It was funny. On any other day, he only had to reach out for his clothes without even thinking, and they’d be there, just the piece he wanted. Shirt, trousers, stockings, shoes. Always there in his hand when he reached. But on Sunday morning, it was like the clothes ran away from his hand. He’d go for his shirt and come back with his pants. He’d reach for a sock and come up with a shoe, time after time. It was like as if the clothes didn’t want to get put on his body any more than he wanted them there.

So when Mama banged open the door, it wasn’t altogether Alvin’s fault that he didn’t even have his pants on yet.

“You’ve missed breakfast! You’re still half-naked! If you think I’m going to make the whole family parade into church late on account of you, you’ve got—“

“Another think coming,” said Alvin.

It wasn’t his fault that she always said the same thing. But she got mad at him as if he should have pretended to be surprised to hear her say it for the ninetieth time since summer. Oh, she was all set to give him a licking, all right, or call for Pa to do it even worse, when there was Taleswapper, come to save him.

“Goody Faith,” said Taleswapper, “I’d be glad to see to it he comes to church, if you want to go on ahead with the others.”

The minute Taleswapper spoke, Mama whirled around and tried to hide how mad she’d been. Alvin right away started doing a calming on her—with his right hand, where she couldn’t see it, since if she saw him doing a spell on her, she’d break his arm, and that was one threat Alvin Junior truly believed. A calming didn’t work so well without touching, but since she was trying so hard to look calm in front of Taleswapper, it worked all right.

“I hate to put you to any trouble,” said Mama.

“No trouble, Goody Faith,” said Taleswapper. “I do little enough to repay your kindness to me.”

“Little enough!” The fretfulness was almost gone from Mama’s voice now. “Why, my husband says you do the work of two grown men. And when you tell stories to the little ones I get more peace and quiet in this house than I’ve had since—since ever.” She turned back to Alvin, but now her anger was more an act than real. “Will you do what Taleswapper tells you, and come to church right quick?”

“Yes, Mama,” said Alvin Junior. “Quick as I can.”

“All right then. Thank you kindly, Taleswapper. If you can get that boy to obey, that’s more than anybody else has managed since he learned to talk.”

“He’s a real brat,” said Mary, from the hallway outside.