Read Online Mr. Tall by Tony Earley - Free Book Online Page B

came out from under the porch and—”
    He stopped her by raising his hand. “For the love of God in heaven before he calls me home,” he said, “will you shut up for one solitary minute and tell me your goddamned name?”
    â€œScroggs,” she said. “I’m Plutina Scroggs.”
    â€œScroggs? There ain’t no Scroggs live within thirty miles of here.”
    â€œShires, I meant. Plutina Shires. I used to be named Plutina Scroggs before I got married. My daddy’s Parcell Scroggs from over in Weald, he works for the railroad, but then I got married to Charlie Shires three years ago this January and now my name is Plutina Shires. I don’t know why I said Scroggs.”
    â€œSo you live other side of the ridge, then.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd you came sneaking around over here to steal something because you didn’t think I was home and you didn’t know I had a dog.”
    â€œOh, no, sir. I was just playing a game because I was lonesome and I’ve been hiding in the corn to see what you looked like but I didn’t never see you and then I decided to tag your house because I didn’t know you had a dog.”
    â€œYou were going to tag my house.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œBecause you were playing a game.”
    â€œYes, sir.”
    â€œAnd you’re sure you weren’t trying to steal something? Because I got a dog.”
    â€œNo, sir.”
    â€œAnd I’ll turn him loose on you, too, I don’t care if you are a girl, if I catch you trying to carry something off.”
    â€œOh, no, sir,” she said. “I’m going to have a baby.”
    Mr. Tall blinked slowly. “What did you just say?”
    â€œI said I’m going to have a baby. I don’t know why I just told you that. I ain’t told nobody. I ain’t even told Charlie yet. I don’t know why I ain’t told him but I ain’t.” She watched him look down at her feet. She looked down at the puddle she was standing in.
    â€œIs that your water broke?” he asked.
    â€œNo, sir,” she said, suddenly aware of her wet dress clinging to her legs. “I accidentally peed on your floor but if you got a rag somewhere I’ll be glad to clean it up.”
    Mr. Tall took off his hat with his left hand and clapped his right hand onto the top of his head. He closed his eyes. “Good Lord,” he said.
    â€œI’m real sorry about the floor. I just think I was afraid of your dog, is all.”
    He put his hat back on. “How old are you?”
    â€œI’m nineteen.”
    â€œAnd you’re sure that ain’t your water broke.”
    â€œNo, sir. I mean, yes, sir. I mean, it’s just pee.”
    Mr. Tall sighed and lifted the latch and opened the door. “Come out of there,” he said.
    Plutina glanced down at the dog. The dog stared up at her. It had blue eyes, of all things. “Is that dog going to bite me?” she asked.
    â€œNoggin,” Mr. Tall said. “Get under the house.” The dog instantly turned and trotted around the corner of the crib. “Come out of there,” he repeated.
    Plutina’s legs wobbled as she moved forward. For a second the floor wavered and she thought she might vomit. She tried to hold her dress away from her legs without pulling it up as she stepped down out of the crib.
    Mr. Tall walked a few steps away from the crib and turned around in a slow circle, his hands on his hips, as if trying to remember where he had put something. “Son of a bitch,” he mumbled.
    â€œCan I please go home now?” she asked.
    Mr. Tall looked at her appraisingly. “You don’t look too good.”
    â€œI’m sorry. I promise I am.”
    â€œCome on,” Mr. Tall said. He started toward the house.
    Plutina followed him unsteadily across the yard, watching the line of shadow underneath the porch. Her legs shook so badly that even if he let