ae A Good Man Is Hard to Find ‘The grandmother didn want to go to Florida, She wanted 0 visit some of her connections in east Tennesse and she was sez- ing at every chance to change Bailey's mind, Bailey was the son she lived with, her only boy. He was sitting on che edge of his chair ar the table, bent over the orange sports section of th nah “Now look here, Bailey” she said, “see here, ead this,” and she stood with one hand on her thin hip and x rating the newspaper at his bald heua. "Here this fellow that alls him self The Misfits loose fom the Federal Ren and headed roward Florida and you read here what ic says he did to these people. Just you read ie. wouldait take my children in any dizection| ‘wich criminal like that aloose in it. T coulda answer to my conscience if did,” Bailey dda fook up from his readings she wheeled around then and Faced the children’s mother, a young woman in slacks, whose face was a broad and innocents a cabbage and wa ted round with a green headkerchief that had two points on the2+ A Gao Men Hardt Fi top ke rabbits cars. She was siting on the sof, feeding the baby his aptioss out of ajar “The children have ben to Florida be- fore. the old lady said. “You all ought eo take them somewhere lye for a change so they would se different parts ofthe world and be broad. They never have been to east Tennesse.” “The children’s mother dist sem to hear her but the eght- year-old boy John Wesley. astocky child with sis sds “Ifyou dont wane wo goto Florida, why donrcha say at home” Heand. the ie gil, June Sear, wer reading the funny papers onthe Boor “She would stay at home to be queen fora day." June Sar ssid without raising her yellow head. Yes and what would you do if this fellows The Misfit, caught you” the grandmother asked, “Pd smackhis face,” John Wesley sai. “She wouldse stay at home fora million bucks” June Sear said, “Afaid shed miss something, She has to go everywhere “Allright, Miss” the grandmother sad. “Just remember that the next time you wane me wo cul your hait.” June ear sider hai was naturally cary "The next morning the grandmother was the fst one inthe car, ready to go. She had her big black vase that looked like the head of a hippopotamus in one corner, and underneath it she was hiding a basket with Pity Sing, the cat in it She didnt intend forthe cat to belefealone inthe house for thee days be- ‘cause he would miss her too much and she was affaid he might brush against one ofthe gas burners and accidenallyasphyxiate hhimoel Fler son, Bale, dal ike wo arrive at a motel witha cat. ‘Good Man Hardt Find © 3 She sat inthe mid ofthe back seat wih John Wesey and Jane Sear on ether side of her. Baily and the childrens mother andthe baby sat non and the let Alana aight forty-five withthe mileage on the ca at 55890. The grandmother wrote this dowa because she thought it would be intersting to sy how many miles they had been when they got back. It ook them twenty minutes to reach the oui ofthe cy. The old lady sede hes comfortably removing her white corzon loves and putting them up with her pus onthe shelf in front of she back window. The children mother ill had on slacks and sill had her head tied up ina green kerchief but the grandmother had ona navy buesraw silor hat with a bunch of white voles on the brim anda navy blue des witha small ‘white docin the pent. Her collars and cuff were whit organdy tsimmed with lace and ater neklne se had pinned a purple spray of cloth vols containing a sachet. In case ofan acident, snyonesecing her dead on the highway would know atonce that she was lady She sid she thought it was going tobe agood day for dee- ing, neither wo ot orto cold and she cautioned Bailey that the speed limit was itv miles an hour and thatthe parol smen id themselves behind billboards and small camps of tees and sped out afer you befor you ad a chance wo slow down. ‘She pointed out interesting dtl of the scenery: Stone Mou tain the blu granite chat in some places came upto both sides ofthe highway the brine el clay banks slighty sueaed with purple and the various crops that made rows cf ren lace-wor. on the ground. The tes were ill of ver whitesunighe and4 Goud Mon Ie Hands the meanest of them spaskled, The childeen were reading comic ‘magazines and their mother had gone backto sleep. Let’ go through Georgia fast so we work have to look at it much," John Wesley said. If werealitde boy” sid the grandmother, “I wouldnt alk. about my naive state that way. Tennesse has the mountains and, Georgia as the hill.” “Tennessee is just illbilly dumping ground,” John Wesley said, “and Georgia is a lousy state too.” You said it," June Star said. “In my time,” suid the grandmother, folding her thin veined fingers, “children were more respectful of ther native stares and their parents and everything se People did right then. Oh look. atthe cut litle pickaninny!” she said and pointed t0 a Negro iid standing inthe door ofa shack. “Wouldsitthat make a pie- ture, now? she asked and they all tured and looked a che litle Negro out of the back window. He waved, "Fle didalt have any britches on," June Star sad. “He probably didnit have any,” the grandmother explained, “Lite niggers in the country dont have things like we do. IFT could paint, Td pain char picture,” she sui, ‘The children exchanged comic bool. “The grandmother offered to hold the baby and the children’s smother pased him over the front seat to her. She set him on her knee and bounced him and told him about the things they were passing, She rolled her eyes and screwed up her mouth and stuck. har leathery thin face into his smooth bland one, Occasionally he fave hera faraway smile, They passed a large cotton field with ‘AGoed Man ls Merd to id = 5 fiv or dix graves fence inthe middle of like small sland “Look at che graveyard!” the grandmother std, pointing i out “That was the old family burying ground. That belonged othe plantation.” “Where the plantation?" Joba Wesley asked. “Gone withthe Wind,” sid the grandmother. “Ha, Ha.” ‘Whe the childeen finshed al the comic books chy had Irought they opened te lunch and aeit The grandmother ate 4 peanut bute sandwich and an olive and would noc lt the tildeen throw the box and the paper napkins out the window ‘When there was nothing dae todo they played game by choos {ng loud and making the other two gues what shape i sug- ‘gested. John Wesley tok one the shape of cow and June Star guessed 4 cow and John Wesley si, no, an automobile, and “Tune Star side dda ply ui, and they began to slap each oer over the grandmother The grandmother suid she would tel chem a story if they would keep quiet. When she tol a story she rolled her eyes sndwaved her head snd was very dramatic, She sid once when she was a maiden lady she had been courted by a Me. Edgar ‘Atkins Tegarden fom Jasper, Georgia She adhe was avery good-looking man and a gendeman and that he brought her a sestermelon every Saturday afieroon with his inital ein i E.A.T. Wal one Saturday she ud, Me. Teagarden brought che ‘watermelon and thre was nobody athome and he eft icon the font porch and reurned in his buggy t Jasper, but she never got the watermelon, she sid, esuse «nigger boy ate it when he saw the initials, EA. T! This story eked John Wesleys6 + AGiod Man Ie Hardt Fad fanny bone and he giggled and gigled but June Star didnt think ic was any good. She said she woulda marry man that just brought her a watermelon on Saturday. The grandmother ‘sd she would have done well to marry Me Tegarden because he wasa gentleman and had bought Coca-Cola stock when it firs came out and that he hd ded only afew yeas ago, avery wealthy man. “They stopped a The Tower for barbecued sandwiches. The “Tower was part stucco and part wood filing station and dance hal sec ina cleatng ouside of Timothy. fa man named Red Sammy Bats ran it and there were signs suck here and there ‘on the building and fo ils up and down the highway saying, “Ty RED stints FAMOUS BARBECUE. NONE LIKE FAMOUS RED san" na ss! THE EAT BOY WITHTHE HAPPY LAUGH. AVET- ERAN! RED S400" TOUR MAN! Red Sammy was lying on the bare ground oursice The “Tower with his head under a truck while a gay monkey abouta foot high, chained wo a small chinaberry re, chaterednextby. “The monkey sprang back into the wee and got on the highest Tim s soon as he sw the chien jump out ofthe ca and un tovatd him. Inside, The Tower was along dark room wih a counter at ‘one end and tables e che other and dancing space inthe middle. “They all st dawn ac board table next the nickelodeon and Rea Sans wif, all irae-brown woman with hair and eyes lighter than her skin, came and tok their odes. The chide’ smother pu a dime in the machine and played “The Tennesee “Wale” and the grandmother sid that rune always made et A Grol Man sont nd + 7 vant dance. Seated Bailey ithe would ike to dance bute oily gare bet He dbst have a aru sunny disponion lke she did and tips made him nervous, The grandmother's brown ees wer ey bright She swayed her head fom side to side aod poscdel she was dancing inher cha: June Sar sid play romehing the could ap 0 00 the cles mother pti ancther dime and played fase nuaber and June Sear tapped tt on the dance for and did exp muting “Aine she cate” Red Sam's wie sid leaning over the counter. "Woald you ice to come be my il i” *No I cenainly would,” June Sar sud. “I wouldve in a broken down place like this fora millon buck!” and she ran brace the ble “Ain she ut? the woman repens, setching her mouth poli. “Art you haved?” hed the gandarber Red Sam came in and tld his wif to quit lounging onthe counter and hurry np with theme peopl order. His khaki trousers reached just his hip bones and his stomach hung oer them ke a sick of mel swaying under hs shir, He came over and st down ata able neaby and lt out a combination sigh and yodel. "You cant win,” he sid. "You cant win,” and he ‘ried his owen elf off with gay handerche. “Thee daysyou dort ow who wo tases.“ hat the nk” “People are certainly noc nce like they used ro be" sid the gaandmoier “Tirole comein heres wees” Red Sammy sii ing a Chyler. Iewasaold beat-up cir brit was a good oneB+ AGooa Mani Hard to Fit and these boys looked all ight to me. Said chey worked a che mill and you know Tee them fllers charge the gas they bought? Now why did I do that” “Because youre agood man!” the grandmother sid a once. “Yes, I supposeo,” Red Sam sad as ifhe were struc with this answer. is wife brought the orders, carrying the five plas all at ‘once without a ray, co in each hand and one balanced on her arm, “Ic isnt a soul inthis green world of God!’ that you can ‘us, she sid. “And T don't count nobody out of that, not no- body” she repeated, looking at Red Sammy. “Did you read about chat criminal, The Mist that’s es- caped2* asked the grandmother. “T wouldnt be abit surprised if he didtattact this place right here.” said the woman “If he hears about it being here, 1 ‘wouldeit be none surprised to see him. IFhe hears its ewo cent in the cash register, wouldat bea tll surprised if...” “That do,” Red Sam said. “Go bring these people their |-Colas,” and the woman went off to get the rest ofthe order. "A good man is hard to find,” Red Sammy sid. “Everything is geting teible. remember the day you could go off and leave your screen door unlached. Not no more.” He and the grandmother discussed better times. The old lady sid that in her opinion Europe was entirely to blame forthe ‘way things were nove. She sid the way Europe acted you would ‘think we were made of money and Red Sam said it was no use talking about i, she was exactly right. The children ran outside into the white sunlight and looked at the monkey in the lacy ‘A Good Man Is Hardt Rd» 9 chinberry tree, He was busy catching eas on hieself and bit- ing ech one carefly between his tes as it were a dlcay “They drove of again into the hor afternoon. The grand- smother ook cat naps and woke up every few minutes with her cown snoring. Outside of Toombsboro she woke up and recalled anol plantation tha she ha vised inthis eighbochood once ‘when she was a young lady. She said the house had sie white columns across the front and that chere was an avenue of oaks leading up oitand ewo litle wooden telisarbors on ether side in frone where you st down with you suitor ae a stollin the arden, She real eel which road to run off 0 get wit ‘She knew that Bailey would not be willing to lose any ime look fing ata old house, but the more she talked about it the more she wanted to see ic once agin and find ou if the ide ewin ar bors wer sil standing, “There was a secre panel in this hous,” she sail crf, noe tling the eh but wishing that she were, “and the story wene etl che fly sver was hidden in ie ‘when Sherman came through bute was never found...” “Hey” John Wesley sid. “Les go sei Well fin it Well poke all the woodwork and fnd i Who lives there? Where do you tur off a Hey Pop care we eum off here” “We never have seen a house with a secret panel!” June Sear shvieked. “Les go tothe house with the secret panel! Hey Pop, carte we go see the house withthe secret pandl” “Tes not far fom here, Lknow” the grandmother ssid. “ie ‘woulda eke over tweney ninuces” Bailey was looking scight ahead. His jw was as iid as horseshoe. “No,” he sid10 + A od Man I Hardt Pd “The children began to el and scream thar they wanted 10 sete house withthe secret panel. John Wet kicked the bak ofthe fone seat and June Sai hung over her mothers shoulder tnd whined desperael at he ear tha hey never ad any fon tren on ther vacation, that they could never do what THEY ranted odo, The bby began to seam and John Wese kicked the back of the sea o ard that his father could feel che blows inbis kidney. 4 “Allright” he shouted and drew the cr toastop atthe side ofthe road, “Will youll shat up? Will ou al jseshut up for tone second? If you dos shut up, we wort go anywhere.” “Te would be very eduatonal for chem,” che grandmother soured, “Alright” alley said, “but get cis eis isthe only time snc gong ro sop for anything like chi. This isthe one and only time.” ; “The det oad that you have ro curn down is about a ile ‘bck the grandmother directed. "marked ie when we pase.” “A dice road,” Bailey groaned. [Aer they had tumed around and were headed roward che ir road, the grandmother recalled other pointsabout he house, the beutfl glass over the front doorway and the candllamp inthe hall. John Wesley sd tha the secret panel was probably in the Birelace “You ear go inside this hous,” alley sai, “You done know ‘who lives there.” “While you all lk o the people in fon, I'l un around behind and get in a window,” John Wesley suggested. A Gd Mon Hard to Fisd = 12 ""Wellall say inthe can,” his mother sad ‘They turned onto the die road and the ear raced roughly long ina swidl of pink dust. The grandmother recalled the times when there were no paved roads and chiry mies was day's jour- ney. The dire road was billy and there were sudden washes in it and sharp curves on dangerous embankments ll at once they ‘would be on hill, ooking down over the blue tops of tees for miles around, then the next minute, they would bein a red de- pression with the dust-cated tree looking down on them "This place had berter cur up in « minute,” Bailey sid, “or Tm going to curn around.” ‘The toad looked as if no one had traveled on iin months. "Iesnot much father,” the grandmother ssid and just as she said a horibl thought came to het. The thought vas so em- Darrassing that she turned red in the face and her eyes dilated and bee fet jumped up, upsetting her vase in the cotner, The insane the vale moved, the newspaper tp she had over the bas: het under ie rose with sna and Piety Sing, the cat, sprang ona Baileys shoulder. ‘The children were thrown to the Hoor and their mother, cluching the baby, was thrown out the door onto the grounds the old lady was thrown into the font seat. The car surned over ‘once and landed right-side up in «gulch off theside of the road Bile remained in the drivers seat with the ext—gray-stiped with 2 broad white fice and an orange nose—elinging to his eck ikea caterpillar, ‘As soon asthe chd:en su they could move chic arms and legs, they scrambled out of che cat, shouting, “We've had an18 + A Goo Man s Herd Find "ACCIDENT? The grandmother was curled up under the dash- ‘board hoping she was injured so that Bailes wrath would not come down on herall aconce. The hontble hough she ad had ‘afore the accident was that the house she had remembered 0 vividly was nocin Georgia butin Tennessee Bailey removed the cat from his neck with both hands and flung ic out the window against che side ofa pine tee. Then he got out ofthe car and started loking forthe chiles mother. She was sitting against the side ofthe red gutted ditch, holding the screaming baby bu she only had a cut dawn he face and a broken shoulder. “We've had an ACCIDENT” the children screamed in a frenny of delight. "Buc nobody’ killed” Jane Siar said with disappointment asthe grandmother limped outof the car her hat til pinned to ther head but the broken fone bm standing up atajaunty angle and the volr spray hanging ofthese. They alls down inthe lich, except the ld, eo recover from the shock. They were allshaking. “Maybe a car will come along,” said the children's mother hones. SL believe I ave injured an organ,” said the grandmother, presting her sie, bur no one answered her. Baileys veth were dlatcring. He had on a yellow sport shire with bright blue par- rots designed in i and his face was as yellow asthe shire. The grandmother decided thar she would not mension thatthe house wasn Tennessee. “The road was about ten feet above and they could see only the topsof the treson the other side oft. Behind the ditch they ‘A-Gsod Mar Is Harts Find + 13 wee sting in thee wer more woods all and dak al dep. Ina few mines they saw car some distance away on top of hil coming lowly aif the occupants wee watching them. The grandmother stood up and waved both arms dramaccally to auact thee attention, The exe continued to ome on slowly, disappeared around a bend and appeared again, moving even slower 02 tp ofthe il hey had gone over. Ie asa big back banered hease-ike automobile, There were thre men i it. Tecame toa sop just over them and fr some minutes, the Aviver Looked down with a steady expressionless gaze to where they were siting, and dda spak. ‘Then he earned his head and muttered something wo the other wo an they got out. Oe was af boy in black rousers and aed swest sire with aver sale lion embossed on the ont ot. He moved around on the right Side of them and stood saving, his mouth pad open ina kind of lose grin. The other had on khaki pans and a blue striped coat and a gay hat pulled down very low, hing most of his face. He came around slowly on the ef side. Nether spoke. “The driver gor ou ofthe car and stood bythe side of i, Tooking down at them. He was an elder man than theater two, His hair was jas beginning to gray and he wore sverrimmed spectacles that gave im ascholaly look. He hada long creased face and dirt have on any shircorundershire He hd on blue jeans that were to tight fr hrm and was holding a black hat and a gun. The two boy lio had guns. We've had an ACCIDENTY the children screamed “The grandmother had the peculiae fling that the bespec- taced man wassomeone she knew. His face wasas ilar to her1+ Aol Man lsat Fd sift inown imei bute couldnt al who sess He moved say the car and bn come ow thc banaenn ing ise carlo hah wos ip. Tebad nev and white serand ooo anil secand hn Good afemoon hei Toe you al ad uae i” i “We cured over twice!” said the grandmother. “Ouse? Recoeced“Wescenit happen Ti eran declan, Hin” be i qe the oy wih be a hat you gotthat gun for?” John Wesley asked. “Whatcha oad wah at pin : “Lady,” the man said to the children’s mother, “would you nin ain tem clin os downy yo? Chien ake Pence Twat you a wn ight pee es wines” Ata yo ling US wha odo Jue Sar asd ulin! deste ne of woods gael ke a dark open oath "Come he si i mote: "Loa h nw” Bay bp deny. “Wena pis pest Werin.* "Te gander thcke, Sh smb er fet and sod eng "Yt The Mi she id “Tengiz yo aa cdin,” the man sid smiling slighty asi he were pleased snopes known ha io be been ete ferry iyo hdfc me Talk ened head sharp and i omen hs ‘A God Man I Hndto Find» 15, smother that shocked even the children. The oli lady began to cry and The Misfc reddened “Lady,” he sid, “don't you get upset. Sometimes a man says things he don't mean. I dorit reckon he meant to tall to you thatanay.” “You would shoot a lady, would you?” the grandmother ssid and removed a clean handkerchief fom her cuff and began twslap at her eyes with i. ‘The Misc pointed the roe of his shoe into the ground and mate lice hole and then covered it up again “Iwould hate ro hhave to,” he sid. “Listen,” the grandmother almost sceamed, “know youe ‘good man. You doit look abit like you have common blood. know you muse come from nice people!” “Yes mam," he sad, “finest people in che word.” When he smiled he showed a row of strong white eth. “God never made a finer woman chan my mocher and my daddy’ hear was pare gold,” hesaid. The boy withthe red sweat shirt had come around behind them and was sanding wich his gun achis hip. The Mis fic squatted down on the ground. *Watch them children, Bobby Lee,” he sid. "You know they make me nervous.” He looked at the si of chem huddled together in fone of him and he scemned tobeembarrasedas fhe couldat chink of anything wo sy “Aint cloud inthe sy,” he remarked, looking up ait. “Dont see no sun but dont see no loud neither” “Yes, its a beautiful day,” said the grandmother, “Listen,” she sud, “you shoulda cll yourself The Misc because know you're a good man at heat. Ian jus look atyou and te.”16 + A ood Men I Hard to Find plush” Bley yelled. “Huh! Everybody shot up andl me handle his!" He was squatting in the position ofa runner about to sprint Forward but he didalt move. pre chat tha, lad” The Misi said and drew alle Gece inthe ground wich the butt of his gu. “ll take a alfa hour o Bix this ere ca,” Hiram called, looking over the raised hood of it. “-Wal, ist you and Bobby Lee get him and that lite boy © xep over yonder wih you,” The Mist ud, pointing to Baley tnd John Wey. “The boys want1o astyou something,” he said to Baily. “Would you mind stepping backin them woods there swith chemd”™ “Listen” Bailey began “wer in a terrible predicament! No- body elns wha hiss and his voice cracked, is eyes were az blue and intense as the parot in his shirt and he remained perfectly sil. “The grandmother eahed up wo adjst her hat brim asf she ‘were going ro the woods with him bu ie came of inher hand, ‘She stood staring ait and afer a second she Let i fll on the round, Hiram pull Bailey up by the arm asf he were aise ing an old man John Wesley caught hold of his fiers hand and Bobby Lee fllowed. They went off roward the woods and jimea they reached he dark edge, Bay turned and supporting Frimeelf against gray naked pine trunk, he shouted "illbe back ina minute, Mamma, wait on me!” “Come back tis instand” his mother shred but they all Alisappeared into the woods. “Bailey Boy” the grandmother calle ina erage voice but A Good Man Is Hard to Rd + 27 she found she wa looking at The Misfesquatsing onthe ground infront of her. “I just know you're a good man,” she sid des peraely. “Youre noc abie common!” “Nome, Taint a good man,” The Misc sai ater a second a ithe had considered her statement carefully, “but I aint the worst inthe world neither. My daddy ssi I wat a diferent breed cof dg from my brohers and sisters. "You know? Dad sid, “is some tha ean live thei whole if out without asking about ‘cand ies other as to know why itis, and thisboy is one ofthe laters, Hes going to be into everything!” He put on his Black hacand looked up suddenly and chen away deep into the woods ee ees fore you ladies” he said, hunching is shoulders slighty. “We pax eermprectee sreeenin ee just making do und we can ge better. We borrowed these from some folks we met” he explained. “Thats perfec allright,” the grandmother sid, “Maybe Bailey hasan extra shire in his suitcase” “Til look and see tree” The Mish si Where are they taking hin?” the chiles mother screamed. “Daddy was a card himself” The Mf sid. "You couldnt ‘put anything over on him. He never got in trouble with the Au- thorties though, Jus had the knack of handling them.” "You could be honest too if you ony ty.” said the grand- smother. “Think how wonderfil ie would be ro sete down and live a comfortable life and not have to think about somebody chasing you ll the ime.” “The Misi kee scratching in the ground with the bust of is= 18 + A Good Man Hard to Find guns fhe were thinking about it. "Yes, somebody is always afer you,” he murmute. “The grandmother noticed how thin his shoulder blades were just behind his har because she ws standing up looking dowa on him, “Do you ever pray?” she asked. “He shook his hea ll she saw was the black at wale be- ‘ween his shoulder blades. “Nome,” he sid. “There was a pistol shot from the woods followed closely by another. Then silence. The old lad’ head jerked around. She ‘ould hear the wind move though the treetops lke along sa- iid insuck of breath. “Bailey Boy!” she cae. "| was a gospel singer fora while," The Misfit sad “I been most everything, Ben in che arm service, both land and sea, at home and abroad, ben tvict marred been an undertaker, been with the railroads, plowed Mother Fart, been ina tornado, seen ‘a man burne alive once,” and be looked up atthe childrens other and the litle gel who were siting cose together, th faces white and thei ys glassy “Leven sen a woman flogged he sid “Pray, pray” the grandmother began, “pray pray =” Lever was abd boy that | remember of” The Misi said in an almost dreamy voice, “but somewhere along the line I done something wrong and got sent to the penitentiary. I was ‘buried alive," and he looked up and held heratenton chim by a steady stare “Thats when you should have seared co pray” she sid. “wha dd you do co get sent othe penitentiary that frst ime?” ‘Good Ma Is Hardie id + 19 “Tum to che rights ic was a wall” The Missi, looking up again ac the cules sky. “Turn to the lf, twas a wall. Look upitwasa cling, look down ie was a Boor. forget whae I done, lady. Ise there and se there, trying ro remeber what i was I done and Iain recalled ito this day. Oncecin a while, would think i was coming wo me, but never come.” “Maybe they put you in by mistake,” the old lady said vague “Nom,” he sid, "Ke wast no mistake, They had the pa person me.” “You must have stolen something,” she sid. ‘The Mist sneered sight. “Nobody had nothing I wanted,” he said, “It was head-doctor atthe penitentiary said what {had done was kill my daddy but I known that for aie. My daddy dled in nineteen ought nineteen ofthe epidemic fu and I never hha thing to do with it. He was buried inthe Moune Hopewell Baptist churchyard and you can go there and see for yours” “Ifyou would pray” the old lady si, “Jsus would help you.” “Thats tight,” The Mist ud “Wal then, why dout you pray? se asked trembling with elight suddenly. “TL doit wan no hep,” hess. "Fm doingal ight by nyse” ‘Bobby Lee and Hiram came ambling back fom the woods Bobby Lee was dragging yellow shire with bright blue parros “Thow me that shirt, Bobby Lee,” The Misfisaid. The shire ‘came fying at him and landed on his shoulder and he put it on20 + AGood Mon I Herd to Pind “The grandmother coulda name what the shire reminded her of “No, lady,” The Misfit said while he was burtoning ie up, “I found out the crime dant mater. You can do one thing or you ‘ean do another, killa man or take tre off his ear because sooner oF later youte going to forget what it was you done and juse be punished for it” “The childsen’s mother had begun to make heaving noises as ifthe couldnt gether breath, “Lady” be asked, “would you and that lite gil ike ro step off yonder with Bobby Lee and Hiram and join your husband?” "Yes, thank you." the mother said fuitly. Her left arm dangled helplessly and she was holding the baby, who had gone to sleep, in the othe. “Hep that lady up, Hiram,” The Misfit sid as she struggled to climb out of the ditch “and Bobby Lee, ‘you hold onto tha lide gis hand.” { dori want to hold hands wich him,” Jane Star said. “He reminds me of pig.” ‘The fat boy blushed and laughed and caught her by the arm and pulled her off into the woods after Hiram and her mothet ‘Alone with The Mish, che grandmother found chat she had lose her voice. There was net a cloud in the sky nor any sun. ‘There was nothing around hee but woods. She wanted to ell thm that he must pay. She opened and closed her mouth several times before anything came out. Finally she found herself saying, “Jesus, Jesus” meaning, Jess will help you, bu the way she was saying it it sounded a if she might be cursing. “Yes,” The Misfit sai as if he agreed. “Jesus chown every- thing off balance, Iewas the same case with Him as with me ex: ‘A Gond Man le Hardt Find + 21 cept He hadet committed any crime and they could prove Thad committed one because they had the papers on me. Of cours,” hh sud, “they never shown me my paper. Thats why I sign my- selFnove. [sid longgo, you gt you a signature and sign every- ‘thing you do and keep a copy of t. Then you'll know what you done and you can hold up the exime to the punishment and see do they match and in the end youl have something to prove you aint been treated right. I cll myself The Misfit.” he sad, “because I cant make what all done wrong ie what all I gone ‘hough in punishment.” ‘There was a piercing scream fiom the woods, followed closely by a pistol report. “Does it seem rghe to you, lady, that one s punished heap and another ant punished a al?” “Jesus!” the old lady cred. “You've got good blood! I know you would shoor lady! I know you come ftom nice people! Pray! Jus, you ought not to shoot a lady. I'l give you al the money Pve god” "Lady," The Mist said, looking beyond her far into the woods, “there never was a body that give the undertaker ap.” ‘There were two more pistol reports and the grandmother ‘ised her head like a parched old turkey hen erying for water and called, "Bailey Boy, Bailey Boy!” a ifher heart would break. “Jesus was the only One tha versed che dead,” The Mis- fic continued, and He shouldst have done it. He chown every- thing off balance. IF He did what He sid, chen its nothing for you ro do but thow away everything and follow Him, and if He didn, then is nothing for you ro do but enjoy the few min- utes you golf the best way you can —by king somebody or128 + AGood Mas Is Sordt Find burning down his house or doing some other meanness ro him. [No pleasure but meanness” he said and his voiced become al- most snarl. “Maybe He didit raise the dead,” the old lady mumbled, not knowing what she was saying and foting so dizzy tat she sank down in the ditch with her legs owisted under her. L wasnt there so I cane say He did.” The Misfit said “T wish I had of been ther,” he said, hinting the ground with his fis. “Teast right 1 wasnt chere because if Lhad of been there ‘would of known. Listen lay,” he said in a high voice, “iT had ‘of been there I would of known and T wouldnt be like Tam now.” His voice seemed about co crack and che grandmother’ head cleared Fo an instant. She saw che man’s face ewisted clove ‘tw her own as Fhe were going 10 cxy and she murmured, “Why ‘youre one of my babies. Youre one of my own children” She reached out and touched him on the shoulder. The Misfcsprang back as if a snake had bitten him and shot her three times through the chest. Then he put his gun down on the ground and took off his gases and began to clean them. and Bobby Lee returned from the woods and stood. cover the ditch, looking down at the grandmother who half st and half layin a puddle of blood with her legs crosed under het Tike a chil’ and her fice smiling up a the cloudless sky. “Without his gases The Misfit eyes were red-rimmed and pale and defenseleslooking, “Take her off and chow her where you thown the other” he sid, picking up theca that was rub- bing itself agains his leg ‘Gondor Herd Find + 65, “She wasa talker, wasnt she?” Bobby Lee said sliding down the ditch with a yodel. “She would of becn a good woman," The Misfit sai, “if t had been somebody thereto shoot her every minute of her lif.” “Some fun!” Bobby Lee suid. “Shue up, Bobby Lee,” The Mist sid. "Tes no real pleasure in life”