The circle of children shifted nervously and looked away from the boiling kettle. One small boy said boastfully, “I did—me an’ my brother did—an’ them two did, ’cause I seen ’em. We et good. We’re a-goin’ south tonight.’’ Ma smiled. “Then you ain’t hungry. They ain’t enough here to go around.’’ The small boy’s lip stuck out. “We et good,’’ he said, and he turned and ran and dived into a tent. Ma looked after him so long that the oldest girl reminded her.
