Where the Red Fern Grows - Wilson Rawls [63]
Each noise I heard and each sight I saw was very familiar to me but I never grew tired of listening and watching. They were a God-sent gift and I enjoyed them all.
As I skipped along, it was hard for me to realize all the wonderful things that had happened to me in such a few short years. I had two of the finest little hounds that ever bawled on the trail of a ringtail coon. I had a wonderful mother and father and three little sisters. I had the best grandpa a boy ever had, and to top it all, I was going on a championship coon hunt. It was no wonder that my heart was bursting with happiness. Wasn't I the luckiest boy in the world?
Everyone was just sitting down to supper when I got home. My sisters quit the table for the candy. I told them to divide it equally. The oldest one asked if I wanted any of it.
"No," I said. "I brought it all for you." Of course, I didn't tell them about the four pieces I had in my pocket.
They thanked me with their clear blue eyes.
I guess it's pretty hard for a young boy to fool his mama. She took one look at me and called me over. She ruffled up my hair, kissed me, and said, "If my little boy's eyes get any bigger they're going to pop right out of his head. Now tell me, what are you so happy about?"
Before I could say anything, Papa chuckled and asked, "What's going on between you and your grandpa? What are you and that old man cooking up now?"
As fast as I could talk I started telling about the big coon hunt. I told how hard Grandpa had been working to have my dogs entered, and how he had already paid my entry fee.
Catching my breath and looking at Papa, I said, "We're going in his buggy and he wants you to go."
I waited in silence for his reply. Papa sat there staring off into space, sipping his coffee and saying nothing. I knew he was thinking.
In the silence I was sure I could hear my heart thumping.
I said, "Papa, please go. We'll have a lot of fun and besides the winner receives a big golden cup."
He scratched his head and said, "Billy, I'd sure like to go, but I don't see how I can with all this work around here."
I was beginning to think that Papa wasn't going to go. Then Mama started talking.
"Work?" she said. "Why, all the work is practically done. I don't know of one thing you couldn't put off for a few days. Why don't you go? You haven't been anywhere since I don't know when."
"It's not only the work I'm thinking of," Papa said. "It's you and the girls."
"Why, don't worry about the girls and me," Mama said, "We'll be all right. Besides, it'll be several months yet before I need any help."
When Mama said this, it dawned on me. I had been so busy with my coon hunting I hadn't noticed anything unusual. Mama's tummy was all swelled up. She was going to have a baby. I felt guilty for not having noticed. I went over and put my arms around her and kissed her.
Papa spoke up. "It's sure going to be a big hunt," he said. "I heard something about it up at the store one day."
"Grandpa said there would be hunters there from everywhere," I said, "and some of the best coon hounds in the country."
"Do you think you have a chance to win the cup?" Papa asked.
I started to answer him when the little one piped up. "They can't beat Old Dan and Little Ann," she said. "I just bet they can't."
Everyone laughed at her serious remark. I would have kissed her but she had candy, corn bread, and molasses all over her face.
I told Papa I didn't know how good those dogs were, but there was one thing I did know. If they beat mine, they would have to hunt harder than they ever had before.
After I had had my say about the dogs, a silence settled over the dining room. Everyone was looking at Papa and waiting for his answer.
I saw a pleased smile spread over his face. He stood up. "All right, I'll go," he said, "and, by golly, we'll bring that gold cup back, too."
My sisters started clapping their hands and squealing with delight. A satisfied smile spread over my