ABoyandHisFatherBecomePartners
拉爾夫·穆迪/RalphMody
Ilikeallkindsofchocolate.Bestofall,though,Ilikebitterbakingchocolate.Motherhadboughtabarofit,andsomehowIcouldn』tstopthinkingaboutit.
IwashelpingFatheronthewinnower.ItwasrightthenIgottheidea.Icouldwhackachunkofftheendofthatbarofchocolate.Motherwouldbesuretomissit,butbeforeshehadanyideawhohaddoneit,IcouldconfessI』dtakenit.ProbablyIwouldnotevengetaspanking.
IwaiteduntilMotherwasoutfeedingthechickens.ThenItoldFatherIthoughtI』dgoinforadrinkofwater.Igotthebardown,butIheardMothercomingjustwhenIhadtheknifereadytowhack.SoIslippedthechocolateintothefrontofmyshirtandleftquickly.BeforeIwentbacktohelpFather,Iwenttothebarnandhidthechocolatethere.
Alltherestofafternoon,Ididn』tliketolookatFather.Everytimehespokeitmademejump.Myhandsbeganshakingsomuchthatheaskedmewhatwasthematter.Itoldhimitwasjustthatmyhandswerecold.Iknewhedidn』tbelieveme,andeverytimehelookedmywaymyheartstartedpounding.Ididn』twantthechocolateanymore.Ijustwantedachancetoputitbackwithoutbeingcaught.
Onthewayoutforthecows,Icalmeddownalittleandcouldthinkbetter.ItoldmyselfthatIhadn』treallystolenthewholebarofchocolate,becauseImeanttotakeonlyalittlepiece.That』sasmuchasIwouldhavetaken,tooifMotherhadn』tcomealongwhenshedid.IfIputbackthewholebar,Iwouldn』thavedoneanythingwrongatall.
Inearlydecidedtoputitallback.Butjustthinkingsomuchaboutchocolatemademytonguealmosttastethesmoothbitternessofit.IgotthinkingthatifIslicedabouthalfaninchofftheendwithasharpknife,Mothermightnevernoticeit.
IwasnearlyouttowherethecowswerewhenIrememberedwhatFatherhadsaidonce—someofthefamilymoneywasminebecauseIhadhelpedtoearnit.Whywouldn』titbeallrighttofigurethebarofchocolatehadbeenboughtwithmyownmoney?Thatseemedtofixeverything.
ButbythetimeIhadthecowsheadedhome,Ihadbeguntoworryagain.WewerenearlytotherailroadtrackswhenIdecidedtoleavethewholemattertotheLord.IpickedupadriedsoapweedstalkwithseedpodsonitanddecidedIwouldthrowitupintotheairandtakemyordersfromthewayitlanded.Ifitpointedwest,I』dtakethewholebarback.Ifitpointedsouth,I』dtakehalfaninchofftheend.Ifitpointedeast,I』dboughtthebarwithmyownmoneyanditwouldn』tbestealingtokeepit.
IswungthepodstalkashighasIcould.Whenitcamedown,itpointedmostlywest—butalittlesouth.
ThatnightIcouldn』tsleep.Ikepttryingtorememberhowmuchthatstalkhadreallybeenpointingtothesouth.AtlastIgotup,slippedoutintotheyard,andtooktheaxfromthechoppingblock.ThenIwentintothebarnandgotthechocolate.Itookitoutsideandlaiditonthelowerrailofthecorralfence.ThemoongaveenoughlightformetoseewhatIwasdoing.
JustasIwasstartingtocut,Fathersaid:「Son!」