The Mandie Collection

The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Page B

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Authors: Lois Gladys Leppard
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tight. “Mandie, please, let’s don’t say harsh words to each other about this. Of course I was upset when we found the will giving you the house, because I wanted to get it back for you myself. I knew how much you wanted it, and you just can’t imagine how much I wanted to get it for you. But you will have the house soon, and that settles that.” He looked into her blue eyes and added, “Maybe there will be something else I can do for you someday.”
    Mandie quickly covered his hand with her free hand and said, “Joe, I am sorry. Please forgive me. I will try my best to behave better. Andyou don’t have to do anything else for me. Just be my friend. That’s more important than anything else.”
    â€œAnd I want you to be my friend, too, with maybe a deeper relationship when we grow up,” Joe said.
    They were both startled by Mrs. Taft’s voice as she came out onto the front porch. “I believe it’s about time to eat,” she was saying as she walked over to a rocking chair and sat down. “Has anyone returned yet—your mother, or Uncle John, or Uncle Ned, or Mr. Bond?”
    â€œNo, ma’am, Grandmother,” Mandie replied as she quickly withdrew her hands from Joe’s and sat up. “Nobody has come home yet.”
    At that moment Aunt Lou came to the front door, looked out, and said, “De food ready to serve, Miz Taft. Whut we gwine do ’bout nobody home yet?”
    Mrs. Taft looked at her and said, “Would it be possible for you to keep everything warm for just a little while longer? Maybe they’ll all be back soon.”
    â€œDon’t wanna wait too long. Food won’t be fittin’ to eat,” the big woman replied as she turned back into the hallway.
    They waited on the porch, and in a little while Aunt Lou came back again.
    â€œAin’t no sense in y’all lettin’ yo’ dinner go to waste jes’ ’cause de rest of dem ain’t home yet,” she told Mrs. Taft.
    Mrs. Taft rose and said, “All right, Aunt Lou, we’ll go ahead to the table.” Looking at Mandie and Joe, she added, “Let’s go eat now.”
    Mandie and Joe followed her to the dining room, and they all sat down at the table.
    â€œAunt Lou, just pass us something and then keep the food on the stove so it won’t get completely cold,” Mrs. Taft told the woman.
    â€œPeople oughta come home when it’s time to eat,” Aunt Lou grumbled as she and Liza passed the food around the table.
    â€œYou’re absolutely right, Aunt Lou,” Joe said emphatically as he dug into the squash on his plate.
    â€œEverybody is always here at mealtime. That’s one time that everyone shows up,” Mandie said as she buttered a biscuit. “There must be something important keeping them from getting back in time to eat.”
    â€œWe’ll find out when they return,” Mrs. Taft told her, sipping the coffee in her cup.
    Even though they were slow about eating, no one else had shown up by the time they finished the meal.
    â€œWell, I suppose we might as well begin searching the cellar,” Mandie said as the three of them rose from the table.
    â€œHow about a walk first?” Joe asked.
    Before Mandie could reply, Mrs. Taft said, “That sounds like a good idea. I’ll walk with you all.”
    Joe looked at Mandie and then at Mrs. Taft as he said, “Well, what I had in mind was just sorta rambling through the woods down toward the Burnses’ house.”
    Mandie spoke up. “That may be too far for Grandmother,” she said as she looked up at Mrs. Taft. They went into the hallway.
    â€œOh no, dear, I need some exercise. I’ve been in my room just about all morning,” the lady told her. “But let me go get a wrap and my hat. It may be cool in the woods.”
    â€œWe’ll wait for you on the front porch, Grandmother,” Mandie told her as Mrs.

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