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Memphis wondered if Ida Haaets up to all ht"

Aren’t, Meht even be into voodoo"

"Sister Walker is not practicing voodoo She’s helping Isaiah with his counting and coht for you to be associating with her" Aunt Octavia turned to Isaiah with her hands on her hips, like shelike that with you, Isaiah? Make you do ic with cards or put your hands on a crystal ball and talk to spirits? Anything like that?"

Me with his eyes: Don’t say anything…

"No, ma’am"

"You look ht in htly as he tried to peek around Octavia and keep Me his view "Don’t you look at your brother I’ You look at me"

Meainst his skull

"She helps me with my ’rithmetic," Isaiah said

Aunt Octavia stood for a minute "Well You be careful around her, you hear me?"

Memphis let out his breath in a small whoosh "Yes, ma’am," he and Isaiah said as one

"Meet your brotherhih"

Mehtened "No, Auntie I wouldn’t"

Octavia held his gaze for a few seconds longer, then poured iced tea into their glasses "I promised your mama I’d look after you I couldn’t live withhappened to either one of you" Octavia cupped Isaiah’s cheeks in her palms and kissed the top of his head "Go wash yourself up for supper Meet the Bible from the china cabinet for Bible study" When Memphis didn’t answer, Octavia called loudly from the kitchen, "Did you hear me, Meruet the two of them out of his aunt’s house

When they ashed to Octavia’s satisfaction, they sat around the old wooden table that their grandfather, a carpenter, hadwife, their heads bowed