Leaving Cold Sassy (9780547527291) by Olive Ann Burns

worry if the leaves fall off. That won’t mean it’s dead.”
    ***
    Though it wasn’t anywhere near train time, I didn’t want to hang around. I’d had about all the sad good-byes I could take. I decided to amble on up to Miss Love’s. Check over the animals. See who was home.
    On the way I met Sampson. “What you got there, son?” I asked.
    â€œA present for Campbell Junior.” He proudly held up a big contraption of nailed-together wood scraps. “See, sir, he can mash this and that and that, and then turn this magic wand down towards Georgia and wish himself right back home. If he does everything right, the wish will come true. I invented it!”
    After inspecting and admiring and not saying it had about as much chance of going to New York as Campbell Junior had of staying here, I asked Sampson if he thought Miss Klein was a good teacher.
    He said she sure was strict.
    I asked if Miss Klein and Miss Clack and Miss Hazelhurst had got home yet.
    â€œNo, sir. All the teachers stayed in after school. They had to go to the principal’s office,” he said, spinning a loosely nailed stick on his invention. “I don’t think they’ve been bad. They just had to go meet.”
    â€œYeah, well, son, I’m on my way to your house. It’s time to inspect the livestock.” Every so often I’d stop by to check over Papa’s cow, Grandpa’s old mule, Miss Love’s gelding, known as Mr. Beautiful, and Sampson’s pony, Miss H, named by him when he was four and learning the alphabet. “You still puttin’ that salve on H’s leg?” I asked.
    The boy hedged. “Uh, most of the time Loomis does it, Uncle Will. Mother pays him to feed and water, so I just asked him to doctor H’s leg, too, while he’s at it.”
    â€œIt’s not your place to tell Loomis what to do.”
    â€œHe said he’d be glad to. Just glad to.”
    â€œWell, you’re old enough now to do all the stable work. You’re not even feedin’ and curryin’ the pony?”
    â€œWhy should I, Uncle Will? I don’t ride her anymore. She’s got so little, and all she wants to do is walk or trot. Hey, just let me run give this to Campbell Junior. I’ll be right back. I want to show you my new circus trick on Mr. Beautiful!”
    â€œYou’re gettin’ too big for your britches, but, you’re not big enough for that tall horse. Stay off of him, Sampson.”
    His face reddened. “Mother lets me. I don’t have to mind you.”
    â€œAnd I don’t have to fool with a smart aleck named Simpson.” I turned to walk away. He grabbed my arm.
    â€œPlease don’t call me Simpson, Uncle Will. Cause of Miss Klein, everybody at school calls me Simpleton now. Please, Uncle Will? I was just mad at you. I didn’t mean it, sir.”
    I looked at him hard. “Try being a friend to Campbell Junior this afternoon, Sampson. He’s in bad need of one right now.”

6
    W HEN I got back to Miss Love’s house after checking the animals, I was naturally hoping Sanna Klein would be there. She wasn’t, and it occurred to me that even if she came in before I had to leave, she probably wouldn’t be by herself. So I sat down at the kitchen table and wrote her a note, using my office stationery with the letterhead
Cooperative Extension Service, Georgia State College of Agriculture, Athens, Georgia.
    ***
    Dear Miss Klein,
    I would still like to see you Sunday night provided you get in from Jefferson early enough. I plan on being in Cold Sassy anyway, so you don’t need to let me know ahead. I’ll come down to Miss Love’s right after supper to see if you’re back yet, and we can go to church. I often spend Sunday night with my folks and ride the early freight train back to Athens next morning.
    Please excuse the eccentric appearance of this paper. It’s been folded up in my