Free Caleb's Wars by David L. Dudley Page A

ever forget.
    Over supper, Pop told us about his day, and then he and Ma discussed when Randall might be home and what we'd do during his visit. Of course Pop didn't ask about
my
day—that was part of my punishment.
    I waited until he had a mouth full of field peas. "I had a busy day, too, Pop."
    "So?"
    "Aunt Lou said I did a good job."
    "Huh."
    "She and Uncle Hiram are gonna quit unless Mr. Lee hires more help."
    "That ain't no concern o' mine. The man can hire a hundred more slaves if he want to. Or burn the place down. It don't matter a bit to me."
    "Look, Pop. I'm sorry I hurt your feelings."
    Pop looked up from his plate. "Hurt my feelings? Is that what you think?"
    "I don't know. Why can't you be glad I got my own job?"
    He put down his fork. "You call washin' dishes for the white folks a
job?
That ain't nothin' but nigger work! You don't make nothin', you don't learn nothin', and you don't count for nothin'."
    "I've washed plenty of dishes for them in my time," Ma noted. "Was that 'nigger work'? All those clean dishes helped put food on this table."
    "That different! Ain't no other kind o' work for Negro womens. You had to do it, and I'm thankful you did. But Caleb here—he had a choice, and he made a bad one. Ain't nothin' more to say."
    Enough was enough. I jumped up from the table and headed for the front door. If I didn't get out of there, I'd end up yelling at Pop, and that wouldn't end well.
    I threw open the door.
    And there was Randall.

CHAPTER EIGHT
    H EY, LITTLE BROTHER! " he exclaimed, grabbing my shoulders. "Where you goin' in such a big hurry?"
    I pulled the door shut behind me, too surprised to speak.
    "What'sa matter? This any way to welcome a soldier?"
    "What are you doing here?" I managed to ask.
    "I live here!"
    "Ma got your letter today. We didn't expect you so quick."
    "I thought I'd surprise y'all. Looks like I have."
    I took a deep breath. "Oh, man, it's good to see you."
    "Something wrong?"
    "Pop and I are fighting."
    "Just like always. What about?"
    "Later. Come on. They'll want to see you."
    Randall grinned. "Listen! You go back in and tell 'em you got something for 'em to see out here."
    "Okay."
    In the kitchen, Ma was pouring Pop some coffee.
    "Y'all come to the porch."
    "Why?" Ma asked.
    "Somebody wants to see you."
    "Who?"
    "I don't know, but he says it's important."
    "From the army? I pray nothing's wrong."
    Now I felt bad. I hadn't meant to scare her.
    "What's all this?" Pop asked.
    "Nothing bad. Just come on."
    Ma let out a little scream when she saw Randall, and then she had her arms around his neck. "You should have told us you were coming tonight," she exclaimed. "We only got your letter today."
    "I wanted to surprise you. When they gave us leave so quick, I decided to come on."
    "How you get here?" Pop asked.
    "Train to Augusta, then down to Waynesboro, then hitched a ride with a white guy taking a load of furniture to Savannah."
    "That was kind of him," Ma said.
    "He was all right. Said he was glad to help a fellow in uniform."
    "Of course he was. Oh, let me look at you, son. My goodness, you're handsome! And haven't you put on some weight?"
    "Twelve pounds."
    "You do look good," Pop agreed. "Come in the house and your ma'll fix you somethin' to eat. How long you gonna be home?"
    Ten days.
    "Caleb, get your brother's duffle bag." Pop didn't even look at me.
    "I still wish I'd known you were coming," Ma was saying. "I could have fried up a chicken. Well, tomorrow..."
    They went inside, and there I was, alone. It was great having Randall home, but for the next ten days, the world would center on him. I was the second son, left to tote my big brother's bag.
    Ma heated up what was left of supper, fried some fatback and eggs, and opened a jar of peaches she'd put up in the summer. It was the last one, and she'd been saving it for a special occasion.
    Randall went at it like he was starving, and they watched him like they'd never seen anyone eat before. Ma chattered about the Toad