"
"CAN'T YOU LET ME TELL YOU? And s'posin' the boat was to sink, and
I could swim and save you from drown - "
"You're not going swimming, and that's all there is about it."
"Other boys' mas lets them go. I don't see why I can't go."
No answer.
"Ma, won't you let me go? I won't get drowned, hope to die if I do.
Ma, won't you let me go? Ma! Ma-a! - Maw-ah!"
"Stop yelling at me that way. Good land! Do you think I'm deaf?"
"Won't you let me go? Please, won't you let - "
"No, I won't. I told you I wouldn't, and I mean it. You might as
well make up your mind to stay at home, for you're - not - going.
Hush up now. This instant, sir! Robbie, do you hear me? Stop
crying. Great baby! wouldn't be ashamed to cry that way, as big as you
are!"
Mean old Ma! Guess she'd cry too'f she could see the other kids that
waited for him to go and ask her - if she could see them moving off,
tired of waiting. They're 'most up to Lincoln Avenue.
"Oooooooooooo-hoo - hoo - hoo - hoohoooooooooo-ah! I wanna gow-ooooo."
"Did you hoe that corn your father told you to?"
"Oooooooooooo-hoo-hoo-hoo-oooooooo! I wanna gow-ooooooo."
"Robbie! Did you hoe that corn?"
The last boy, the one with the stone-bruise on his heel, limps around
the corner. They have all the fun. His ma won't let him go barefoot
because it spreads his feet.
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