Free Shades of Gray by Tim O’Brien

and rested the side of the rail on the ground at the edge of the hole.
    Of course! Will thought. He’d use that as a lever!
    Uncle Jed put his weight on the end of the rail and lifted the post up several inches. “Slide the chain farther down now,” he directed.
    Will scrambled to do as he was asked. This wasn’t going to take as long as he had feared!
    Near midafternoon, they heard a call. “Will! Hey, Will!”
    Will looked up and saw Hank coming down the lane. Surprised, he waved.
    â€œThe mail stage brought a letter from Ohio, and Pa sent me over with it,” Hank called, waving an envelope.
    As Hank walked toward them, Uncle Jed turned to Will. “We’re going to keep right on working, you hear?”
    Will nodded, wondering why. He didn’t look up when he heard Hank walking through the tall grass to the fence, but out of the corner of his eye he could see him holding out the envelope.
    â€œHere’s your letter.” When Uncle Jed didn’t turn around, Hank stood there awkwardly and then said, “I guess it’s from Sam and Enos.” But still Uncle Jed just went on working.Finally, in desperation, the boy burst out, “Don’t you want your letter, Mr. Jones?”
    At that, Uncle Jed turned. “Oh, were you speaking to me?” he asked, reaching out for the letter.
    All at once, Will understood. His uncle had refused to respond until Hank called him by name! Well, he’d tricked Hank into saying “Mr. Jones,” but he’d never trick him into saying “Uncle Jed.”
    â€œIt was right neighborly of you to bring this all the way out here, Hank,” Uncle Jed said as he tore open the envelope.
    â€œPa said you’d been lookin’ for it for a while and I should bring it on out,” Hank mumbled.
    â€œWell, you tell your pa I’m much obliged,” he said. He read the letter quickly, then handed it to Will. “Take this in to your aunt. She’s been waiting a long time to hear from those boys.” Then, turning back to Hank, he said, “It was good talking to you after all this time.”
    Will started off toward the house and Hank followed. “How come it’s been so long since you and my uncle saw each other?” he asked, pausing to let Hank catch up.
    Hank looked sheepish and said, “Oh, we seen each other often enough. We just hadn’t talked.” Then, quickly changing the subject, he asked, “Say, Will, I was wondering if maybe I could see those buttons of yours.”
    â€œSure,” Will agreed cheerfully. “I’ll show you my father’s saber, too.”
    A moment later, Aunt Ella was poring over the letter and the boys were in the attic. Will took the saber and the leather pouch from their nail on the wall. He slipped the drawstring of the pouch around his wrist and carefully drew the long,curved blade from its scabbard. Even in the dim light of the attic, it gleamed.
    Hank was properly awed. “They gave my pa a bayonet for on his musket, but he never had no sword. Your pa ever kill anybody with that there sword?” he asked as Will slid the saber back into its scabbard and hung it on the wall.
    Will turned around. “Of course!” he said in surprise. “Didn’t yours ever kill anybody with his bayonet?”
    â€œNah,” said Hank.
    â€œWell, my father killed lots of Yankees with his saber and even more with his revolver.” As soon as the words were out, Will regretted their boastful tone. It didn’t seem quite right to brag about how many men Papa’d killed. “Let me show you the buttons,” he said quickly, emptying the contents of the pouch onto the floor.
    Hank dropped to his knees. “Look at ’em all!” he said, picking up a button embossed with an eagle and the letter C .
    â€œThat’s a Yankee button,” said Will. “I found that one on the battlefield at Kernstown.” He thought of