Way Down Deep by Ruth White Page A

the same sad song over and over. He goes to his room around nine or so at night. Then he probably reads for a while.”
    â€œWhen does he write?” Peter wanted to know. “I’m anxious to read his book.”
    Ruby shrugged and did not answer his question. Instead she said, “Miss Arbutus says that sleep is more important for the soul than for the body. She says when a person sleeps a lot like Mr. Crawford does, they are trying to work out their problems.”
    â€œAnd how does sleeping help?”
    â€œBecause, according to Miss Arbutus,” Ruby said, “God is in that place where sleep takes us. Way down deep inside, where all the answers lie.”

12
    â€œ**!!^^##**!!~~**!!”
    Ruby had heard a few bad words in her day, but nothing to compare with this string of offensive language coming from somewhere on the trail behind them. It made her ears burn.
    She and Peter were approaching a clearing at the top of the mountain, where a patch of new corn was growing. Now they stopped to look back at a clump of scrubby trees they had just passed under.
    â€œUh-oh,” Peter said glumly. “I should have known he would follow me.”
    â€œWho?” Ruby said.
    At that moment a barefooted, shorter version of Peter appeared on the path. He was tugging angrily at his clothing.
    â€œ**!!^^##**!!~~**!!” He repeated his litany.
    â€œCedar!” Peter scolded him. “Will you watch your language? There’s a nice girl here.”
    â€œIt’s these **!! beggar-lice!” Cedar shot back. “They are all over my britches!”
    He came up beside Peter and Ruby, pulling the prickly burrs off his raggedy pants. “And every **##!! time I pull two off, three more pop up someplace else!”
    â€œWhat are you doing here?” Peter asked heatedly.
    â€œPulling off these @@**!! beggar-lice!” Cedar replied. “What are you doing?”
    The two brothers stood facing each other, both seeming plumb put out.
    â€œWho is looking after Bird and the kids?” Peter asked.
    â€œDaddy, that’s who.”
    â€œYou should be helping him,” Peter scolded.
    â€œAnd so should you!” Cedar responded. “You slipped off from me last night, and I didn’t say a **!! word. So I was hoping you’d ask me to go with you today. Why didn’t you?”
    â€œBecause I don’t want to hear your mouth!” Peter said angrily. “You embarrass me with your cussing!”
    â€œMaybe I won’t cuss today,” Cedar said nonchalantly as he looked Ruby up and down. “Who are you?”
    Ruby opened her lips to answer, but Peter stopped her by saying, “We’re not going to tell you until you promise!
Maybe
is not good enough.”
    â€œOkay,” Cedar agreed sulkily.
    â€œOkay what?” Peter said.
    â€œI promise.”
    â€œThis is Ruby June,” Peter said grumpily. “Ruby June, my brother Cedar.”
    â€œI know she’s not your sweetheart,” Cedar said. “She’s too pretty for you.”
    â€œI oughta wop you a good one up the side of the head!” Peter hollered.
    Cedar just laughed. “Where y’all going to, anyhow?”
    Peter was too aggravated to answer. He continued walking, and Ruby fell in behind him, Cedar behind her.
    â€œWhere y’all going to?” Cedar repeated, but nobody answered him.
    Now the corn grew on both sides of the path. Ahead of them under a giant tree sat a picturesque cabin, built from the pale wood of the surrounding hills. A slate walkway led to the front door.
    Before they could reach the entrance of the cabin, the door opened, and Granny Butler stepped out, wearing a frilly apron over a blue gingham dress. She was short and thin, with skin as pallid as cream.
    A pair of thick wire-rimmed spectacles balanced on Granny Butler’s small nose. As they drew near her, they could see that the whites of her eyes were somewhat pink, as Ruby