Free The Girl. by Laura Lee Fall Page A

Saul?”
“Sure for a kid”, as he just kept ironing.
    Then looked at him thinking, um what should I say or how and smiling she said, “You know she
looks older than a kid and boys do notice them things”.
“Maybe Seth”, smirking.
“Well I am not asking Seth, you Saul”, pointing at him.
“Maw you know what I mean, shoot just seventeen”.
“What Saul does that mean?” Folding her arms.
    Poker faced, “Heck maw, you know, jail bait”, said Saul turning over his jeans.
“Oh like if you thought of her in that way”.
“Yep maw, I couldn’t”.
Raising her eyebrows high Brenda said, “Oh so you haven’t thought about her?”
“Look maw we are not down home any more”.
Brenda was quiet a minute and he added, “Times have changed”, really ironed the jeans now.
    Watching him almost burning his pants, Brenda added. “But did you notice her Saul?”
That rolled his bluest eyes, “Maw why all this, what’s wrong?”
“Nothing boy”, said Brenda waving her hand.
With a cocky tone he said, “Bull, I’m twenty, not dumb or dim-witted Shane either, do you think
I messed with her?”
Putting her hands up, “Oh no boy, I didn’t mean that Saul”, said Brenda shaking her head.
Outside on the porch, Paul Gene shook his head carving a piece of wood, as he heard, Saul
becomes upset and raises his voice.
He knew Brenda could not keep still and would say the wrong thing, as Ella with Saul’s brothers
are really into the game having fun.
    Inside.
“Maw, I am tired tonight, got a long night ahead with jerks probably”.
Brenda was silent, as he added, “I got women trouble”.
Breaking her minute of silence she said, “Gloria again boy, why do you even go around her”.
Made an ugly face mumbling, “Yuck trashy, wonder if she was Dana’s sister?”
“Maw please just stop”, and was really ironing in the same spot.
    Putting her one hand up said, “Sorry Saul, I apologize”, as he rolled his eyes.
Saul stopped ironing, and said, “Okay maw, what’s this really about, don’t play games, because
you never did”.
“It’s nothing boy”, and went to walk out when he ran up to her saying, “Please maw what is this
about?” Now curious.
“Just do not ever hurt her”.
    Dumbfounded, Saul asked, “Who?” Then saw Brenda watching the game outside and gives a
slight smirk asking, “Is that it maw, Ella likes me?”
“I told you nothing boy”, and Brenda walked outside.
Paul Gene said, “Aw woman tell you a secret just forget it”, shaking his head.
    Grabbing her knitting sitting back down, Brenda said, “Oh hush already Paul Gene, because you
drowned”, and he smiled, Brenda went back to knitting and appeared worried.
Saul finished his ironing with a smile and said, “Boy I got it, girls really do go for me”.
    Rushing in grabbing a huge drink of water and out of breath Shane asked, “Got what bro?”
“It Shane”, and flexed his arms at his brother who almost choked on the water from laughing at
Saul?
“You’re a goof”, filling the glass with more water, Saul waved his hand at his brother walking out
of the kitchen still carrying on saying, “I got it, girls dig me!”
Shane shook his head at his brother taking a huge drink.
    Back outside.
Holding the ball Seth yelled, “Come on Shane you wimp”.
That took a final big drink rushing back out to the game when Seth on accident threw the ball
hitting Ella in her nose instantly blood was running down.
“Aw, I am sorry Ella”, said Seth uneasily and Ella held her nose.
    Sebastian whipped the ball hard at Seth and said, “Way to go little brother, she is not a boy”.
Noticing blood running, Shane said, “Let’s get her in”, as Seth held his stomach saying, “Owe
Sebastian did you have to do that”.
Brenda runs in the house fast getting a rag with Paul Gene following.
    Ella sat on the kitchen chair and Paul Gene said, “I think it will not stop, we may need to
squeeze”.
“Paw she is a girl”, said Seth excitedly.
Grinning