“Tommy,’’ he said, “we are goin’ to California. But we was gonna write you a letter an’ tell you.’’ And he said, incredulously, “But you’re back. You can go with us. You can go!’’ The lid of a coffee pot slammed in the house. Old Tom looked over his shoulder. “Le’s supprise ’em,’’ he said, and his eyes shone with excitement. “Your ma got a bad feelin’ she ain’t never gonna see you no more. She got that quiet look like when somebody died. Almost she don’t want to go to California, fear she’ll never see you no more.’’ A stove lid clashed in the house again. “Le’s supprise ’em,’’ old Tom
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