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〃Sometimes I want to just run away from them；〃 she said； very softly。 〃You ever want to run away； Luke？〃
〃Not really。 I'm only seven。 But I'm not gonna live here for the rest of my life。〃
〃Where you gonna live？〃
〃St。 Louis。〃
〃Why St。 Louis？〃
〃That's where the Cardinals play。〃
〃And you're gonna be a Cardinal？〃
〃Sure am。〃
〃You're a smart boy； Luke。 Only a fool would wanna pick cotton for the rest of his life。 Me； I wanna go up North； too； up where it's cool and there's lots of snow。〃
〃Where？〃
〃I'm not sure。 Montreal； maybe。〃
〃Where's that？〃
〃Canada。〃
〃Do they have baseball？〃
〃I don't think so。〃
〃Then forget it。〃
〃No； it's beautiful。 We studied it in school； in history。 It was settled by the French； and that's what everybody speaks。〃
〃Do you speak French？〃
〃No； but I can learn。〃
〃It's easy。 I can already speak Spanish。 Juan taught me last year。〃
〃Really？〃
〃Si〃
〃Say something else。〃
〃Buenos dias。 Por favor。 Adios。 Gracias。 Senor。 o esta？〃
〃Wow。〃
〃See； I told you it was easy。 How far away is Montreal？〃
〃I'm not sure。 A long way； I think。 That's one reason I wanna go there。〃
A light suddenly came on in Pappy's bedroom。 It fell across the far end of the porch and startled us。 〃Be quiet；〃 I whispered。
〃Who is it？〃 she whispered back； ducking as if bullets were about to e our way。
〃That's just Pappy getting some water。 He's up and down all night long。〃 Pappy went to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator。 I watched him through the screen door。 He drank two glasses of water； then stomped back to his bedroom and turned off the light。 When things were dark and silent again； she said； 〃Why is he up all night？〃
〃He worries a lot。 Ricky's fightin' in Korea。〃
〃Who's Ricky？〃
〃My uncle。 He's nineteen。〃
She pondered this for a moment； then said； 〃Is he cute？〃
〃I don't know。 Don't really think about that。 He's my best buddy； and I wish he'd e home。〃
We thought about Ricky for a moment as our feet dangled off the porch and the night passed。
〃Say； Luke； the pickup left before dinner。 Where'd it go？〃
〃Over to the Latchers'。〃
〃Who are they？〃
〃Some sharecroppers just across the river。〃
〃Why'd they go over there？〃
〃I can't tell you。〃
〃Why not？〃
〃 'Cause it's a secret。〃
〃What kinda secret？〃
〃Big one。〃
〃e on； Luke。 We already have secrets； don't we？〃
〃I guess。〃
〃I haven't told anybody that you watched me at the creek； have I？〃
〃I guess not。〃
〃And if I did； you'd get in big trouble； wouldn't you？〃
〃I reckon I would。〃
〃So there。 I can keep a secret； you can keep a secret。 Now what's goin' on over at the Latchers'？〃
〃You promise you won't tell。〃
〃I promise。〃
The whole town already knew Libby was pregnant。 What was the use in pretending it was a secret anyway？ 〃Well； there's this girl； Libby Latcher； and she's havin' a baby。 Right now。〃
〃How old is she？〃
〃Fifteen。〃
〃Gosh。〃
〃And they're tryin' to keep it quiet。 They wouldn't call a real doctor 'cause then everybody would know about it。 So they asked Gran to e over and birth the baby。〃
〃Why are they keepin' it quiet？〃
〃 'Cause she ain't married。〃
〃No kiddin'。 Who's the daddy？〃
〃She ain't sayin'。〃
〃Nobody knows？〃
〃Nobody but Libby。〃
〃Do you know her？〃
〃I've seen her before； but there's a bunch of Latchers。 I know her brother Percy。 He says he's twelve； but I'm not so sure。 Hard to tell 'cause they don't go to school。〃
〃Do you know how girls get pregnant？〃
〃I reckon not。〃
〃Then I'd better not tell you。〃
That was fine with me。 Ricky had tried once to talk about girls； but it was sickening。
Her feet swung faster as she digested this wonderful gossip。 〃The river ain't far；〃 she said。
〃 'Bout a mile。〃
〃How far on the other side do they live？〃
〃Just a little ways down a dirt trail。〃
〃You ever see a baby birthed； Luke？〃
〃Nope。 Seen cows and dogs but not a real baby。〃
〃Me neither。〃
She dropped to her feet； grabbed my hand； and yanked me off the porch。 Her strength was surprising。 〃Let's go； Luke。 Let's go see what we can see。〃 She was dragging me before I could think of anything to say。
〃You're crazy； Tally；〃 I protested； trying to stop her。
〃No； Luke；〃 she whispered。 〃It's an adventure； just like down at the creek the other day。 You liked that； didn't you？〃
〃Sure did。〃
〃Then trust me。〃
〃What if we get caught？〃
〃How we gonna get caught？ Everybody's sound asleep around here。 Your grandpa just woke up and didn't think about lookin' in on you。 e on； don't be a chicken。〃
I suddenly realized I would've followed Tally anywhere。
We crept behind the trees； through the ruts where the truck should've been； along the short drive； staying as far away from the Spruills as possible。 We could hear snoring and the heavy breathing of weary people asleep at last。 We made it to the road without a sound。 Tally was quick and agile； and she cut through the night。 We turned toward the river； and the moon broke free and lit our path。 The one…lane road was barely wide enough for two trucks to squeeze past each other； and cotton grew close to its edges。 With no moon we had to watch our steps； but with the light we could look up and see ahead。 We were both barefoot。 There was just enough gravel in the road to keep our steps short and quick； but the soles of our feet were like the leather of my baseball glove。
I was scared but determined not to show it。 She seemed to have no fear…no fear of getting caught； no fear of the darkness； no fear of sneaking up on a house where a baby was being born。 At times Tally was aloof； almost moody and dark； and seemed as old as my mother。 Then she could be a kid who laughed when she played baseball； liked being looked at when she bathed； took long walks in the dark； and most important； enjoyed the pany of a seven…year…old。
We stopped in the center of the bridge and carefully looked over its side at the water below。 I told her about the channel catfish down there； about how big they were and the trash they fed on； and about the forty…four…pound one that Ricky had caught。 She held my hand as we crossed to the other side； a gentle squeeze； one of affection and not safeguarding。
The trail to the Latchers' was much darker。 We slowed considerably because we were trying to see the house while staying on the trail。 Since they had no electricity； there were no lights； nothing but blackness in their bend of the river。
She heard something and stopped cold。 Voices； off in the distance。 We stepped to the edge of their cotton and waited patiently for the moon。 I pointed here and there and gave her my best guess as to the location of their house。 The voices were of children； no doubt the Latcher brood。
The moon finally cooperated； and we got a look at the landscape。 The dark shadow of the house was the same distance as our barn was to our back porch； about 350 feet； same as home plate is from the outfield wall in Sportsman's Park。 Most great distances in my life were measured by that wall。 Pappy's truck was parked in the front。
〃We'd better go around this way；〃 s