The Search for Belle Prater Read Free Page B

he was thinking.
    “So what do you want me to do?” he said at last. “I don’t usually interfere when it comes to your upbringing.”
    “A little interference never hurt anybody,” Woodrow said.
    Porter laughed again, and said, “It’s funny you should bring this up now. I was just thinking a while ago about Belle’s New Year’s Revelation when she was your age.
She actually managed to change certain attitudes of those around her. Don’t you think that’s quite a feat for a thirteen-year-old?”
    Soon it was quitting time at the paper, and we found ourselves walking home with Porter. The three of us had developed a plan.
    That evening we had dinner at Granny’s table, as we often did during a school week. Mama, who was the speech and drama teacher at the high school, appreciated the break from cooking, and Granny loved to feed people.
    For the greater part of the meal we held our routine high-volume conversations. We talked about the Christmas Tower and the new RCA Victor television set Mama had picked out for us at the furniture store. It was only a floor model. Our actual set had to be ordered from Bristol and would probably arrive next week.
    Woodrow and I were asked about school, and how we were doing in Mr. Yates’s math class, where both of us had made less than satisfactory marks last grading period. They asked about little Cassie Caulborne, and if she was fitting in at school all right.
    When Mama started a funny story about something that happened in one of her classes, Woodrow glanced at his new watch, which had been a Christmas present, then caught Porter’s eye.
    As soon as Mama finished speaking, Porter spoke up. “By the way, we got so excited about that phone call on
New Year’s Eve, we never did get to make our New Year’s Revelations.”
    “That’s right,” Mama said. “Do you have something you want to get off your chest?”
    “No, I’m fine. I thought maybe somebody else might have a bone to pick, and didn’t get a chance that night.”
    “I said my bit,” Woodrow said. “What about you, Granny? Or Grandpa?”
    They shook their heads no.
    “Aunt Love?” Woodrow said.
    “Not this year,” Love said.
    “Well, I guess we’re a happy bunch, then,” Porter said. “No problems in this family.”
    That was my cue.
    “That’s right, never mind asking me anything,” I said. “After all, I’m only the baby.”
    Mama, Granny, and Grandpa all stopped eating and looked at me.
    “I’m sorry, Gypsy” was Porter’s next line. “I just assumed …”
    “Assumed what? That the baby can’t possibly have any complaints?”
    They all went silent, waiting and watching me expectantly. I pushed peas around on my plate.
    “That’s how I get treated around here,” I said.
    Mama had such a funny expression on her face, I almost laughed.
    “Well, go on,” she said. “Now’s your chance. Tell it all.”
    “I have done only one really naughty thing in my whole life, and that was to chop all my hair off,” I said. “Yet y’all act like I can’t be trusted … or something.”
    I paused, and Mama said, “It’s true, honey. You have always been well behaved.”
    “Then why am I treated like a baby?”
    “For example?” Mama said.
    “For one thing, you still pick out my clothes for me when we go shopping. For another, when I go to see Doc Dot you won’t even let me go into his office by myself. And … and …”
    I forgot what else I was supposed to say, so I cut to the chase.
    “And the worst part is that I am never allowed to go anywhere without you or Porter or Granny or Grandpa.”
    “Where do you want to go?” Mama said.
    I hadn’t expected to answer this question so soon. I looked to Porter for help, but it was Woodrow who bailed me out.
    “I have noticed that myself,” he said. “For one thing, y’all won’t let me and Gypsy go to the show at night by ourselves, when the movie theater is just right down there on Main Street, no more than a five-minute