AGoodManisHardtoFind

byFlanneryO'Connor
From:FlanneryO'Connor:CollectedWorkstheLibraryofAmerica
FlanneryO'Connor19251964

AGoodManIsHardtoFind
(c)1953,1954
THEGRANDMOTHERdidn'twanttogotoFlorida.Shewantedtovisitsomeofher
connectionsineastTennesseeandshewasseizingateverychancetochangeBailey's
mind.Baileywasthesonshelivedwith,heronlyboy.Hewassittingontheedgeof
hischairatthetable,bentovertheorangesportssectionoftheJournal."Nowlook
here,Bailey,"shesaid,"seehere,readthis,"andshestoodwithonehandonherthin
hipandtheotherrattlingthenewspaperathisbaldhead."Herethisfellowthatcalls
himselfTheMisfitisaloosefromtheFederalPenandheadedtowardFloridaandyou
readherewhatitsayshedidtothesepeople.Justyoureadit.Iwouldn'ttakemy
childreninanydirectionwithacriminallikethatalooseinit.Icouldn'tanswertomy
conscienceifIdid."
Baileydidn'tlookupfromhisreadingsoshewheeledaroundthenandfacedthe
children'smother,ayoungwomaninslacks,whosefacewasasbroadandinnocentas
acabbageandwastiedaroundwithagreenheadkerchiefthathadtwopointsonthe
toplikerabbit'sears.Shewassittingonthesofa,feedingthebabyhisapricotsoutofa
jar."ThechildrenhavebeentoFloridabefore,"theoldladysaid."Youalloughtto
takethemsomewhereelseforachangesotheywouldseedifferentpartsoftheworld
andbebroad.TheyneverhavebeentoeastTennessee."
Thechildren'smotherdidn'tseemtohearherbuttheeightyearoldboy,JohnWesley,
astockychildwithglasses,said,"Ifyoudon'twanttogotoFlorida,whydontchastay
athome?"Heandthelittlegirl,JuneStar,werereadingthefunnypapersonthefloor.
"Shewouldn'tstayathometobequeenforaday,"JuneStarsaidwithoutraisingher
yellowhead.

"Yesandwhatwouldyoudoifthisfellow,TheMisfit,caughtyou?"thegrandmother
asked.
"I'dsmackhisface,"JohnWesleysaid.
"Shewouldn'tstayathomeforamillionbucks,"JuneStarsaid."Afraidshe'dmiss
something.Shehastogoeverywherewego."
"Allright,Miss,"thegrandmothersaid."Justrememberthatthenexttimeyouwant
metocurlyourhair."
JuneStarsaidherhairwasnaturallycurly.
Thenextmorningthegrandmotherwasthefirstoneinthecar,readytogo.Shehad
herbigblackvalisethatlookedliketheheadofahippopotamusinonecorner,and
underneathitshewashidingabasketwithPittySing,thecat,init.Shedidn'tintend
forthecattobeleftaloneinthehouseforthreedaysbecausehewouldmisshertoo
muchandshewasafraidhemightbrushagainstoneofthegasburnersand
accidentallyasphyxiatehimself.Herson,Bailey,didn'tliketoarriveatamotelwitha
cat.
ShesatinthemiddleofthebackseatwithJohnWesleyandJuneStaroneithersideof
her.Baileyandthechildren'smotherandthebabysatinfrontandtheyleftAtlantaat
eightfortyfivewiththemileageonthecarat55890.Thegrandmotherwrotethis
downbecauseshethoughtitwouldbeinterestingtosayhowmanymilestheyhad
beenwhentheygotback.Ittookthemtwentyminutestoreachtheoutskirtsofthe
city.
Theoldladysettledherselfcomfortably,removingherwhitecottonglovesand
puttingthemupwithherpurseontheshelfinfrontofthebackwindow.The
children'smotherstillhadonslacksandstillhadherheadtiedupinagreenkerchief,
butthegrandmotherhadonanavybluestrawsailorhatwithabunchofwhiteviolets
onthebrimandanavybluedresswithasmallwhitedotintheprint.Hercollarsand
cuffswerewhiteorgandytrimmedwithlaceandathernecklineshehadpinneda
purplesprayofclothvioletscontainingasachet.Incaseofanaccident,anyoneseeing
herdeadonthehighwaywouldknowatoncethatshewasalady.
Shesaidshethoughtitwasgoingtobeagooddayfordriving,neithertoohotnortoo
cold,andshecautionedBaileythatthespeedlimitwasfiftyfivemilesanhourand
thatthepatrolmenhidthemselvesbehindbillboardsandsmallclumpsoftreesand

spedoutafteryoubeforeyouhadachancetoslowdown.Shepointedoutinteresting
detailsofthescenery:StoneMountain;thebluegranitethatinsomeplacescameup
tobothsidesofthehighway;thebrilliantredclaybanksslightlystreakedwithpurple;
andthevariouscrops
thatmaderowsofgreenlaceworkontheground.Thetreeswerefullofsilverwhite
sunlightandthemeanestofthemsparkled.Thechildrenwerereadingcomic
magazinesandtheirmotherhadgonebacktosleep.
"Let'sgothroughGeorgiafastsowewon'thavetolookatitmuch,"JohnWesleysaid.
"IfIwerealittleboy,"saidthegrandmother,"Iwouldn'ttalkaboutmynativestate
thatway.TennesseehasthemountainsandGeorgiahasthehills."
"Tennesseeisjustahillbillydumpingground,"JohnWesleysaid,"andGeorgiaisa
lousystatetoo."
"Yousaidit,"JuneStarsaid.
"Inmytime,"saidthegrandmother,foldingherthinveinedfingers,"childrenwere
morerespectfuloftheirnativestatesandtheirparentsandeverythingelse.Peopledid
rightthen.Ohlookatthecutelittlepickaninny!"shesaidandpointedtoaNegrochild
standinginthedoorofashack."Wouldn'tthatmakeapicture,now?"sheaskedand
theyallturnedandlookedatthelittleNegrooutofthebackwindow.Hewaved.
"Hedidn'thaveanybritcheson,"JuneStarsaid.
"Heprobablydidn'thaveany,"thegrandmotherexplained."Littleniggersinthe
countrydon'thavethingslikewedo.IfIcouldpaint,I'dpaintthatpicture,"shesaid.
Thechildrenexchangedcomicbooks.
Thegrandmotherofferedtoholdthebabyandthechildren'smotherpassedhimover
thefrontseattoher.Shesethimonherkneeandbouncedhimandtoldhimaboutthe
thingstheywerepassing.Sherolledhereyesandscreweduphermouthandstuckher
leatherythinfaceintohissmoothblandone.Occasionallyhegaveherafaraway
smile.Theypassedalargecottonfieldwithfiveorsixgravesfencedinthemiddleof
it,likeasmallisland."Lookatthegraveyard!"thegrandmothersaid,pointingitout.
"Thatwastheoldfamilyburyingground.Thatbelongedtotheplantation."
"Where'stheplantation?"JohnWesleyasked.

"GoneWiththeWind,"saidthegrandmother."Ha.Ha."
Whenthechildrenfinishedallthecomicbookstheyhadbrought,theyopenedthe
lunchandateit.Thegrandmotherateapeanutbuttersandwichandanoliveand
wouldnotletthechildrenthrowtheboxandthepapernapkinsoutthewindow.When
therewasnothingelsetodotheyplayedagamebychoosingacloudandmakingthe
othertwoguesswhatshapeitsuggested.JohnWesleytookonetheshapeofacow
andJuneStarguessedacowandJohnWesleysaid,no,anautomobile,andJuneStar
saidhedidn'tplayfair,andtheybegantoslapeachotheroverthegrandmother.
Thegrandmothersaidshewouldtellthemastoryiftheywouldkeepquiet.Whenshe
toldastory,sherolledhereyesandwavedherheadandwasverydramatic.Shesaid
oncewhenshewasamaidenladyshehadbeencourtedbyaMr.EdgarAtkins
TeagardenfromJasper,Georgia.Shesaidhewasaverygoodlookingmananda
gentlemanandthathebroughtherawatermeloneverySaturdayafternoonwithhis
initialscutinit,E.A.T.Well,oneSaturday,shesaid,Mr.Teagardenbroughtthe
watermelonandtherewasnobodyathomeandheleftitonthefrontporchand
returnedinhisbuggytoJasper,butshenevergotthewatermelon,shesaid,becausea
niggerboyateitwhenhesawtheinitials,E.A.T.!ThisstorytickledJohnWesley's
funnyboneandhegiggledandgiggledbutJuneStardidn'tthinkitwasanygood.She
saidshewouldn'tmarryamanthatjustbroughtherawatermelononSaturday.The
grandmothersaidshewouldhavedonewelltomarryMr.Teagardenbecausehewasa
gentlemanandhadboughtCocaColastockwhenitfirstcameoutandthathehad
diedonlyafewyearsago,averywealthyman.
TheystoppedatTheTowerforbarbecuedsandwiches.TheTowerwasapartstucco
andpartwoodfillingstationanddancehallsetinaclearingoutsideofTimothy.Afat
mannamedRedSammyButtsranitandthereweresignsstuckhereandthereonthe
buildingandformilesupanddownthehighwaysaying,TRYREDSAMMY'S
FAMOUSBARBECUE.NONELIKEFAMOUSREDSAMMY'S!REDSAM!THE
FATBOYWITHTHEHAPPYLAUGH.AVETERAN!REDSAMMY'SYOUR
MAN!
RedSammywaslyingonthebaregroundoutsideTheTowerwithhisheadundera
truckwhileagraymonkeyaboutafoothigh,chainedtoasmallchinaberrytree,
chatterednearby.Themonkeysprangbackintothetreeandgotonthehighestlimbas
soonashesawthechildrenjumpoutofthecarandruntowardhim.
Inside,TheTowerwasalongdarkroomwithacounteratoneendandtablesatthe
otheranddancingspaceinthemiddle.Theyallsatdownataboardtablenexttothe

nickelodeonandRedSam'swife,atallburntbrownwomanwithhairandeyeslighter
thanherskin,cameandtooktheirorder.Thechildren'smotherputadimeinthe
machineandplayed"TheTennesseeWaltz,"andthegrandmothersaidthattune
alwaysmadeherwanttodance.SheaskedBaileyifhewouldliketodancebuthe
onlyglaredather.Hedidn'thaveanaturallysunnydispositionlikeshedidandtrips
madehimnervous.Thegrandmother'sbrowneyeswereverybright.Sheswayedher
headfromsidetosideandpretendedshewasdancinginherchair.JuneStarsaidplay
somethingshecouldtaptosothechildren'smotherputinanotherdimeandplayeda
fastnumberandJuneStarsteppedoutontothedanceflooranddidhertaproutine.
"Ain'tshecute?"RedSam'swifesaid,leaningoverthecounter."Wouldyouliketo
comebemylittlegirl?"
"NoIcertainlywouldn't,"JuneStarsaid."Iwouldn'tliveinabrokendownplacelike
thisforaminionbucks!"andsheranbacktothetable.
"Ain'tshecute?"thewomanrepeated,stretchinghermouthpolitely.
"Arn'tyouashamed?"hissedthegrandmother.
RedSamcameinandtoldhiswifetoquitloungingonthecounterandhurryupwith
thesepeople'sorder.Hiskhakitrousersreachedjusttohishipbonesandhisstomach
hungoverthemlikeasackofmealswayingunderhisshirt.Hecameoverandsat
downatatablenearbyandletoutacombinationsighandyodel."Youcan'twin,"he
said."Youcan'twin,"andhewipedhissweatingredfaceoffwithagray
handkerchief."Thesedaysyoudon'tknowwhototrust,"hesaid."Ain'tthatthe
truth?"
"Peoplearecertainlynotniceliketheyusedtobe,"saidthegrandmother.
"Twofellerscomeinherelastweek,"RedSammysaid,"drivingaChrysler.Itwasa
oldbeatupcarbutitwasagoodoneandtheseboyslookedallrighttome.Saidthey
workedatthemillandyouknowIletthemfellerschargethegastheybought?Now
whydidIdothat?"
"Becauseyou'reagoodman!"thegrandmothersaidatonce.
"Yes'm,Isupposeso,"RedSamsaidasifhewerestruckwiththisanswer.
Hiswifebroughttheorders,carryingthefiveplatesallatoncewithoutatray,twoin
eachhandandonebalancedonherarm."Itisn'tasoulinthisgreenworldofGod's

thatyoucantrust,"shesaid."AndIdon'tcountnobodyoutofthat,notnobody,"she
repeated,lookingatRedSammy.
"Didyoureadaboutthatcriminal,TheMisfit,that'sescaped?"askedthegrandmother.
"Iwouldn'tbeabitsurprisedifhedidn'tattactthisplacerighthere,"saidthewoman.
"Ifhehearsaboutitbeinghere,Iwouldn'tbenonesurprisedtoseehim.Ifhehearsit's
twocentinthecashregister,Iwouldn'tbeatallsurprisedifhe..."
"That'lldo,"RedSamsaid."GobringthesepeopletheirCo'Colas,"andthewoman
wentofftogettherestoftheorder.
"Agoodmanishardtofind,"RedSammysaid."Everythingisgettingterrible.I
rememberthedayyoucouldgooffandleaveyourscreendoorunlatched.Notno
more."
Heandthegrandmotherdiscussedbettertimes.Theoldladysaidthatinheropinion
Europewasentirelytoblameforthewaythingswerenow.ShesaidthewayEurope
actedyouwouldthinkweweremadeofmoneyandRedSamsaiditwasnouse
talkingaboutit,shewasexactlyright.Thechildrenranoutsideintothewhitesunlight
andlookedatthemonkeyinthelacychinaberrytree.Hewasbusycatchingfleason
himselfandbitingeachonecarefullybetweenhisteethasifitwereadelicacy.
Theydroveoffagainintothehotafternoon.Thegrandmothertookcatnapsand
wokeupeveryfewminuteswithherownsnoring.OutsideofToombsboroshewoke
upandrecalledanoldplantationthatshehadvisitedinthisneighborhoodoncewhen
shewasayounglady.Shesaidthehousehadsixwhitecolumnsacrossthefrontand
thattherewasanavenueofoaksleadinguptoitandtwolittlewoodentrellisarbors
oneithersideinfrontwhereyousatdownwithyoursuitorafterastrollinthegarden.
Sherecalledexactlywhichroadtoturnofftogettoit.SheknewthatBaileywould
notbewillingtoloseanytimelookingatanoldhouse,butthemoreshetalkedabout
it,themoreshewantedtoseeitonceagainandfindoutifthelittletwinarborswere
stillstanding."Therewasasecretpanelinthishouse,"shesaidcraftily,nottellingthe
truthbutwishingthatshewere,"andthestorywentthatallthefamilysilverwas
hiddeninitwhenShermancamethroughbutitwasneverfound..."
"Hey!"JohnWesleysaid."Let'sgoseeit!We'llfindit!We'llpokeallthewoodwork
andfindit!Wholivesthere?Wheredoyouturnoffat?HeyPop,can'tweturnoff
there?"

"Weneverhaveseenahousewithasecretpanel!"JuneStarshrieked."Let'sgotothe
housewiththesecretpanel!HeyPop,can'twegoseethehousewiththesecret
panel!"
"It'snotfarfromhere,Iknow,"thegrandmothersaid."Itwouldn'ttakeovertwenty
minutes."
Baileywaslookingstraightahead.Hisjawwasasrigidasahorseshoe."No,"hesaid.
Thechildrenbegantoyellandscreamthattheywantedtoseethehousewiththe
secretpanel.JohnWesleykickedthebackofthefrontseatandJuneStarhungover
hermother'sshoulderandwhineddesperatelyintoherearthattheyneverhadanyfun
evenontheirvacation,thattheycouldneverdowhatTHEYwantedtodo.Thebaby
begantoscreamandJohnWesleykickedthebackoftheseatsohardthathisfather
couldfeeltheblowsinhiskidney.
"Allright!"heshoutedanddrewthecartoastopatthesideoftheroad."Willyouall
shutup?Willyoualljustshutupforonesecond?Ifyoudon'tshutup,wewon'tgo
anywhere.
"Itwouldbeveryeducationalforthem,"thegrandmothermurmured.
"Allright,"Baileysaid,"butgetthis:thisistheonlytimewe'regoingtostopfor
anythinglikethis.Thisistheoneandonlytime."
"Thedirtroadthatyouhavetoturndownisaboutamileback,"thegrandmother
directed."Imarkeditwhenwepassed."
"Adirtroad,"Baileygroaned.
Aftertheyhadturnedaroundandwereheadedtowardthedirtroad,thegrandmother
recalledotherpointsaboutthehouse,thebeautifulglassoverthefrontdoorwayand
thecandlelampinthehall.JohnWesleysaidthatthesecretpanelwasprobablyinthe
fireplace.
"Youcan'tgoinsidethishouse,"Baileysaid."Youdon'tknowwholivesthere."
"Whileyoualltalktothepeopleinfront,I'llrunaroundbehindandgetinawindow,"
JohnWesleysuggested.

"We'llallstayinthecar,"hismothersaid.Theyturnedontothedirtroadandthecar
racedroughlyalonginaswirlofpinkdust.Thegrandmotherrecalledthetimeswhen
therewerenopavedroadsandthirtymileswasaday'sjourney.Thedirtroadwas
hillyandthereweresuddenwashesinitandsharpcurvesondangerousembankments.
Allatoncetheywouldbeonahill,lookingdownoverthebluetopsoftreesformiles
around,thenthenextminute,theywouldbeinareddepressionwiththedustcoated
treeslookingdownonthem.
"Thisplacehadbetterturnupinaminute,"Baileysaid,"orI'mgoingtoturnaround."
Theroadlookedasifnoonehadtraveledonitinmonths.
"It'snotmuchfarther,"thegrandmothersaidandjustasshesaidit,ahorriblethought
cametoher.Thethoughtwassoembarrassingthatsheturnedredinthefaceandher
eyesdilatedandherfeetjumpedup,upsettinghervaliseinthecorner.Theinstantthe
valisemoved,thenewspapertopshehadoverthebasketunderitrosewithasnarland
PittySing,thecat,sprangontoBailey'sshoulder.
Thechildrenwerethrowntothefloorandtheirmother,clutchingthebaby,was
thrownoutthedoorontotheground;theoldladywasthrownintothefrontseat.The
carturnedoveronceandlandedrightsideupinagulchoffthesideoftheroad.
Baileyremainedinthedriver'sseatwiththecatgraystripedwithabroadwhiteface
andanorangenoseclingingtohisnecklikeacaterpillar.
Assoonasthechildrensawtheycouldmovetheirarmsandlegs,theyscrambledout
ofthecar,shouting,"We'vehadanACCIDENT!"Thegrandmotherwascurledup
underthedashboard,hopingshewasinjuredsothatBailey'swrathwouldnotcome
downonherallatonce.Thehorriblethoughtshehadhadbeforetheaccidentwasthat
thehouseshehadrememberedsovividlywasnotinGeorgiabutinTennessee.
Baileyremovedthecatfromhisneckwithbothhandsandflungitoutthewindow
againstthesideofapinetree.Thenhegotoutofthecarandstartedlookingforthe
children'smother.Shewassittingagainstthesideoftheredguttedditch,holdingthe
screamingbaby,butsheonlyhadacutdownherfaceandabrokenshoulder."We've
hadanACCIDENT!"thechildrenscreamedinafrenzyofdelight.
"Butnobody'skilled,"JuneStarsaidwithdisappointmentasthegrandmotherlimped
outofthecar,herhatstillpinnedtoherheadbutthebrokenfrontbrimstandingupat
ajauntyangleandthevioletsprayhangingofftheside.Theyallsatdownintheditch,
exceptthechildren,torecoverfromtheshock.Theywereallshaking.

"Maybeacarwillcomealong,"saidthechildren'smotherhoarsely.
"IbelieveIhaveinjuredanorgan,"saidthegrandmother,pressingherside,butno
oneansweredher.Bailey'steethwereclattering.Hehadonayellowsportshirtwith
brightblueparrotsdesignedinitandhisfacewasasyellowasthelshirt.The
grandmotherdecidedthatshewouldnotmentionthatthehousewasinTennessee.
Theroadwasabouttenfeetaboveandtheycouldseeonlythetopsofthetreesonthe
othersideofit.Behindtheditchtheyweresittinginthereweremorewoods,talland
darkanddeep.Inafewminutestheysawacarsomedistanceawayontopofahill,
comingslowlyasiftheoccupantswerewatchingthem.Thegrandmotherstoodup
andwavedbotharmsdramaticallytoattracttheirattention.Thecarcontinuedtocome
onslowly,disappearedaroundabendandappearedagain,movingevenslower,on
topofthehilltheyhadgoneover.Itwasabigblackbatteredhearselikeautomobile.
Therewerethreemeninit.
Itcametoastopjustoverthemandforsomeminutes,thedriverlookeddownwitha
steadyexpressionlessgazetowheretheyweresitting,anddidn'tspeak.Thenhe
turnedhisheadandmutteredsomethingtotheothertwoandtheygotout.Onewasa
fatboyinblacktrousersandaredsweatshirtwithasilverstallionembossedonthe
frontofit.Hemovedaroundontherightsideofthemandstoodstaring,hismouth
partlyopeninakindofloosegrin.Theotherhadonkhakipantsandabluestriped
coatandagrayhatpulleddownverylow,hidingmostofhisface.Hecamearound
slowlyontheleftside.Neitherspoke.
Thedrivergotoutofthecarandstoodbythesideofit,lookingdownatthem.Hewas
anoldermanthantheothertwo.Hishairwasjustbeginningtograyandhewore
silverrimmedspectaclesthatgavehimascholarlylook.Hehadalongcreasedface
anddidn'thaveonanyshirtorundershirt.Hehadonbluejeansthatweretootightfor
himandwasholdingablackhatandagun.Thetwoboysalsohadguns.
"We'vehadanACCIDENT!"thechildrenscreamed.
Thegrandmotherhadthepeculiarfeelingthatthebespectacledmanwassomeoneshe
knew.Hisfacewasasfamiliartoherasifshehadknownhimauherlifebutshe
couldnotrecallwhohewas.Hemovedawayfromthecarandbegantocomedown
theembankment,placinghisfeetcarefullysothathewouldn'tslip.Hehadontanand
whiteshoesandnosocks,andhisankleswereredandthin."Goodafternoon,"hesaid.
"Iseeyouallhadyoualittlespill."

"Weturnedovertwice!"saidthegrandmother.
"Once","hecorrected."Weseenithappen.Trytheircarandseewillitrun,Hiram,"
hesaidquietlytotheboywiththegrayhat.
"Whatyougotthatgunfor?"JohnWesleyasked."Whatchagonnadowiththatgun?"
"Lady,"themansaidtothechildren'smother,"wouldyoumindcallingthemchildren
tositdownbyyou?Childrenmakemenervous.Iwantallyoualltositdownright
togethertherewhereyou'reat."
"WhatareyoutellingUSwhattodofor?"JuneStarasked.
Behindthemthelineofwoodsgapedlikeadarkopenmouth."Comehere,"saidtheir
mother.
"Lookherenow,"Baileybegansuddenly,"we'reinapredicament!We'rein..."
Thegrandmothershrieked.Shescrambledtoherfeetandstoodstaring."You'reThe
Misfit!"shesaid."Irecognizedyouatonce!"
"Yes'm,"themansaid,smilingslightlyasifhewerepleasedinspiteofhimselftobe
known,"butitwouldhavebeenbetterforallofyou,lady,ifyouhadn'tofreckernized
me."
Baileyturnedhisheadsharplyandsaidsomethingtohismotherthatshockedeventhe
children.TheoldladybegantocryandTheMisfitreddened.
"Lady,"hesaid,"don'tyougetupset.Sometimesamansaysthingshedon'tmean.I
don'treckonhemeanttotalktoyouthataway."
"Youwouldn'tshootalady,wouldyou?"thegrandmothersaidandremovedaclean
handkerchieffromhercuffandbegantoslapathereyeswithit.
TheMisfitpointedthetoeofhisshoeintothegroundandmadealittleholeandthen
covereditupagain."Iwouldhatetohaveto,"hesaid.
"Listen,"thegrandmotheralmostscreamed,"Iknowyou'reagoodman.Youdon't
lookabitlikeyouhavecommonblood.Iknowyoumustcomefromnicepeople!"

"Yesmam,"hesaid,"finestpeopleintheworld."Whenhesmiledheshowedarowof
strongwhiteteeth."Godnevermadeafinerwomanthanmymotherandmydaddy's
heartwaspuregold,"hesaid.Theboywiththeredsweatshirthadcomearound
behindthemandwasstandingwithhisgunathiship.TheMisfitsquatteddownon
theground."Watchthemchildren,BobbyLee,"hesaid."Youknowtheymakeme
nervous."Helookedatthesixofthemhuddledtogetherinfrontofhimandheseemed
tobeembarrassedasifhecouldn'tthinkofanythingtosay."Ain'tacloudinthesky,"
heremarked,lookingupatit."Don'tseenosunbutdon'tseenocloudneither."
"Yes,it'sabeautifulday,"saidthegrandmother."Listen,"shesaid,"youshouldn'tcall
yourselfTheMisfitbecauseIknowyou'reagoodmanatheart.Icanjustlookatyou
andtell"
"Hush!"Baileyyelled."Hush!Everybodyshutupandletmehandlethis!"Hewas
squattinginthepositionofarunnerabouttosprintforwardbuthedidn'tmove.
"Iprechatethat,lady,"TheMisfitsaidanddrewalittlecircleinthegroundwiththe
buttofhisgun.
"It'lltakeahalfahourtofixthisherecar,"Hiramcalled,lookingovertheraisedhood
ofit.
"Well,firstyouandBobbyLeegethimandthatlittleboytostepoveryonderwith
you,"TheMisfitsaid,pointingtoBaileyandJohnWesley."Theboyswanttoastyou
something,"hesaidtoBailey."Wouldyoumindsteppingbackinthemwoodsthere
withthem?"
"Listen,"Baileybegan,"we'reinaterriblepredicament!Nobodyrealizeswhatthis
is,"andhisvoicecracked.Hiseyeswereasblueandintenseastheparrotsinhisshirt
andheremainedperfectlystill.
Thegrandmotherreacheduptoadjustherhatbrimasifsheweregoingtothewoods
withhimbutitcameoffinherhand.Shestoodstaringatitandafterasecondshelet
itfallontheground.HirampulledBaileyupbythearmasifhewereassistinganold
man.JohnWesleycaughtholdofhisfather'shandandBobbyLeefollowed.They
wentofftowardthewoodsandjustastheyreachedthedarkedge,Baileyturnedand
supportinghimselfagainstagraynakedpinetrunk,heshouted,"I'llbebackina
minute,Mamma,waitonme!"
"Comebackthisinstant!"hismothershrilledbuttheyalldisappearedintothewoods.

"BaileyBoy!"thegrandmothercalledinatragicvoicebutshefoundshewaslooking
atTheMisfitsquattingonthegroundinfrontofher."Ijustknowyou'reagoodman,"
shesaiddesperately."You'renotabitcommon!"
"Nome,Iain'tagoodman,"TheMisfitsaidafterasecondasifhehadconsideredher
statementcarefully,"butIain'ttheworstintheworldneither.MydaddysaidIwasa
differentbreedofdogfrommybrothersandsisters.'Youknow,'Daddysaid,'it's
somethatcanlivetheirwholelifeoutwithoutaskingaboutitandit'sothershasto
knowwhyitis,andthisboyisoneofthelatters.He'sgoingtobeintoeverything!'"
Heputonhisblackhatandlookedupsuddenlyandthenawaydeepintothewoodsas
ifhewereembarrassedagain."I'msorryIdon'thaveonashirtbeforeyouladies,"he
said,hunchinghisshouldersslightly."Weburiedourclothesthatwehadonwhenwe
escapedandwe'rejustmakingdountilwecangetbetter.Weborrowedthesefrom
somefolkswemet,"heexplained.
"That'sperfectlyallright,"thegrandmothersaid."MaybeBaileyhasanextrashirtin
hissuitcase."
"I'lllookandseeterrectly,"TheMisfitsaid.
"Wherearetheytakinghim?"thechildren'smotherscreamed.
"Daddywasacardhimself,"TheMisfitsaid."Youcouldn'tputanythingoveronhim.
HenevergotintroublewiththeAuthoritiesthough.Justhadtheknackofhandling
them."
"Youcouldbehonesttooifyou'donlytry,"saidthegrandmother."Thinkhow
wonderfulitwouldbetosettledownandliveacomfortablelifeandnothavetothink
aboutsomebodychasingyouallthetime."
TheMisfitkeptscratchinginthegroundwiththebuttofhisgunasifhewerethinking
aboutit."Yes'm,somebodyisalwaysafteryou,"hemurmured.
Thegrandmothernoticedhowthinhisshoulderbladeswerejustbehindhishat
becauseshewasstandinguplookingdownonhim."Doyoueverpray?"sheasked.
Heshookhishead.Allshesawwastheblackhatwigglebetweenhisshoulderblades.
"Nome,"hesaid.

Therewasapistolshotfromthewoods,followedcloselybyanother.Thensilence.
Theoldlady'sheadjerkedaround.Shecouldhearthewindmovethroughthetree
topslikealongsatisfiedinsuckofbreath."BaileyBoy!"shecalled.
"Iwasagospelsingerforawhile,"TheMisfitsaid."Ibeenmosteverything.Beenin
thearmservice,bothlandandsea,athomeandabroad,beentwictmarried,beenan
undertaker,beenwiththerailroads,plowedMotherEarth,beeninatornado,seena
manburntaliveoncet,"andhelookedupatthechildren'smotherandthelittlegirl
whoweresittingclosetogether,theirfaceswhiteandtheireyesglassy;"Ievenseena
womanflogged,"hesaid.
"Pray,pray,"thegrandmotherbegan,"pray,pray..."
"IneverwasabadboythatIrememberof,"TheMisfitsaidinanalmostdreamy
voice,"butsomewheresalongthelineIdonesomethingwrongandgotsenttothe
penitentiary.Iwasburiedalive,"andhelookedupandheldherattentiontohimbya
steadystare.
"That'swhenyoushouldhavestartedtopray,"shesaid"Whatdidyoudotogetsent
tothepenitentiarythatfirsttime?"
"Turntotheright,itwasawall,"TheMisfitsaid,lookingupagainatthecloudless
sky."Turntotheleft,itwasawall.Lookupitwasaceiling,lookdownitwasafloor.
IforgetwhatIdone,lady.Isetthereandsetthere,tryingtorememberwhatitwasI
doneandIain'trecalledittothisday.Oncetinawhile,Iwouldthinkitwascomingto
me,butitnevercome."
"Maybetheyputyouinbymistake,"theoldladysaidvaguely.
"Nome,"hesaid."Itwasn'tnomistake.Theyhadthepapersonme."
"Youmusthavestolensomething,"shesaid.
TheMisfitsneeredslightly."NobodyhadnothingIwanted,"hesaid."Itwasahead
doctoratthepenitentiarysaidwhatIhaddonewaskillmydaddybutIknownthatfor
alie.MydaddydiedinnineteenoughtnineteenoftheepidemicfluandIneverhada
thingtodowithit.HewasburiedintheMountHopewellBaptistchurchyardandyou
cangothereandseeforyourself."
"Ifyouwouldpray,"theoldladysaid,"Jesuswouldhelpyou."

"That'sright,"TheMisfitsaid.
"Wellthen,whydon'tyoupray?"sheaskedtremblingwithdelightsuddenly.
"Idon'twantnohelp,"hesaid."I'mdoingallrightbymyself."
BobbyLeeandHiramcameamblingbackfromthewoods.BobbyLeewasdragging
ayellowshirtwithbrightblueparrotsinit.
"Throwmethatshirt,BobbyLee,"TheMisfitsaid.Theshirtcameflyingathimand
landedonhisshoulderandheputiton.Thegrandmothercouldn'tnamewhattheshirt
remindedherof."No,lady,"TheMisfitsaidwhilehewasbuttoningitup,"Ifound
outthecrimedon'tmatter.Youcandoonethingoryoucandoanother,killamanor
takeatireoffhiscar,becausesoonerorlateryou'regoingtoforgetwhatitwasyou
doneandjustbepunishedforit."
Thechildren'smotherhadbeguntomakeheavingnoisesasifshecouldn'tgether
breath."Lady,"heasked,"wouldyouandthatlittlegirlliketostepoffyonderwith
BobbyLeeandHiramandjoinyourhusband?"
"Yes,thankyou,"themothersaidfaintly.Herleftarmdangledhelplesslyandshewas
holdingthebaby,whohadgonetosleep,intheother."Helpthatladyup,Hiram,"The
Misfitsaidasshestruggledtoclimboutoftheditch,"andBobbyLee,youholdonto
thatlittlegirl'shand."
"Idon'twanttoholdhandswithhim,"JuneStarsaid."Heremindsmeofapig."
Thefatboyblushedandlaughedandcaughtherbythearmandpulledheroffintothe
woodsafterHiramandhermother.
AlonewithTheMisfit,thegrandmotherfoundthatshehadlosthervoice.Therewas
notacloudintheskynoranysun.Therewasnothingaroundherbutwoods.She
wantedtotellhimthathemustpray.Sheopenedandclosedhermouthseveraltimes
beforeanythingcameout.Finallyshefoundherselfsaying,"Jesus.Jesus,"meaning,
Jesuswillhelpyou,butthewayshewassayingit,itsoundedasifshemightbe
cursing.
"Yes'm,"TheMisfitsaidasifheagreed."Jesusshowneverythingoffbalance.Itwas
thesamecasewithHimaswithmeexceptHehadn'tcommittedanycrimeandthey
couldproveIhadcommittedonebecausetheyhadthepapersonme.Ofcourse,"he
said,"theynevershownmemypapers.That'swhyIsignmyselfnow.Isaidlongago,

yougetyouasignatureandsigneverythingyoudoandkeepacopyofit.Thenyou'll
knowwhatyoudoneandyoucanholdupthecrimetothepunishmentandseedothey
matchandintheendyou'llhavesomethingtoproveyouain'tbeentreatedright.Icall
myselfTheMisfit,"hesaid,"becauseIcan'tmakewhatallIdonewrongfitwhatallI
gonethroughinpunishment."
Therewasapiercingscreamfromthewoods,followedcloselybyapistolreport.
"Doesitseemrighttoyou,lady,thatoneispunishedaheapandanotherain't
punishedatall?"
"Jesus!"theoldladycried."You'vegotgoodblood!Iknowyouwouldn'tshoota
lady!Iknowyoucomefromnicepeople!Pray!Jesus,yououghtnottoshootalady.
I'llgiveyouallthemoneyI'vegot!"
"Lady,"TheMisfitsaid,lookingbeyondherfarintothewoods,"thereneverwasa
bodythatgivetheundertakeratip."
Thereweretwomorepistolreportsandthegrandmotherraisedherheadlikea
parchedoldturkeyhencryingforwaterandcalled,"BaileyBoy,BaileyBoy!"asif
herheartwouldbreak.
"JesuswastheonlyOnethateverraisedthedead,"TheMisfitcontinued,"andHe
shouldn'thavedoneit.Heshowneverythingoffbalance.IfHedidwhatHesaid,then
it'snothingforyoutodobutthrowawayeverythingandfollowHim,andifHedidn't,
thenit'snothingforyoutodobutenjoythefewminutesyougotleftthebestwayyou
canbykillingsomebodyorburningdownhishouseordoingsomeothermeannessto
him.Nopleasurebutmeanness,"hesaidandhisvoicehadbecomealmostasnarl.
"MaybeHedidn'traisethedead,"theoldladymumbled,notknowingwhatshewas
sayingandfeelingsodizzythatshesankdownintheditchwithherlegstwistedunder
her.
"Iwasn'ttheresoIcan'tsayHedidn't,"TheMisfitsaid."IwishtIhadofbeenthere,"
hesaid,hittingthegroundwithhisfist."Itain'trightIwasn'ttherebecauseifIhadof
beenthereIwouldofknown.Listenlady,"hesaidinahighvoice,"ifIhadofbeen
thereIwouldofknownandIwouldn'tbelikeIamnow."Hisvoiceseemedaboutto
crackandthegrandmother'sheadclearedforaninstant.Shesawtheman'sface
twistedclosetoherownasifheweregoingtocryandshemurmured,"Whyyou're
oneofmybabies.You'reoneofmyownchildren!"Shereachedoutandtouchedhim
ontheshoulder.TheMisfitsprangbackasifasnakehadbittenhimandshotherthree

timesthroughthechest.Thenheputhisgundownonthegroundandtookoffhis
glassesandbegantocleanthem.
HiramandBobbyLeereturnedfromthewoodsandstoodovertheditch,looking
downatthegrandmotherwhohalfsatandhalflayinapuddleofbloodwithherlegs
crossedunderherlikeachild'sandherfacesmilingupatthecloudlesssky.
Withouthisglasses,TheMisfit'seyeswereredrimmedandpaleanddefenseless
looking."Takeheroffandthowherwhereyoushowntheothers,"hesaid,pickingup
thecatthatwasrubbingitselfagainsthisleg.
"Shewasatalker,wasn'tshe?"BobbyLeesaid,slidingdowntheditchwithayodel.
"Shewouldofbeenagoodwoman,"TheMisfitsaid,"ifithadbeensomebodythere
toshoothereveryminuteofherlife."
"Somefun!"BobbyLeesaid.
"Shutup,BobbyLee"TheMisfitsaid."It'snorealpleasureinlife."