robert Walton of Walton's Mountain!" "You be careful!" "Walton, you gonna get that thing started?" "Now, you all know the rules." "Twice around the course." "When I say ready." "Ready, steady, go!" "Here they come, folks." "One lap to go!" " James Robert!" " They're coming round this way." " Come on!" "Come on!" " Come on!" " Jim!" " Bob!" "Jim-Bob!" "Jim-Bob!" " Are you all right?" " I'm okay." "I'm okay." "Get back over there." " I'm okay." "I'm okay." " You're sure, now?" " He's okay." " You stay off that thing!" "I know, but they'll be around in a little while." "Do you think he might have hurt himself when he fell down here?" "No, he didn't hurt himself." "He's fine." "I'm sure he's all right." "He got up okay." "Quiet!" "I hear 'em!" "Here they come, folks." "They're coming!" "Look!" "Here they come!" " Here they come!" " They're coming around." "Yeah, they're coming!" " I don't see him." "There he is." "There he is." " He's number four." " Fourth place." " Keep right with them!" " There he is!" " He's number four!" "Stay right with him!" "Come on, James Robert!" "Come on, James Robert!" "Eight!" "Jim-Bob!" "I never thought you'd do it!" "Well, he did it." "Congratulations, James Robert!" "Jim will do, Mama." "Jim-Bob won a box of candy from the soda shop in Rockfish, and for the rest of us, it was an unforgettable memory, the day our youngest brother took his giant step into the world." " Jim-Bob?" " Yeah?" " What happened to that box of candy?" " I gave it away." " Who'd you give it to?" " Patsy Brimmer." "You stinker!" "Well, maybe one day you'll grow up and meet some good-looking guy, and he'll fall in love with you," " and win a motorcycle race." " Jim-Bob, go to sleep." "Then he'll give you a 10-pound box of candy, and he'll look at you all gooey-eyed..." " Jim-Bob!" " Quiet!" "And you'll marry him and go off to live in South America." "One more word, Jim-Bob, and you're going to get it." " Good night." " Good Lord!" "English"