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"I'm still going to school, Grandpere," I said. I kept my back to him and Buster so neither would see the fear in my face or the tears that were starting to escape my lids and trickle down my cheeks.
"Aw, school ain't important anymore, not at your age. You've already gone longer than I did," Grandpere said. "And I bet longer than you did, huh, Buster?"
"That's for sure," Buster said, then laughed.
"All Buster had to learn was how to count the money comin' in, ain't that right, Buster?"
The two of them laughed.
"Buster's father is a sick man; his days are numbered and
Buster's going to inherit the whole thing, ain't you, Buster?"
"That's true and I deserve it, too," Buster said.
"Hear that, Ruby?" Grandpere said. I didn't respond.
"I'm talking to you, child."
"I heard you, Grandpere," I said. I wiped my tears away with the back of my hand and turned around. "But I told you, I'm not ready to marry anyone and I'm still in school. I want to be an artist anyway," I said.
"Hell, you can be an artist. Buster here would buy you all the paint and brushes you'd need for a hundred years, wouldn't ya, Buster?"
"Two hundred," he said, and laughed.
"See?"
"Grandpere, don't do this," I pleaded. "You're embarrassing me."
"Huh? You're too old for that kind of thing, Ruby. Besides, I can't be around here watchin' over you all day now, can I? Your grandmere's gone; it's time for you to grow up."
"She sure looks good and grow'd up to me," Buster said and wiped his thick tongue over the side of his mouth to scoop in a piece of crawfish that had attached itself to the grizzle of his unshaven face.
"Hear that, Ruby?"
"I don't want to hear that. I don't want to talk about it. I'm not marrying anyone right now," I cried. I backed away from the sink and from them. "And especially not Buster," I added, and charged out of the kitchen and up the stairs.
"Ruby!" Grandpere called.
I paused at the top of the stairway to catch my breath and heard Buster complain.
"So much for your easy arrangements, Jack. You brought me here, got me to buy you this case of beer and she ain't the obedient little lady you promised."
"She will be," Grandpere Jack told him. "I'll see to that."
"Maybe. You're just lucky I like a girl who has some spirit. It's like breaking a wild horse," Buster said. Grandpere Jack laughed. "Tell you what," Buster said. "I'll up what I was going to give you by another five hundred if I can test the merchandise first."
"What'dya mean?" Grandpere asked.
"I don't got to spell it out, do I, Jack? You're just playin' dumb to get me to raise the ante. All right, I'll admit she's special. I'll give you one thousand tomorrow for a night alone with her and then the rest on our wedding day. A woman should be broken in first anyway and I might as well break in my wife myself."
"A thousand dollars!"
"You got it. What'dya say?"
I held my breath. Tell him to go straight to hell, Grandpere, I whispered.
"Deal," Grandpere Jack said instead. I could see them shaking hands and then opening another bottle of beer.
