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Trrs TneNrscrvrNG Vrsr.

rot
oe6n
fo,

to

T.ll.t'out

mean! odd Hmderson

ws

the nemest human crearure


some

Ard I'm spaking ofa .welve-1ca-old bon not


hes hrd the time ro ripen a mturally

groxtup who

!:s

trelve in

1932, when

dispositioD. At least, Odd mre borh wond-graders attending a

*il

seall-mm *hool in rural Alabma. Tall fot his age, a bony boy with muddy-red hair md narow )l lor e1es, he rowered over all his closmares-rculd have in aay event, 6r the rest of us were only smn or eight lcars old. Odd had failed 6m grade rrice md *a now sening his second rerm in the se.ond gnde. This rctry record wcn't due ro dumbness-Odd was intelli g.nt, naybe onning is a bener rcrd-t'ut he took after the rest of tlle Hendersons. The whole family (there were ten of them, not
countins Dad Herdetson, who rru a boodegger and sua[y jn iail, all scrunched together in a fou-room house nst door to a Negro church) \r a shifdess, surly bunch, oery one of them ready to do you a bad ruq odd reo't the rcrst of tbe lot, md brother, that is
Many childrD in our sch@l came from families poorer than the Hendersons; Odd had a pair of shoes, while some boys, girls toq

THE CoIIPLETE STORIES OF TRUMAN CAPOTE

THE THANKSGTvTNG VrsrToR

were forced

to go barefooc righr through the bicrerest *acherrhat's how hard the DePressiotr had hit Alab+ma Bur nobodv, I don'c care who, looked as dom-and'our as odd-a skimv, freckled
sarecrol, in sweacy cesFoffoveralls that would hart been a humilia' don ro a chain-gang convict You mighr have felt Pitv for him ifhe

mured abour he!


Tucker, who

.omed the

chough she were the twin of poor nice Lester screets in a sweet daze), she understood chil-

hadn t been so hareful All the kids reared him. no! jusr s \ounger kids, but *en boys his om age and older Nobody oer picked a 6ghr eith him excePt one rime a gnl named Ann "Iumbo" Fi'chburg, who happened ro be the other rown bu v'

Jumbo,

a sased-off but solid tombov with an all'hel-letloose wresrliDs cechdque, jumPed odd from behind duritrg recess one dul mornin& a,1d n took three ceachers, e*h ofwhom must have
ushed the combatot! would

kil eeh other,

a good long while

to

seprate them. The result \6 a sorr ofdraw: Jumbo lost a tooth and halfher hair and develoPed a gralsh cloud ia her left eve (she nevet could see cle* again); odds afflicdons included a broken rhumb,

dren, and understood me absolutely. P.rhaps ir wa strsge for a young boy to have a! his besr ftiend m aging spinster, but neither ofus had d oidinary oudook or brksround, and so it war iflevirable, in our sepdate loneliness, that we should come to share a friendship apart. Except for the hours I spent .r school, rhe rhre ofus, me md old Queenie, our feisry litde rar !errier and Miss Sook, s seryone called my friend, were almost al$ays together. we hunced herbs ir the \roods, went fishing on remote creeks (wich dried sugatcane stalks for fishing poles) md gathaed curious ferns afld greeneries that we trosplmted md gew with rr.iling flourish in tin pails and chmber pors. Mosth though, our tife was lived in the ki.chen-a farmhouse kiccheo, doniflated by a big black mod-burning stove, that wo often dark and sunny at the same.ime. Miss Sook, sensirive a shy-lady fern, a recluse who had never traveled beyond the couty boundaries, was rotally unlike her brother and sisters, rhe larter being do\tn-to-earth, vaguely msculine ladies who operared a dry-goods store and sewral o.her business wnrures. The brothea Uncle 8., owned a number of cortor fems scarrered around the countryside; because he refused ro drive a car or endure any coDtacr whate\,r with mobilized machinern he rode horseback, jogsing aI day from one properly m anothr. He {r! a kind man, .hough a silent one: he grunced rs or no, and rea.lly never opened his mouth except ro feed ir. At aery meal he had th appetite of d Alaskan grizly afcer a winrer's hibernation, and it war Miss sook s
rask to filI him up.

plus sc(atch scars thrt wil stay wilh him to the d'v they shut his cof' 6o. For months aftermtd, odd Plafd every kiod oftrick co goad her licks and gave him Jumbo inro a rematch; bucJurnbo had gotten let me; alas, I wEs the ifhe'd have done considerabte berth. As I would object of odds relentless attentions. Considering the era and locale, I was fairlv wel off-living, as I di4 in a high-ceilinged old counrry house situ'ted wh're the town ended relaand the farrns and forests beg1n. The house belonged to drstaat

.ilts, elde+ coulins, and

rhese cor.rsins, rhree maiden

ldies

their bahelor brother, had t l(en me under their roof because of a disrurbance a.rnoog my more immediate famih a custody batde rh.t, for inrclved realons, had left me stranded in this somewhat ecceotric Alabama household Not that I was urhaPPv thete; indeed,
moments ofthose few years ru$ed our to be rhe haPPiest Part ofd othrwise dimcdr childhood, mainlv because the voungest of the

'rd

w* a cousins, a womm in her sixties, became my firsc friend As she murand child herself (many Peopie thoughr her less chd chat,
242

Breakfat w6 our principa.l mea.l; mid&y dinf,er, ucept on Sun' dals, od supper were casual menus, often composed of leftovers from the morning. These breakfasrs, served pronptly at 5:30 A.M., were regular stomach swellers. To the preseot day I retain a nostalgic huDser for those cockcrow repcts ofham and fried hicken, fried

243

THE THANKsaIvINc VISIToR oF TRUM^N CAPoTE THE CoMPLETE SroRIEs


say because sh' 'aled me Buddv' rearv *iscs som'where rake named rrricaca rhrt werl Due to her edu(auon sas her educaEion as

lrn season) fned eggs' n.rL choDs, frted c'rnsh fled squirrel (ouard Irquor eved peas corrards u(h

crallv

['i,; ;l;; ;,:;';;,..rxkbr'(uiis Pound'ake Pan('kesandm-o' l:l:lilJ;;;."'"in mrLk iams ,"d rerrie"wer il:J;;.;l;.r"...b. home'nad'e and hor a! Had's
fi."r-'*,'.",*" **'-fl'tord
The .ook,

and myself' by her ass$ta$rs' Que'nie 'ccomPanied ronre the *ow and vc rhe rable and ger i' r"'r -"*i" -,"'*hrdshrp ir m'v ai rhar hour wls no*he ::il;;;;;;:""* bed a'5soon ,"d anldav we arwav<weni ro lllil, .'.i-"." *"a

:iil'.::
liiend

wa-s

thotrgh not as f6il as she teemed'

il,J

;J,1"',"

-,i

li::*1,:;Iillil,llifl
sr

:;lI;;;;".""
r'*"a
1,1i1"""

:::;;;:;" ,*-'

iill,."' *l tl**,. ,urhr,r eves 'i"'"J'i,-,' -"" *";"'ad orar rnrenor health'
iis,lle su'rx" or m"r" mortal
Neverthless, dePendins .dDloved on Uncle B' s farms'

i."" *i *"''dnsunhed
o'

shoes

..,,. --" *:l *' 1"'1,:fl:":l she lnunablv wre sqt


race'

\he had s'irong huds and -ere huched

:[:"il::

wirh rts deric'terv crumsv rhr( susbespoke r rortirude

:;1,;;;;-. a *"ii:, '].i" ", *" n, had almo$ no schoolns: her h'ndwrnins *""". "iioi.". the sPeurns a highrv personat ud i.]-I ""Ptions ""i"' "i "t-;t read wirh asmootherassur , ..,f a A'eadvwure ard .t."*,ff-" ** **'e ofthough she msasd (o "srudl'one 1""" ,n* Annie or 'i" ii"r,". "*t o" -d never mtssed Lirlle orPhan "ii" #;;;:';* :;" .omi(s'arried bv'!he Mobrre PaPer) she 'oui' rePor' cards f Gosh Buddvr FNe As -"i "i'L,i"" **" * a*" to '""* iope m'd get an A in arirhmetic")' .u,i-*lli a.* some mommss * -*l -r',"" - *' -hv I hared s(hool' whv co B" rhe deciding vorce n the house *"0, *o p,*a"a *nh 'ncle was odd "';;;;;;.;^", thar t hated schoor: what t hrred
T
I

r'oh, Buddv.- she would

sprriruat shrne than the

llil''"",i1'"'.r*"'''o

'fi:J::Hi::*;;
r
N.ero worna

th" crern rhe house and do sooks.*irch.m:Jt Miss r lifelons friend of

rd"' "'

;l* x:::; :*::;,;il'J5*l


"r
r

-.-drhenumbetofhands '1" '"*'l i-",,-"" * -*y * n" rh*e wete sor thos'drwnbinque6: rhe handswereen'

,- -n.la"'

ihe work herself. rePlx'ns hN.rnd simPrv^:']"r.ri.r."",.,".r."r",.a large menagerle .hooDed6rewood rended r ver when I came mended a, our cto'lhes:

'::'"1 :: l:":",#;r';';;; ;, she


k*p

luvand unreliabie but

;::::il;;.;""' il'.. ii"l "t'"' llilJ"..J-,-" ""

Ii-:;;i;^;;.
"".i"
il'""a

"""t

hsht, helP me wi(h homework

-as arwavs eager-to hunt or -ook d rush offm a mushroom rhe kirhens w*ng rr'lernoon we s$ 'n "'."
espekxtbooks (he seosrrphr arlas

m comPanv -to

";;;;;".".-""" ;;';;;';J.* :;. ..;";;;;;;* . no sense ..tut-.i+u* -rr."ed on hrsmv ro school rhere ws like a raF l'-.1"" - """". nt.' tr he wa' qu(k a5 a c^il'd snake: greerul ro rhe ground md hrs sr*tv evts :;; ;;;;;,..-"..e kids s'nsed ; mv s..rp usuanv a cir're or ::;;;;;;;.; but it tunnp rhink reallv ,t""" - **eni ro; thev didnt tolet ia a hidrns "..""i readv to Please' Later' :il;tr,".;"" ""d the bu s knor'ing mv hrr: this untansle i i" *":1"... i"'"* mtssing ihe 6rsr b'll' .".f...". '-a *"vt *ernrMiss Armsrrong' was stmPathetic' for O". ,".."d-t-U" by "*her naPPening: but evenruailv exa-sperated *."*."*,"a il* ** rn rronr oT: ;;;:;;.;-".' .he ruged aL me ;; :11-Y 'l' ln h'rc rvaluing ot" *n**. what a brg head he hasl '*u.u* ;;;;,"'",r.".,r" berr' A harr hos " \there"":l':'5 ;;; n-derson md shouted: "Ye[ at him' ,-il'p."*a *
"uo one lo blame. The sonafabitch''
245

wart conftivedr For instln'e he used to or a Mter oak rhat darkened an edge ""der with his hmd he herd a paper sack sruffed
he

,o,*" *"'mv

THE THANxsGIvING VrsIroR

oF TRUM^N CAporE THB CoMPLETE SroRIES I knew a loc of curse words }f( 'ven rn .,n awrtr s.ence
Then' whtle
I $Et shocked when I

hrd

"oh,'

she mighc say,

-i- ii*i."*,.**
hands. str. Palms uP,

sd

Miss Armsrrons'

-.t

*,,':y,'if :J:**il;;;;;i:,i' :,#,: J*:;:: ::; Udd n( sn


*"

"n l. ,.*

,., .r,

onlv rubbing hear inco my chiled hands"'h' vou are'' as and Prelw ofpJ""v He not smarr

'

ro keeP

wrth her the Parms or mv h ds l'l.i.ii.t-" '-il. tris*redblurred' br.rs-edeed ruler unrilthe room "'? io risr the rmarnr!iv' Punrsh' * smarl

'"1""a""rn" r know env difrerenr' all rhose Henderson n" "tng i",, *'1', s "i,r, -"* r',*'*a n'a' And vou can lav rh'at rr D;d Henderson

'n

mind

BLrddv' is

thrsbovcl" t

.i.L*.
J.."

i*.nl"? *o

-j;:

*ii"n"

"'* *.rr &;il;:',.


'
serxe

Pnnt

*.< the

:?#; ";;;;;;'i r asked him "r'ishr r't me roose l,j.5"i"i"iir*" -. 'o muchr suddenrv he relared 'He was slraishren,ns lou our :""IH:'|r;;;a;'', r'm ius, rhere mom"nr h' srid rt r reariTed lii.i',*.,.i"r.,'"';' and thehis arter rudsmenr o'[he.ho 'loughen Hl'.-i;;;.:; 'o " rhe fact mvselfto accePt od defend w:ere
or oid Hendmon I:' l';1";;:";;;;'r'r Loo rou lton otreD rr nltsht' rhe nat

ofdour expecrarions he 'ndu

":"':i.ii ili*,[""117 done


ou'[ $ha( had I

.r. ,tu *u the sPot' rhe .."'i. n. i*,-* " o;s d hoBewhiPPed hrm on him uP JtsLrte i"..i,"*,r'* *". n"pp*ed $E! when lhev locked Dad' ;*.. u.i. i;";;";'"orrv Henderson beror' she married rhe aross ,'i',i*" .. 'r,*" .t" -as and fr'h from snmewhere a ro be .*. ii"-*.'*o a. t"oe Dmvers dom rhe rod' le*rune
"

exePr a ', never was , O"n, ,tn" ." *, n, but that man 'rything once? know utrcte B' horsewhiPPed him

in the gddenO'.""-.UJh" *"a to Oiss hete and see me hoing red hair' md so rppreciatiw ofewrv *nn .".ir ,.t'," '"*lv "",, * t'" her a bunch of sweet Peas or a raPonica' .it"']i..",,i*

"''*,".. * i *e Peace ofihe w'rm krr'hel iri'nd Pu*er ms 'o'*o * .""-'"t * "la d'g "p uon" and mt bre$edrv sride ",Io,i"i, -ourd
a'lr'ej''

.-^* -..h.ulders

Bur

eves

[::":1,':;T;,il,r"
rn mv
sha.ke

i', iu,' r,""n *'*.'ronouncing

crLrer

ansrng Promises hr'sed to mnei o(casionJty crres Mv friend s bedroom was ne'r

ea

srrorrins bvdm ,"oli"l* i*r' '" 'otr'cianve' rhen she besan older and a perfecr ,, ..- *t* orAn*a""on-and him so much re&sons' But ii s ,..- Or"r*, **. *tU' rhe t'rd must haw H$rhere she rs witho" rnore thar rhirw-Eve rd ,]i-"-., ' ".rt.*'n* t*a * a dlme m her name Nothing but a houseaccount' "", .o feed You've sor ro take al1 that into .r ii ".."rn "r,ira.""
Ruddv. and be Pa.Eienr'"

"-",."r.,

*:T' l:;*:l ;::f:l: :T; .# -J.ui-''" of"""":* Henderson odd 3n m' out ,"rl she\ shaking And il;,H;;;:*"* 3":"'" "'*1 "*" wet' Ma)be $< ousht @ cJ Do'tor :lii",i" *""gins
,"r",",,

my *f'r. ** tn" u'e ofdi\cussing 't? Pinallv Ehough seriousnes of mv despeir' rhe realiza' n,""i i,J -.t**o 'he outcome of unhappv ,,"" *,*"0 , O"*' 'ay ard *as nor the '. l" otJins scenes with uncle B It happened one ,i*:r. *"**

r"'"" 'r'" ;;;'. ;;;;';*'"- .n"' r' "';' rhad " rord her howodd :il:#;;;,;i;""'boor'ror 'lordand Henderson rre ed me' m'n'ioned ii anv "'l]l ..- i:J terkrns ibolr.ic nev'r ',."* ;i"."0 *-"':'::?:":H -J*.'i.""*'."hirr :" il',|]ITi:*"1: our' lnnocence' Pre:
,s

r'*u

rha'[ Ir was'be'

,,i"v

bd

as

I made

;::::;;:il;r''sora(edMrsssook comPLere
comPassing an eul 50
246

kr'[herincapabreoFen'

)il.1t..'i or"-"-" i' " "'ke' s"'"'s I courd hed mv rriends ..,"*;i";;.i* rheroor ;;:.:";;;;;";;""nderrhe rkppinsnoiseorrain on rhoush I r(endins' ;, worrre*nd t M' no'[ ;;;;,;;.,..' auav' n* *Ol*t was Thanksgiving' then a week -.. "'"""J,"* .n* *O ma'ried' but (Uncle B had ."""t"' ""*' "'auied ring when she 'tto'r rhat sharing sw t'. i'.".* ."-.".0 tn" "ngagernent
247

si(flng Jone tn the kirchen November rwilighr *hen we w're ore.upper was over' rhe dshe' sracked ard

TRUMAN CAPoTB THE CoMPLETB SToRIES oF

THE THANKscIvINc VIsIroR Mv rriend felt the him butcher a hog ot eve. wling a chicken's rcck *-" wav: neirher "f us ..uld abide anv violence bloodier than swat' her carual r'l'ying of rhis comting tlies, so I was ral<en aback

uould be ptr ofthe barr house wirh rhree verv rndrvidurl 'prnsrers rhroush' :;:;;;; il;*red ex,ensive tamrrv c"nnecrions ravror aprenry ard o aun! Mr\ Mdv il:;;;:;;,;,:;"',". our *r," *,..." h'[rndred sd three v'ears ord As ;;i;';;; tra' i{as it looted' the most convenienrlv

'r

i.""" *ri.* r."*' *a a. .n*"-""'io's i.,"., -;-.;i;;.";t

ar ro aim themselves our wJv everv vear

rhere were serdom rewer chan

rhirw

cere'

;.;,,.:,;.".;
t""

se(,ns and .n amp,e num*.:l'i:1:.:::Y:.; ea<n ( The suesrs ,uPPlied rhe lrimmrngs

","rous

chore because

qe Provrded onrv the

ger Bubber or some Now she smiled. "Of course you won't I'[ her tone descendother colored boy Pay him a nickel Bur," she sdd' lwe ll lr Uncle B' believe it sat you Then he II inc conspirarorially. a bad rhrng'' t"-pr""..a -r.g ir

,,"m con,ribu,ins
Parker

"..1*r"..r*' o'" 'ousin ordse dices com' ;i;;;;,;J" r".i".,.mbrosia '[ransPrlenr Alice usua,v ar' ilfi; t.."d coconuq Harriecs sisrer and *isinsr the ".;::..;., ;;""d a ai'u or *r'pp"a quarret of hand .""ii" ,I'i"i *o rs Bir conkrin and their arrav or wgerabres ;;";;;;;;.'. ". ;;",.' broughr a dericiou5 a cold banana .,""; il,," the mmd Mv own favorice was desPrre her re'rp" or ir'" s(ienr runr who ;il;;,;;"d .. o"' *rrow she rcok rhe
.iin il. **" *" oied """i* il;,;;;;;;-;"".'!hecurrainrshewas
ase

rw(e removed' Hdriec

from

beini rogecher He s'vs vou ought to have other ftiendr, boys your om a'ge. Well' he's righr"' "I dofl'c want Y other friend " real good to me' I don'r "Hush, Buddy Now hush You've been crab But I want know what l'd do without vou' Just become m old in the world And to see you happy, Buddy. Sttong, able ro go out people like odd with to rerms y"" s;;;s.. ,""1vou come

"whar's

-a "op a bad thitrg7'

' 'uch

"our

always

'";*"' H.nderson and curn rhem

Lnco

friends''

il;'1 ;:.;,i;.,"'i''ar'ir "'"'g"'i'' one hundred dd flve (and 1e34'


"'iackedandrrampred
1

"Himl He's the lalt friend in

rheworldlwan'"
dinner'"

bva bull in aPrcure)'

""

;;;'*; .".J;;;;;;

*-*r'nson rhese ma(erswhire mv m':ndwan' ;-;" * -eianchorv as rhe vtt twilight suddeolv table: "Buddvl" r'""ra r'* o'ir.r.r"" 'p 't'e kitchen
word'" 'You havent Iistened to one

as someching At firsr l"was u;.ble to believe she neant het request rhat sh seeing then' but more rhan a smple of poor-tcce humor; edging were *a! serious, I reatized, with bewilderment, rhat we

for Thanlsgiving "Please, Buddy-invire that bov here oever quarreled' rrrougrr tte pair or us occasionaUv quibbled' we

toward a faUing-out. "I choughr You were mYf;e'd " "I am, BuddY TrulY."

'lfyou
B'

were, yo,:

couldnt think

uP a rhing like

th't

odd Hender'

-,i',1" *n, *"0 *" "rkevs this vear' u4ren I sPok 'o uncle too"' ,""",i" n" '"0 * **"d,ou to krll them' Dress rh'm

son hares me. He's mY

era,l "
"

-ll'"111r."",rr, .r"#*.r"t-* '*r"

' ," -nou how '!o do lhrnss rike 'lhar watch u's job tr w6 s ordeal for me ro

dorlt know him That's a1l I ask The chance for,Du will stoP And to know eaci other a lhtle Then I think this rrouble
"Because ),ou
249

"He can'r hate you. He dosnt know you "wel,I ha.e him."

THE COMPLETE STORIES OF TRUMAN CAPOTE


ever be friends' maybe you're right, Buddy, m+e vou bovs won'r But I doubt rhat he'd Pick on )ou oy more'" "You don'r understand You've never hated anybody'D and I I never have. we're allofted just so nuch rime on earth'

THE THANKSGIvING VIsIroR

handouts; he'd

"No, such mannei" woulaln't sant the Lrd to se me wdting mine in any be I would " And "I won't do iL He'd thinl I was 'razy miserably The rain had ler uP, leaving a siletrce rhat lengthened lwere a Rook cdd Mv foend s .led eyes co nremPlared me as though lock or I salt-pepper she ws decidhg how ro plav: she maneuter'd said' she hair offher foJead and sighed. "Then l will' Tomorrow"' "I'I put on my hat and Pav a call on Moly Henderson " This sateto cotified her derermiration, for I'd never known Miss sook

large raw turniP- This kind of Pride \6 characteF isricofrhe Hendersonbreedr they might steal, gouge the gold out o[ a dead man's teeth, but chey would ne!r accePt a gift onered oPenh peanuis or gnaw
a

wder

oft'by hinself and devour a Pocketful of

for mything smacking of charity was offensive to them. Odd was sure to 6gure Miss sook's invic.tion 6 a charireble Sesture; or see it-and nor iocorrecdy-as a bl&kmailing stunt meant co make him I went to bed thac nighr with a Iight heari, for I was certaifl my
Thankssiving would not be marred by rhe premnce of such an unThe next motning l had a bad col4 which was Plearanq it meant no school. lr also meanr I could have a fire io my room and cream-oftomato soup md hours alone with Mr. Micawber and David Copper' 6e1d: the happiest ofsByabeds. Ic was drizzling agaiq but ftue co her promise, my ftiend ferched her hat, a straw cartwheel de'orated \ ith @ather-faded velver roses. and set our for che H.nderson home. "I won\ be but a mirute," she said. In f.cr, she was gone che better Pdt ofrm hours.I coutdn't imagifle Miss Sook sustaining so long aconvers.tion ex.ePr with me or herself (she talked to herself ofreo, a of . solitary nature); and when she returned, habi! of san
Persons
she

meni

Dlu, (all on ,one, not on\ because she uas ennrejv urhour sod:l rrlent. but also be(ause she ms too modesr to Presume a welcome.

r' have odd sit down house. Probably Molly would be verv Plesed flice wirh us. Oh,I know Uncle B would never perrnir ic' but the
rhing ro do is invile them all "
frrend Mv lauehrer woke Queenrer ard afrer a surprised rnsrmt mv rrsing' her eves: in flared la,,gr,"i r".. He,.he"ks pinked and a Ughi dd shiugged me md said, "oh, Buddv, I knew vou'd forgive me recognize there was some sense ro mv norion '' Tm one *"r she wm mistalen. Mv merrimenr had other origins the picture of Uncle B. carviog turkey for.ll those canlankerous *cond was: Ic h'd occurred to me that I had no

"I dont

suPPose rhere

wil

be much Thanksgiving in rheir

did seem drained.

nenierrcns. rhe

scill wearing her hat and u old loose raincoat, she diPPed a ther' momerer in my mourh, then stt ar rhe foot oflhe bed''1like her," she said 6rmly. "I always haw Iiked Molly Henderson' she does atl she can, ard the house e6 clean ar Bob SPencer's Engernails" Bob
spencer being

inviration cause for atarm; Miss Sook mighr excend the

shos mother mighr a.cePt it in his behale but Odd wouldn'r

'nd uP in a

Odds

ne would be too proud. For instance, throughout the DePression ,eu,. our schooldsrribued free mrlk and sald$iches ro Jlcbildren qth a lun(h box' Buc $hose families were oo Poor to P'dide rhem to do wirh these Odd, emaciated as he *as, refsed ro have anlthing

bitter cold. screp of6re in the fireplace she offered ne refreshmenc, and I surely would have welcomed a cuP ofcofree, bur I said no. Because I don't

. BaPtist minister famed for his hygienic gleam "bur wnh a cin roofend the wind right in the rood and nor a

qpect rhere {!

any coffee on rhe Preoises Or sugar'

"k m.de rIIe f.el ashamed, Buddy. It hurts me aI the my down to se somebody srruggling lile MoUy. Nryer able ro see e 'lear dav' I
251

250

THE CoMPLETE SToRrEs

or

TRUMAN CAporE

THE THANxsGIvING VIsIroR


ued, ignoring my 8roan, "she said she was sure he'd be tictled ro come. Your temperaruie is jusr over rhe hundred mark. I guess vou cm count on staying home tomorrow. That oughE ro bring smilesl
Let's see you smile, BuddY." As it happened, I wa5 smiling a good deal during the next few davs prior to che big feast, for my cold hed advanced co crouP and I sas

dorlr

should have evervthing thev wanr' Though' come !o ought to ctri"t oi it, r a".,:t s"" *r'at's nong wirh rhat, eirher You ro ride, and whv shouldnl Queenie have a beef boft
say peoPle

have a bike aerv dav? Y.s, no$ ir s

I Lrndersrsd: we re'Iv aI vou a dime rhar s us .,gtrr rc r,^e **yrhjng we w'nt' I ll ber "f who what the Lord inrends. And when all around us we see PeoPle beofmyself' needs, I feel arhmed oh, not satis& the

co

can't

Plainest ."u* who am r, an ord nobodv who n*er owned a nritq ifl hadrlt the heen senc had a fanily to Pay my wav, rd haw stared 'r 'o have Home. The shame I feel is for all ofus who

Counr/

extra when other people have nothing rhan !'e "I mentioned to Monv how we had more quiLs here 'ould ones I made .ver use-thereh a trunk of scBp quilts in the attic, when I was
a

'nlthing

out ofschool the entire period. I had no conr1ct wirh odd Henderson md therefore could not PersoDally ascertain his reaction ro the invitarion; buc I imagined it musr have m.de him laugh first ud spit n*i The p.ospect ofhis a.tu*lly appearing didnt worry me; it \i!

6 farftt

hed a possibility as Queenie snarling at me or Miss Sook be-

rr.ying my rrust

ir

her.

outdoors much- Buc she cuc me off' onlv sad the ne;rsons were doing just 6ne, rhank vou' and the peohis thing rhey wanted wa Dad to be set free and senr home to lMrss Sook, she told me' Dad is a good husbsd no ma(er

girl and couldn'!

'he

go

Yet odd remeined a Presence, . redheaded silhouette on ihe rhreshold of my cheerfuhess still, I was tmralized by the descriPcion his mother had ptovided; I wondered if it was true he had another side, that somewhere undernealh che evil a speck of humaneness existed. Bur

oh.

thlt

was

irnpossiblel Anybodv who beli4ed so

whal else he mishr

be Meanwhile.

she

hd

her

bov odd Ar least Par' "And, Buddy, you musr be Mong abour her ri.Iy. MoIy says het a great hetP ro her dd a great comfort' Neler Sa)' he can complains, regatdless ofhow marv chores she gives him chiJdren sing'good s you hear on .he radro' and when rhe younger them nslns b\ sl down rhem quiet , *.1*. t .m 'o "" hmented, "retrieving rhe thermooetei' "a[ we ",i,l.r can do sless us." Je in our for people like Molly is tesPecr them and remesber them

'hildren

ro cere ior'

would leare their house r:nlocked *hen che gypsies came ro coxn Alt you had to do va.s look at him. Miss Sook war as?re that my crouP was not as s-ere as I pretended, md so in the mornings, when che others had absented the sisters to their dry'8oods store she toleraed my gecring out ofbed and even le' me ssist in the springlike house.leuing rhet always preceded che Thanksgiving dsedbly. rhere was such a loc ro do, enough for a dozen hands' .hemselves-Uncle

B ro his

farms

dd

whai The rheroo'netd had kPr me silenr; now I demdde4 "But


abour rhe inviBrion?" in the glass' "Sometimes," she sai4 scowling at rhe scdle' rhread to look srarts body "I think thes eyes are gMng our' At mv age, a iooked around,ry cloely. so you'li remember how cobwebs reallv thought to hear wa hapPy vou Buc to ansrer your question, Molly enough of odd to

we polished rhe Parlor furnirure, the Piano, the black curio cabi net (which concained only a fr.gment of Stone Mountain rhe sis' rers had brooght back from a buliness lriP co Atlanta), che formal walnu! rockers and florid Biedermeier Pieces-rubbed them with ledon-scetrted ws until the place was shinv as lenon skin dd
smelled like a cicrus grove. Currains were lauDdered and rehung, Pillo\rs punched, rugs beaten; wherser one glance4 dusc motes md cifly fearhets drifred in the sPa*Iing November lighr sifting through

dk him over for Thanksgivi'g And"'

she

contin'

THr

CoM?LE rE SToRrEs oF TRUMAN

Capor!

THE THANKscrvrNc VrsrroR

areu ofthe house.


_

the ra.ll rooms. poor eueeDie w4 relesared to rhe kircheD. for fear rhe mrghr lerw a s ay hajr. perhaps. fler. ,n rhe more drSnined
The most delicace task was preparing che Dapkins aDd tabtectochs

approaching

wirh proper ]inen.,,, At nighr, afrer the dals d2shinS about md when the rest of the house \B dark, one Gebte lamp burned lare while my friend, propped in bed wirh napkiDs massed on her lap, repaired btemishes and rears wirh rhread md Deedle, her forehead crumpted, her eyes cruelly squeez4 yec ilumin.red by rhe farigued rapture ofa pitgrim

and cold cornbread, bur at leasr we,ll be abte ro serve ir on a rable ser

tha. rculd decorare the dining room. The tiao had belonged ro my friend's molher who had receiwd ir .s a wedding gifc; though ;t had been ued onty once or twice a rrar say rwo hundred rim;s in rhe prsr eighry vears. newrihet.ss ,r tr"s eiShry,eds old, and mended parches and-freckhd djscoloradons wtre rpparmr ftobrbry ii had nor bee. a frne marerial !o begin wirh, bur Miss sook rrcared ir a! though it had beer woven by gotden hands od healrnly tooms: .My mother sai4 'The day may come when ail we .an oEar is welr \rEcer

the nocjon ofiugging al rhose growjing8orgeous roaring Irons rnto the house and cagrngrhem in Lackyrases lour final decorarive e!on Thdkssiving Eve) made us so siggty and giddy ad srupid we were soon ourorbreath.

It was che kind of remark rhar caused peopte to wonder abour Misr sook. rhough I undersr.rd rhrr ontv,n rerospecr. for I always kre" iusr $ har sh. medr. and rn rh,s insrance rh. whote ide. of ir,

"Look at Queenie,,, ny friend said, srurcerinq wirh mirrh. ,.Look at her elrs. Buddy. Sredrng rnajghr up. She\ ;h,nking. wel. whar kind of luDarics are rhese lm mixed up wirhi Ah, eueenie. Come here, hone, I'm going ro gii you a biscuic dipped in hot coffee.,, A lively day, char Thdksgiving. Lively wirh oD-dd-off showers
and abrupt sky clearings accompanied by chrusrs of raw sun and
sudden bandir winds snarching aurumn,s teflo!r leaves. The noises ofthe house were tovely, roor pors and pans md Uncle B.'s unused and rusry voice .s he srood in the hall iD his creakins sunday suir, greeting our guests as rhey arrived. A rew cane by horse-

attar ar journey's end.

Dd

back or mule-&awn wagon, the m.ioriry in shined-up farm cruct(s rackery fliwers. Mr and Mrs. Conkiin dd .hei. four

beauriful

me wirh a growl

5rrlking flower-show btossoms slrh decaprraring shears, -ee like I'ons. Krngiv ch lfreB. J altrays er?e.r lhem ro rp,,g. ro rurn on

ce6ing ro sdcch and lubbiog her eyes. ,,w7hirting wirh srars.,, chrysmtbemums:some as big as a baby's head. Bundles ofcurted penny-coiored leaves wirh flickeiing laveDder uderhues. ..Ch8sen_ themums," my friend commented 6 we moved rbrough our garden

mod her: "yououghr ro be asle.p!,, "In a minure, Buddy. I can,! just no!r. when I rhink of alt rhe compatry coming ir scdes me. Srarrs oy head whirting,,, she srd,

From hour ro hour as the shivery rotls ofrhe fdasEy courrhouse . dock rumbered ten od ereven and c-elve, r irould waie up md see hd lamp scil lir, and would drowsily lurch inro her .oonto rpri-

her milky hair "Darlin, Bobbn,, she said hussirg Uncle ,l reaLiz; B., weie u irg-bir efflv. buL vou knw me..lwa)s puncruJ ro a f.uh. wc,ch war an apology desened. for it uas nor yer nine o ciock and
guests werent expecred much beto.e noon_

Mobile), aJ' object which doused warm curiosiry amo.g rhe men presentj chey srudied md poked ir dld aI bur rook itapdr. The Ersr guesrs ro erive {rre Mrs. Mey Taytor Wheelwrighr, escofted by her custodims, a grandson and his wife. She wa! a precy little rhing, Mrs. v&eelwrightj she wore her age as tightty..s the riny red bonner rha(. tike rhe.herrv on a verlla sundae s perkJy arop

daughrers drove up in a minr-greeD 1932 chewoler (Mr. Conklin was well ofl he omed s*eralfshing smackers .har operaced our of

ud

a roar.,,

Ho\\'eee\ de,?botb affiv.d earlier rhm we iDtended-exepc rhe Perk Mccloud family, who suffered two blowours in the space of

254
255

VIS]TOR THE TH^NKSGIViNG

oF TRUMAN CAPoTE TlrE CoMPLETE SToRIES


was,he ordes, ot,he
s

sr'e:'.:::'::.5H":::ff[::
'ur
Lr^r .--

*'.'n::n';'r::l;:H i;r r,!-:ji*iiffi


rable sathering'

.^ n,.k

amons tnem

H,:::.',ril:#; ;::i::::*;:1":.:;:'iiffi:.:#

i"igr', on. ,t""gr',,or"pf':::.:TI5.il"r,,"

, flalorful.

:i;:";
sweer

bui

'*,"r

or.

wt

il[]i[1#il"rjjfi ::ix,#;;n::::;":';:::
And'o n M'

m$-ti*md**i#r'.*rn:*ffi ;
y:::l,t * ;,,il# ''lll".tTiinl:,l:::: odd.H'*"::]"::l her rh$ I fert
with
h,m berore r s'w hirn:th"

.,'".'.

*p'"' -"ilJil";;;;".." *. ,." *" *n" "" ""*t ,''T:l::il::*,',,h.nks8,vinss k *,.*,'r ,t'"r .r*" 'r'* $:J:':::ffi;;; i',i" oarv'r'

had some *hire aco I

re(er

fromqon';:T,:;::"1:

""."a

*".a"-

lll'-l,i,r. '"':" " encounter u


re*ow.srood

P""

T:,';;;,.
"

I* :*:T
say. an

experi'

nnie.o,bobcet

"r*'rnpending

;J:

;jJ,:X,TH::",j'"j

'"l':i.l:,".,h*e,he
'"
halfour'
bv

arii:.$',i";;:,U"**:
rnd sitr,st.r,!

11 :"'::: ::l',i:l;", .- .*,1'';,::ffi"*ii ll"-lllH 'Jx,:',f, :::'",;*


i,"*n*. ,r"

Il"::l:"..:i#i:iutl l*:::; .ii';;;. j:ii: xffi :: L.ll,LTJ"'JJ;,


a**,n.,'

l.lil'Ji.i,.ll;;;;;-:::::n:::l':.'x:::*:TI ano sr':ll,-l


Prnnc

beve seemeosl To othershe musr

::::::,::::fi:;*-, =-:..='':'";i:':'

rue. uis. sook

:il:lli:?:'iH: ;i::"L'il::t ;i ,".'rld *:.":*tf ni show up, vu* ' *' -brme *-" *' or'p"'"* *'o""l:t-li"i i". 6rm. .crobtic 'oua odd had nor ve'" '"" *:-lll^ o*,. *o dverad h!m,
1,"

--i".,-.,. ***."a

'

rhis awaired dey.

:*H:;::::""I;i:;iri:".Ti:irx";r'I:,:r*:;*1"::

However. ove' 6nser5 somersaurBns

toihe

tri[:;iiiil,;fii:;.il H'*"s'r*Hfu ofc's":


rhe

come upon rr". ai*ored

nr

e redorence

rhev rorroise\herr richness

,t" "'i1.,, L,i',i" "", *. "r * 1".-*:::;':::ffi;."i*"0.


'1"

"-"*'i"::":1,:;;;; ni, a,".ay ..a *"":: I q,.! ,. ift,"'-"," "o*"'pr"a"t :'"'" ]:.""" *:'"i::1t-; prmren'l' ""daTedhim exs raabecome hau ro ch. him ano ru ;;;, ,he squeeze direcdv Pasr
ar.
able !o
k,tchen. "He
s

wes

wrchingher'

*" -"Ti'l:".:;. *li.,gl'n" n, Ii* **:'"1 *ll lr'i]i"i. ni"" n

here:"

t"i:"::::"'y,i:'::"',:i'ilii-::iiriTf

:::: g: :,il:H:H'il:,, :,r:'"* jT,l'J Jlii .;i#5:i;:'ffi :"H*:;l ;::l;l ;l;l ;r-:f:{:
256

x'$ffi

Mv friend had comPr'ted


women had rwo corored sin(e (he kit'hen ins in

, *'1-, .r. L^urs earhe( moreoEr rtr n* 'l-i;;,, n, o*" t,o' h"'o'" "ll.)lT',** ;" of k GP'
.
rn rrucn
s

,.!,h"

"a

q*""i"

preense o" Par1':1":;;*-;lldof " minsrins

'mPanv
257

CAPoTE THE CoMPLETE SroRIES oF TRUMAN

THE THANxscrvlNc

VlslroR

reldi!s' which was why' with any group, even one comPosed of o' lhe Bible and its Hero she reelv went (o a*o,* r"*d all thtldren and was at e*e with rhem' 'r," *.1*"0r" a child ltr she codd nor accept benelfas .i" ".. (oIecoon ofrhem behaved like m aq k-

i.-,."ri-* .i,'l.i. * ** "**"n *O . *". -t.*"*t '' a E(herarrcrushed' Bur the ofParties "t *li 'rd'z -d "."in,"ar, ",,"". , otry she couldni take Part rnvisiblx for ihen " "iu,-"ir..i*r, she soutd have fel('
-"';""a ,." a"J"a "***", 'lothes ast inside somethins l*,"*.i.*, "t" ** "e

him: "Buddy Hauling me oflward, mv friend introduced hersdfto of a manners the had odd come " and I, *"'ie * happy 1." could htr at looked h'rdly Uly go.t, he aia. r sta"a uP or ofter his hard,

."i

at .ll p.unted bur dead game, mv friend said' "Mavbe it -e ""t us a rune. I know he can; his nother told me so' odd wi[ sing AnnabI, sugar, Play somthing odd can sing'" describcd odd HcnReading back,I se that I havent thoroughlv a sre Pair ofeve<atchcrs' derson's eais-a maFr omission, for thev because of like Aralffs ln the c/Lr Gdng coredv Pictures Now' to my friends requesc' his ears be"

how festive s I noriced thar my friends hands were rremblingj and Uncle shoes tennis of calico dresses' u* """J.",nt octo srarchv aPProPriate had no

Annabel's fl.ttering re.ePrivity


came so

borrowed from one of its owier had worn to er"erv her stout sisters, a ffepy naly-blue dress funeral itr the courry since dme remembered' Henderso' " J" r,.."," , ,"r.'-"a her for the third tim'' "odd him?" she said admonishinglv "rhaCs

smart He mumbled' he shook knN 'I Haw seen th' his head hangG but Ann.bel sid: "Do ,ou didrl,but her next sugges(ion was greered with a Siin of

be*-brighi it ma& )our


He

eves

Lishi?-

--lt

"tt* -n, **" *",nn ou8hr rc be out oai,", a,aar. Hat y"uI Parcicul'r guest You "' has a good .here seeinghe meels everubodv and
"I6r'r I c.n\ sPeak to him"' *" *'r"a .' n"r Lp having a head rub: mv friend (ood """"'i. q*en" -o disciosrng a srerch ofnarv-blue marerial ,"]J,-r.t 8'dd)' You mear vou hiven.r sPoke' o* n"..
'im

wes aI Put on reioenicion; rhe biggesr fool could iellhis modesry oiggl,ng. ennabelstruck I rich chord' md odd in awice Preco' 'when Ehe red' red robrn comes bob bos bobin his t'nse ihroac FmP'd: Amabl's Uln A".g"ir'" ea,-: "PPle as .ccele.ated; the somen's shri[ hen charter slalkened

"i",i,--i,t*
enthusi.-im

,-q

.i.t*"i *,n 'eid obLerared her omidiry: akingme bv the ,l *t.r,",r."0**s h:nd. she sreered me to rhe Parlot' '-;n.J hru tretLed owr odd's werare rhe choms of '", lnded' he was Atrf,abel Conklin had dram him to rhe Piano O^a" *"n rhe Piano seat'slrting rheresrudlngher |d '.."..n"0 * orrn.iir-u*, n'' opaque rs the orbs ofrhe sruffed whale rowrt "* rounnghonkv+onk pa'ssed rhrough ."",i,n" *rn-", *r'"" * ,'" "of,gjMl MobJ |{ck- and n (ost 6!'e 'enrs ro ,. **.,,'* *r',t a s,,*t of (rooksr). A< ror Annaber' she ;;;; "a*."*a
*."ta
nO,

becrme a*are of the enterrainmenr' odd was had enough sins ror surc. and rhe jealousv charging through me . -.rderei Murder was what I had in mird; I poi.. to "t""t"o.ot" codd have killed him as easilv as sw't a mosquito' Easiei w* absorbed in th' once more, unnoried e\n by mv friend, who The Islmd That sEs thc musicale, I esclPed the Parlo! and sought I uenr whetr I felt blue name I had given a PIa.e in the house where ro rhrnk thrngs owr' or iftxDlicablv exuberant orjusr when I wanled rhe bethrt ws r mammorh cloec anached rc our only bathtoom: winter like a cozy was fxrurcs, PaF roon itseli excePr for ics sanitarv and a fireplace scattet rugs, a bureau' tove

rh*

good he could

tor,

or crawled-no' that's unfair' it generosity, of simPly bing aliv Sti[' f.t-n 1'- *Afy . "f skinner' mule ga* me a h".r m se" he' playing cure \tich that

*.f, *y.n-g

that

f."-

'alked

Morn'" framed reProductions of "Th' Dodor's Visit," "sePcemb'r ga'tore' "The Sam Pool" ard calendars closeti loznS' There were two small stained-glos windows in the through rhe witt' Iike patrerns ofrose, amber ud green light filtred thctc which looked out on the bathroom ProPer' Here and
dows.
259

-;trr

io*Jr,a.

"eat,

tHn
patches

aoMpr.FrE SroprEs oF TRUMAN CaPo rE

THE THANI(scrvrNc VrsrroR

ofcolor had faded from the glass ot been chipped auag by applying m eye to one of rhese clearings, ir ws possible to idendry rhe room's visitors. Afcer I'd been secluded rhere awhile, brooding ws my enemls success, foorsteps iDtruded: Mrs. Mary Taylor wheelwright, who stoppedbefore a mirrot smacked he( face with. powder puff, rou8ed her anrique cheeks and then, perusing the
effect, announ ed: "Very nice, Mary. Even if Mary says so herselt" lr rs well knoM rhat women ouLLve menj could ,r merely be.upe-

ro go. Then retu.n. This rime he swifdy retrieved rhe carneo and sneaked it into his pocker. My boiling fiisr insriftrwas to rush out of the closet md challeoge him; at that momen!, I believe I codd have pimed Odd to the floor &t-well do you recalt how, in simpler days, funoy-paper arrisB used to illustrate the birrh ofm idea by skelchins an incandescenr lighc bulb above the brow ofMurc or JetT or whomever? That's how ic was with m.: a sizzting lighc bulb
suddenly radiated my brain. The shock and

rio. vsiry rh.r keeps rhem goingl An vay, Mrs. wheelMighr sweetened my mood, so when, following her depature, a heaitily rung dinner bell sounded through rhe house, I decided to quir my refuge

burn md shiver laugh, too. odd had huded me

brillidce ofir made me o ideal instru-

od

enjoy the feast, regardless

ofodd Henderson.

Bur just rhen foorseps echoed again. He appeared, looking less sulen than I'd ewr seen him. strutly. whisding. Unbuttoning his trousers and Ietcins so wich a forceful splarh, he whisded alotrg, jaunty ar a j+nd in a neu ofsunflowers. Ar he w..s leavirg, m open bo: on the bureau summoned his acrentior. Ir w6 a cigar box in which ny friend kepc recipes torn out of newspapers ud other junk, as well a a caneo brooch her father had long ago given her. senti" mentel lElue aside, her imagi.ation had conferred upotr the ob.iecc a raR cosr.iinss: wbenever w. had caue for seflous gri*ance agan* her sisters or Uncle B., she would san "Never mind, Buddy. we'll se[ my cameo and go away. we'll rake the bus co New orleans." Though ne\r discussirg what we would do once we arived in New orleans, or what we would live on after the cameo money rm out, we both relished this fanr6y. Perhes each ofus secredy realiu d rhe brooch was orny a Seds Roebuck noveltf all the same, ir seemed to ur a talisman of rrue, rhough unteste4 magic: a cham thac promised us our freedom ifindeed we did decide ro pursue our luck in falled spheres. so my friend never wore it, for ir w6 rco much a creasure co risk irs loss Now I saw Odd's serilegious firgers reach roward it, wacched him
boune it in the paLE of his hand, drop it

ment For reEnse, one that would make uP for all the cockleburs. In the dining room, long tables h.d bee. joined to shaPe a T. Uncte B. wd ac rhe upper cenrer, Mrs. Mary Taylor wheelmighr at his righ. md Mrs. Conklin at his hft. Odd was seated between rwo of .he Conklin sisrers, one ofthem Anoabel, whos. complimenrs kept him in rop condicion. My friend had put hetselfar the fooc oftbe
rabie mong the youngest children; accotding ro her, she had chosen rhe position because ir provided qui.ker ecess to the kirchen, but of course it war be.ause rhat was where she wished to be Queenie, who

had somehow gor loose, \,!s under the ralle-.rembling and wasging wi.h ecsrasy s she skittered becween che rows of legs but oobody seemed to object, ptobably because they were hr?norized by che uncared, iuriously glazed turkel's aad the ucellenc aromas rising rom dishes ofokraand corn, onion fricrers dd hor mince Pies. My om mouth would have wacered ifit hadn'c gone bone'dry at .he hedt-pounding prospect oftotal revenge. For a second, glancing ar odd Henderson\ suftused face, I experienced a fragmentary regret, bu.I rea.lly had oo qualms. Uncle B. recired grace. Head bowed, eyes shut, caloused hands prayerfully pked, he intoned: "Bless You, O Lord, for the bounty ofour table. rhe varied fruirs we cm be thankful for on rhis Thanks

giving Day of a troubled yee"-his voice, so infrequendy heard, roalcd wirh rhe hollow imperfeccions of an old orgm in an aban'
doned church "Amen."

btk

in rhe box and turn

260

261

THE CoMpLE TE SroRIES oF TRUMAN CAporE

THE THANI(s6rvrNc VrsrroR

and.aPkins rusded, che necessaiv pause I'd been tisre.ing for rrived. "someone here is a thiet" I sPoke clearly od repe.red the accusarion in even more measured tones: The.,
"Odd Henderson is a chiel He scole Miss Sook's cameo." Napkins glemed in suPended, immobilized hands. Men coughe4 rhe Conklin siscers ssped in quadrupler unison md little Perk Mccloud,Jr., began ro hiccup,
ded.
as very

6 chrrs were adjusred

Starting for che door, he sai4 "You mustbe a spe.ial ladn Miss Sook, co fib for me like chat." And chen, damn his soul, he walked righr out

young childre' Mll whe' smr-

My fliend, in a voice teerering between reProach and anguish,


sai4 "Buddy doesn't mean rhaL He's only reasing." "I do mean ir. Ifyou don't believe me, go look in your box' The cameo isnt there. Odd Henderson has it in his Pocker." "Buddy's had a bad crouP," she murmured "Don't blame him, odd. He hdn't a no.ion what he's saying." I said, "Go look in your box. I saw him r.ke it." Uncle 8., scaring .t me wirh u alaiming win$iness, took charge. "Maybe you'd bettet" he Eold Miss sook. "Tl'a' should sertle the
Ir was not ofteD lhat my friend disobeyed her brocher; she did not noq Bu! her pallor, the mortified mgle of her shoulders, revealed

so did L Except I ran. I pushed back my chair, knocking ir over The crarh Eriggered Que.nie; she scooted from under the cable, barked dd bared her reerh. AndMiss Sook, as I went part her, tried to srop me: "Buddy!" But I wured oo partofher or Queenie. That dog had snarled ar me md my friend had calrcn Odd Hendersorls side, she'd

lied to

save his skin, betrayed

our friendship, my loe: things I'd

rhought could never happen. simpso.'s palture Iay below rhe house, a meadow briliant with high November gold and russer grass. At the edge of the pascure rhere stre a gray bain, e pig corral, a fenced-in chicker ydd od a smokehouse. It wa! the smokehouse I slipped into, a black chamber
cool on even the hottes! summer days.Ii had a dirrfloor md a smoke pit that smelled of hickory cindets and oeosotq rows ofhams hung

eith what

disraste she accepced rhe errard. She was gone only a minute, but her absence seemed an eon. Hosrilitv sproured md surged aound the table Iike . thorn'encrusted vine growing vith unanny speed and the vic.im EraPPed in i* cendrils was not rhe accuse4 but his accuser. Stomach sickness griPPed mei odd, on the
ocher

\ry of, bur no\ its dark' grouad, my ribs heaving like the ness seemed sheltering. I fell on the gilts ofa beach*rranded fish; ad I didn'r care .hat I s"r demolishinsmyonenice suit, che onewich long trousers, by chrashing about on rhe floor in a messy miture ofearth and ashes dd pork greae.
from raftere. Ir was
a place

I'd always been

hdd,

seemedcalm

acorPse-

Miss sook rerurned snilirg. "Shme on rou, Buddy," she chided, shaking a finger. "Playing thac kiDd ofjoke My.aneo was exa.tly where I Iefr ir."

Uncle B. said, "Buddy,


guest,"

wmc

to hee you

apologize ro our

One thing I knew: I w6 goiog to quit that house, rhac rown, that oight. Hit rhe roed. Hop . freighc and head for California. Make my living shinins shoes in Holl}ryood. Fred Asraire's shoes. Clark cable\. or inaybe I just might become e movie srar myself Look ar Jarkie Cooper oh, thdd be sory rhen. vhen I Ir rich and famous and refused to answer thei. Ierrers md wen telegrams, probably. Suddenly I rhought of somerhing that would male rhem even solrier. The door to the shed v6 ajar, and a knife ofsunshine qposed a shelf supporring

weral bottles.

"No. he don't have to do chac," Odd Henderson said, rising. "He was telling rhe truth." He dug ioto his Pocket and Put the cameo ofl rhe rable. "I wish I had some excuse to give. Bur I ain'r got norc-"

md-crossbone labels.

IfI druk

Duscy bonles vith skullfrom one ofthose, then all ofthem

up there in rhe dining rcom, the whole swilling md gobbling caboo' dle, would know what sorry *"!. Ir ws rcrth i!, if only to witness

THE CoMpLETE

roRIEs oF TRUMAN CaPorE

THE TIANI(saTvING VISITOR

smokeUtrcle B.'s remorse when rhey found me cold endsriffon the 3nd wails Queeniet howls hose floor: wotth ic Eo hear che humd as ny coffin *s Iowered iflto cemetery dePths The only hit h s!, I wouldnt acrually be able ro see ot het aay

me, Buddy: chere is only one unpa.donable sin-delibeure wlry. else cm be forgiv.n. That, ftver. Do you understand me, Buddy?"

Al

of rhis: how could I, being dead? And unless one can obsetve the guilt and regret ofthe mourners, surely rhere is nothing sacisfacto'y
Uncle B. must have forbidden Miss Sook to go Iook for me until I heard rhe last guesr had left Ehe table. Ir was late afternoon before sofdv' forher voice floating across the Pa re; she caled Inv na'ne nor answer' and did I was lornly as a mourning dove l srayed where the sniffrng ho found me; she k war

I di4 din y, and rime has taught me thar she was righc. But at rhat domenc I mainly compreherded that because my revenge had failed, my merhod must have beer wrong. odd Henderson had emerged-how? why? as someone suPerior to me, even more honest. "Do you, Buddy? Undersrsd?" "sorroa PuU," I sai4 ofrering her one prongofthe wishbone.

ve split iq

my halfwas rhe larget which

e'titled

me ro a eish. She

wmred to know wha! I'd wished. "That ,ou're sril my ftiend."


"Dumbhead," she said, and hugsed se. "I worlt be here forevet Buddy. Nor will you." Her voice sank like the sun on rhe pasture's horizoD, *as silent a second aad then climbed with rhe scrength ofa new sun. "But yes, foreve. The Lond willing, you'll be here long .fter I've gone. And as long as you remember mq rhen we'tl alwals be together." . . . After{ar4 Odd Henderson let me alone. He starred tussling wirh
a boy his

Queenie

smokehouse and yapped when she caughr ard crawled towatd me and licked mv hard, an ear aad a cheek she knerv she had .reded me badly. Mv friend Presently, the door suung oPen and rhe [gh! widened she saw her When go to said, "Come here, Buddy." And I sanred to all me, she laughed. "Goodness, bov. You look diPPed in ta and readyfor featherrng But there were no lecrrminr'ions or references
cows; and rrailirg after her Queenie Eorted orT ro pesrer some stumP a lree "I saved 1'ou a druninro the pasture, lve sat down on stick," she said, handing me 3 Parcel M'PPed in waxed PaPei 'And your frvoure Piece ofNrkey. The pullev" a The hunger thar drenensrnons hed numbed nos hrr me Irke pullev' che belly-punch. t gnawed the drumstick clean, rhen stripped

'round 'me mv scent, rhen enrered

om

age,

squirrel McMillan. And the nexr year, because

of

odd's poor grades md general bad conduct, our school PrinciPat wouldnt allow hi,l to attend closes, so he spenr rhe winter wo.king as a hmd on a dairy farm. The last time I saw him xas shordy before he hirchhiked to Mobile, joined the Merchmr Marine and disaPpeded. Ir must have been rhe )tar before I w6 Packed off ro . miserable lace in a military academy, and rwo years prior to my friend's
dearh. Thac woutd make ic che aurumn of 1934. Miss Sook had sumlioned me to che garden; she had transplanced a blossoming chrysmthemum bush inro a tin washub and needed help ro haul it up the sreps onto the front porch, where it

the sweet part of rhe turkey around rhe wishbore' while r was earing, Miss Sook pur her am around mv shoulders nertr made a "There's just rhis I wdt co say, Buddy- Two wrongs .ight.It ss Mong ofhim to Eake the caneo But we don't know why le roor< it. l.laybe he nwer meant ro keeP ic' v'ha!!tt his reoon' ic

cm'c have been calculated. Whi.h is whv whar vou did was much
worse: ),ou

pLrr.d to humiliate him. It


261

was delibera'e Now listen !o

would make a frne display. k was heavier than forry fat pirates, rnd while we were struggling wich it ineffe.rually, odd Hendcrson pssed along lhe road. He paused ar the garden gate and thcn

265

OF TRUMAN THB COMPIBT! STORIES

CAPO,TE

::.:TJ ;,ili';"; 1;' * c":'''" i l'L:lii a ruddv brown "::;[' l",ll,,llJi.'* ".,""'g h"ideepened'ro rr on rhe Porc:"-*o o"'ed in ..-. neichborrv'1 ..i"hb "a.t"ot* Ji, '"a ff ;Gd to vou' sii rhat {a! ;"r?i'""i

--^--,r ir

you' <,vinq. "L'et me do rhar for

m"m

' Lite on 1

ry::-'l^.,::.I"* o'"0*' " n''''-*" 'n' .H:;li::iHil "


,*s::;"1""i1j;:i''J:fl.::Tffi
"
''Thank You, ma'rm t
her mY love

":11#: i;': ;il ;." y"':ral."-: J::1 ;::; r, *'* ,'"',ilIT."^II]***.*" *"y*
:

uu'

'.'. :*'Jlil1T::i:;:;T;:'-1:l rli:"T*,Tffi"*ffi o*n t**" .


1"."i "rJ*. r"",,

256

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