The waitress brought the food, the aroma reminding Jimmy that he was genuinely hungry. As soon as she had placed the food down he began to eat, and then realized that he, the preacher, had forgotten to pray. Zeke raised an eyebrow.

“Uncle Zeke. Will you bless the food?”

And Zeke gave a short thanks.

“Uh.” Ruth grunted and made a disgusted face. “No. Can’t eat this mess. Call that hateful gal back here.”

“Everybody hateful but Ruth.” Zeke put a forkful of barbecue in his mouth. He and Ruth looked straight into one another’s eyes for the first time that day.

Jimmy raised his hand and flagged the waitress. “Now, Uncle Zeke, please don’t start picking at Aunt Ruth. She’s upset. I guess she is upset at seeing Asa in the hospital and—”

“No, no.” Ruth wiped her mouth with her napkin. “Let him. Let him mess with me if he thinks he’s man enough.”

“Yeah, you know enough about castrating men. Don’t you, Ruth?”

“Oh, really now. Stop, you two. This is embarrassing.” Jimmy wiped his face. He was sweating.

“Watch yourself, Ezekiel Cross. You just better watch yourself.”

The waitress came back. “What’s the matter now?”

“I can’t eat this.” Ruth pushed the plate toward her.

“What’s wrong with it?”

“Ain’t no seasoning to it. The meat’s done been cooked to death. It’s old. Ain’t fit for hogs.”

“Now, Ruth—”

“Don’t you ‘Ruth’ me, Zeke. You all always trying to tell somebody the way to talk, the way to dress, the way to live. Well, I’m my own person. Hear me?”

“Ma’am?” The waitress was leaning over her like a cat about to pounce.

“You gone regret talking like this, Ruth.”

“I’m old enough to pay my own debts and favors. You ain’t got nothing on me.”

“Ma’am.”

“Well, woman. I knew you was ornery and mean, but I never knew you to be downright dirty.”

“See there. That’s the way you all operate. Twist things around your way. Make right wrong and wrong right. I—”

“Ma’am!”

“What!”

The waitress stood up straight. “Do you want to order anything else?”

“You all make apple pie?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, bring that.”

The waitress shook her head and walked away. Jimmy thought hard of something to change the subject. “I heard it was supposed to snow tonight. Wonder if it will?”

Without acknowledging Jimmy, Zeke pounded the table, making the silverware tinkle. “See, Ruth. You’re just inconsiderate. That’s the problem.”

“You got some nerve, Negro, declaring me inconsiderate. The problem is that you, and all you Crosses, is too high and mighty for your own good. That’s the problem.”

“I heard,” Jimmy tried, though he felt silly and an outsider, “that they were going to build a new addition to the community center over near Dobsville.”