Others hunched down inside long coats or jackets that looked like they once belonged to old suits. They shoved things around, leaned one sheet of wood against another, tucked in a chunk of cardboard, moved a rock to hold something else in place. A bunch of them shared a cigarette, passing it back and forth as they shifted from one foot to another, their shoulders pulled up to their ears. Suddenly Elsie spotted a man in a long black coat near the back of the new shantytown. âThereâs Reverend Hampton.â Uncle Dannell and Scoop turned to look where she was pointing. âBusy as ever, your Nanâs friend,â said Dannell. âOut among his people. Silly bugger. âScuse my language.â He spat on the rubble at their feet. âWhy silly?â Elsie asked. âWhoâs he?â asked Scoop, his question falling on top of Elsieâs. Uncle Dannell answered them both at once. âThe very Reverend Hampton tends to his flock by supporting schemes like this â a shantytown jury-rigged from a stolen warehouse. He canât just stick to his breadlines and soup kitchens. Oh, no. He tends to men whoâve abandoned their families and now only care about themselves.â When Uncle Dannell scuffed his boot savagely on the ground, Dog Bob backed out of the way. âMy brother is somewhere out thereâ â Uncle Dannellâs voice was getting louder â âthough heaven knows where heâs skulking.â His cheeks were bright pink now. His eyes flashed. Elsie had heard him talk like this often enough. Nan called it âgetting aerated.â And he hadnât finished yet. â My brother. Your father. Just as bad as this lot.â He prodded one yellowed finger into Elsieâs chest. âBut donât you worry.â Now he stabbed his own chest with his finger. â I will take care of my family even if your no-good father wonât. You can rely on that.â Elsie thought she should defend Father. But what Uncle Dannell said was true. Her father had left them. Maybe now he was just another shacker in another shantytown somewhere. Maybe he had already forgotten all about his family stuck living in a garage behind what used to be their own house. And she was confused about what her uncle said about the Reverend. Surely it was good to want to take care of people? The Reverend came by to visit Nan most days and was always kind. He got aerated sometimes too. Talking about unemployment and people who could no longer afford a doctor. And children with not enough to eat. He had strong views about the System and Society â whatever they were. He said it was his job to help all Godâs children. That made sense to her. âAnd now the latest,â said Uncle Dannell. âYouâll have heard all about it. The manâs all set to shut down the dance marathon.â He flapped his arms around him to keep warm, and Elsie moved away so she wouldnât get hit by his big meaty hands. âHe spouts all kinds of rhetoric from the pulpit,â Uncle Dannell went on. Nothing could stop him now. âBanging on about degradation and humiliation. When people are just trying to make a bit of money. He offers the hand of charity to his hoboes. No questions asked. But a dance marathon that might allow a few poor folks to make a few bucks? Oh, no! We canât have that!â He pulled up his collar and stuck his hands in his pockets. He was silent for a long time while Elsie and Scoop watched the men in the shantytown pouring tea into tin cans. âBut enough of this,â said Uncle Dannell. âWe came, we saw. Now letâs skedaddle. Come on, you lot. Youâre going to be late for school.â He turned around and started walking, slapping his leg to bring Dog Bob to his side. Whatâs a dance marathon? Elsie wanted to ask Scoop. Whatâs rhetoric? Whatâs degradation? But he had grabbed her arm with his bony hand