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ther into running an electrical line from the house to the barn。
〃They're humans； regardless of what some people around here think；〃 I'd heard her say more than once。
The loft was as clean and neat as the day they'd arrived。 The pillows and blankets were stacked near the fan。 The floor had been swept。 Not a piece of trash or litter could be found。 She was quite proud of the Mexicans。 She had treated them with respect； and they had returned the favor。
We shoved open the loft door； the same one Luis had stuck his head through when Hank was bombing the Mexicans with rocks and dirt clods； and we sat on the ledge with our feet hanging down。 Thirty feet up； we had the best view of any place on our farm。 The tree line far to the west was the St。 Francis； and straight ahead； across our back field； was the water from Siler's Creek。
In places the water was almost to the tops of the cotton stalks。 From this view we could much better appreciate the advancing flood。 We could see it between the perfect rows running directly toward the barn； and we could see it over the main field road； seeping into the back forty。
If the St。 Francis River left its banks； our house would be in danger。
〃I guess we're done pickin'；〃 I said。
〃Sure looks like it；〃 she said； just a little sad。
〃Why does our land flood so quick？〃
〃Because it's low and close to the river。 It's not very good land； Luke； never will be。 That's one reason we're leavin' here。 There's not much of a future。〃
〃Where we goin'？〃
〃North。 That's where the jobs are。〃
〃How long…〃
〃Not long。 We'll stay until we can save some money。 Your father'll work in the Buick plant with Jimmy Dale。 They're payin' three dollars an hour。 We'll make do； tough it out； you'll be in a school up there； a good school。〃
〃I don't want to go to a new school。〃
〃It'll be fun； Luke。 They have big； nice schools up North。〃
It didn't sound like fun。 My friends were in Black Oak。 Other than Jimmy Dale and Stacy； I didn't know a soul up North。 My mother put her hand on my knee and rubbed it； as if this would make me feel better。
〃Change is always difficult； Luke； but it can also be excitin'。 Think of it as an adventure。 You wanna play baseball for the Cardinals； don't you？〃
〃Yes ma'am。〃
〃Well； you'll have to leave home and go up North； live in a new house； make new friends； go to a new church。 That'll be fun； won't it？〃
〃I guess so。〃
Our bare feet were dangling； gently swinging back and forth。 The sun was behind a cloud； and a breeze shifted into our faces。 The trees along the edge of our field were changing colors to yellow and crimson； and leaves were falling。
〃We can't stay here； Luke；〃 she said softly； as if her mind were already up North。
〃When we e back what're we gonna do？〃
〃We're not gonna farm。 We'll find a job in Memphis or Little Rock； and we'll buy us a house with a television and a telephone。 We'll have a nice car in the driveway； and you can play baseball on a team with real uniforms。 How does that sound？〃
〃Sounds pretty good。〃
〃We'll always e back and visit Pappy and Gran and Ricky。 It'll be a new life； Luke； one that's far better than this。〃 She nodded toward the field； toward the ruined cotton out there drowning。
I thought of my Memphis cousins； the children of my father's sisters。 They rarely came to Black Oak； only for funerals and maybe for Thanksgiving； and this was fine with me because they were city kids with nicer clothes and quicker tongues。 I didn't particularly like them； but I was envious at the same time。 They weren't rude or snobbish； they were just different enough to make me ill at ease。 I decided then and there that when I lived in Memphis or Little Rock I would not； under any circumstances； act like I was better than anybody else。
〃I have a secret； Luke；〃 my mother said。
Not another one。 My troubled mind could not hold another secret。 〃What is it？〃
〃I'm goin' to have a baby；〃 she said and smiled at me。
I couldn't help but smile； too。 I enjoyed being the only child； but； truth was； I wanted somebody to play with。
〃You are？〃
〃Yes。 Next summer。〃
〃Can it be a boy？〃
〃I'll try； but no promises。〃
〃If you gotta have one； I'd like a little brother。〃
〃Are you excited？〃
〃Yes ma'am。 Does Daddy know about it？〃
〃Oh yes； he's in on the deal。〃
〃Is he happy； too？〃
〃Very much so。〃
〃That's good。〃 It took some time to digest this； but I knew right away that it was a fine thing。 All of my friends had brothers and sisters。
An idea hit； one that I couldn't shake。 Since we were on the subject of having babies； I was overe with an urge to unload one of my secrets。 It seemed like a harmless one now； and an old one； too。 So much had happened since Tally and I sneaked off to the Latchers' house that the episode was now sort of funny。
〃I know all about how babies are born；〃 I said； a little defensively。
〃Oh you do？〃
〃Yes ma'am。〃
〃How's that？〃
〃Can you keep a secret； too？〃
〃I certainly can。〃
I began the story； laying sufficient blame on Tally for everything that might get me in trouble。 She'd planned it。 She'd begged me to go。 She'd dared me。 She'd done this and that。 Once my mother realized where the story was leading； her eyes began to dance； and she said every so often； 〃Luke； you didn't！〃
I had her。 I embellished here and there； to help move the story and build tension； but for the most part I stuck to the facts。 She was hooked。
〃You saw me in the window？〃 she asked in disbelief。
〃Yes ma'am。 Gran； too； and Mrs。 Latcher。〃
〃Did you see Libby？〃
〃No ma'am； but we sure heard her。 Does it always hurt like that？〃
〃Well； not always。 Keep going。〃
I spared no detail。 As Tally and I raced back to the farm； the headlights in pursuit； my mother clutched my elbow almost hard enough to break it。 〃We had no idea！〃 she said。
〃Of course not。 I barely beat y'all in the house。 Pappy was still snorin'； and I was afraid y'all would e check on me and see that I was covered with sweat and dirt。〃
〃We were too tired。〃
〃It was a good thing。 I slept about two hours； then Pappy woke me up to go to the fields。 I've never been so sleepy in my life。〃
〃Luke； I can't believe you did that。〃 She wanted to scold； but she was too caught up in the story。
〃It was fun。〃
〃You shouldn't have。〃
〃Tally made me do it。〃
〃Don't blame Tally。〃
〃I wouldn't've done it without her。〃
〃I can't believe the two of you did it；〃 she said； but I could tell she was impressed with the story。 She grinned and shook her head in amazement。 〃How often did y'all go roamin' around at night？〃
〃I think that was it。〃
〃You liked Tally； didn't you？〃
〃Yes ma'am。 She was my friend。〃
〃I hope she's happy。〃
〃Me too。〃
I missed her； but I hated to admit it to myself。 〃Mom； do you think we'll see Tally up North？〃
She smiled and said； 〃No； I don't think so。 Those cities up thereSt。 Louis； Chicago； Cleveland； Cincinnati…have millions of people。 We'll never see her。〃
I thought about the Cardinals and the Cubs and the Reds。 I thought about Stan Musial racing around the bases in front of thirty thousand fans at Sp