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"Now I’ve done it Said ht to Don’t pay me no mind, Miss Octavia"

"I would very much appreciate it, Mr Johnson--"

"Bill"

"Bill, if you would tell me what you know, thank you"

He couldn’t see Octavia, but he could hear the rustle of her dress as she poised on the edge of the chair, and he knew he had her

"Well, Miss, I ’spect I don’t rightly know ever’thing The littlehiht" Bill took another cookie, dunked it in his coffee It was delicious "But you kno children do The way I figured it, littleto puff hiry There wouldn’t be any more visits to Miss Walker’s house, Bill was fairly certain of that

"Could I look in on Isaiah, if it wouldn’t be toonow," Octavia said uncertainly

"Oh, I see Well, I wouldn’t want to be no trouble Just felt aover him"

"Prayers are alelcome"

"Yes, ma’am I ’spect they are"

Octavia led Bill to a back bedroom and stood him beside Isaiah’s bed

"Oh, Lord," Bill said and bowed his head "I’ht bit shy ’bout prayin’ in front of folks"

"Of course," she said, and he heard the door shut