“I ain’t said nothing about giving up bootlegging. We can do that business anywhere. But if we move to Louisiana, we’d have to do some other kind of work to keep us going until we got situated in the bootlegging business again. Remember how it was when we first got started? We had to struggle to succeed. Drumming up business, finding the right location, and all.”

“Milton, if we move to another state, we’d have to find a new alcohol supplier. Willie Frank ain’t about to leave Branson and go with us. All the colored folks I know that run stills, only make enough booze for their personal use. In a new location, we’d have to do a lot of asking around to find somebody to fill Willie Frank’s shoes. And them is some mighty big shoes. Doing business with anybody else wouldn’t be half as enjoyable as it is with him.”

Milton gave me a dismissive wave and a weary look. “Hush up. I’m tired. We’ll be just fine, even if we relocate. And I don’t care how successful we get, we’ll stay as humble as we is now. I’d hate for our new customers to start calling us Prince Charming and Queen of Sheba behind our backs.” He laughed, I didn’t.

“Humph. We could never behave as hoity-toity as Joyce and Odell, not even in a nightmare.” I let out a loud breath and shook my head. “I know you trying to do what’s best for us, and I’m with you all the way. But I need to let you know that I really don’t want to move away from Alabama. And I sure don’t want to get involved with your preacher brother’s church. He’d be all up in our business, trying to get us to come to Jesus.”

“What’s wrong with your memory, girl? We done already went to Jesus. We just ain’t as close to Him as we should be. We’ll get there, though.” Milton chuckled.

I blinked back a tear threatening to ooze from my eye. “If we move to Louisiana, there ain’t no telling how often I’d get to see my children then. You know Uncle Sherman’s truck won’t make it that far. And him and Aunt Nadine ain’t got the kind of money to be traveling over there on the bus or the train. It’s bad enough my babies think I’m their cousin.”