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There I was, trying to explain the concept of fairness to a wo

At the crossroads in front of He checkers I stopped in front of their cracker barrel “I’entlemen,” I said

One man looked up atenough to beat ’eot off scot-free Nothin’ new ’bout that”

“Ben” A soft voice, a hand on my arm I turned It was Moody

She earing her white juain She even had a little smile on her face

“You planning to go door-to-door, explain to everybody in the whole Quarters what happened in the white man’s courtroom?” she asked

“I would,” I said

“Don’t you worry your purty head about it,” she said “All the explaining in the world won’t change a thing” She took o

“Papaorse sick,” she said “I think the excitement of the trial done it You want to see him? He wants to see you”

Chapter 127

ABRAHAM LAY in the narrow iron bed in the front parlor, just the way he was lying there the night the White Raiders attacked His voice was so faint I barely heard hi around beating yourself up pretty good about this verdict, eh, Ben?” he asked

“I thought I could acco, froht we could ress”

“Who’s to say we didn’t?” he asked

Moody gently dabbed his forehead with rubbing alcohol, then blew lightly to cool his skin Every tiratitude I thought he els

“When you get to be as old as s I was thinking about my mama… one time I stole a nickel from her purse She knew it before she even looked in there, just by peering in uilty of, but you sho’ nuff guilty of soo on and confess’ I cried for an hour, then I give back that nickel”