A woman asked Pete for two pounds of pork. The kid fell into action and wrapped the pork in the newspaper like he had something to prove.

Paul patted Pete’s shoulder. “You don’t have to do it so fast, Tex. It ain’t going nowhere.”

Pete spoke up. “You don’t know babies like my mama does. She knows everything.”

“Son, you’re breaking my heart. I wish you’d just accept that facts is facts, and the fact is I can’t afford you or your family. My mind’s made up. Now it ain’t right, you makin’ me feel so bad about it.”

“Please.”

Paul moved the kid out of his way. He began wrapping meat in newsprint without speaking. From the corner of his vision, he saw the boy throw his arms around his mother.

The next man in line ordered half a pound of pork. Paul folded newspaper over the warm meat and tried not to look at the kids and their mother.

“Be five cents,” said Paul.

The man dug into his pocket and glanced toward Pete. “Is that kid gonna be okay?” the man said.

“’Course he will. It’s just allergies.”

Paul’s heart dropped. His chest felt sore. Especially when he saw Eulah remove Pete’s hat and hold him while he sobbed. Paul felt like he belonged beneath a pile of warm horse logs.

Vern, on the other hand, didn’t seem to be bothered by anything. He unwrapped another candy bar and tossed the wrapper on the ground. He pressed his nose against the baby’s face and made high-pitched noises.

The man in line cleared his throat and said, “Hey, what about my sauce? Don’t this come with sauce?”

“Not you too,” said Paul. “Sauce is extra.”

“How much extra?” the man in the slacks asked.

“Nine cents,” said Paul.

“Nine cents just for sauce?”

“It’s a whole bottle.”

“Of what, gold?”

“Keep talking and it’ll go up to fifteen cents.”

“You’re out of your mind.”

“Maybe. But if you keep pushing me, I’ll take that pork outta your hand and rub it in my armpits.”

The man gasped. He dug into his pocket again, slapped the coins into Paul’s hand, and said a swear word.

Paul shoved a bottle into the man’s hand. “Pleasure doing business with you, sir! Don’t get lost on your way to Bible study.”

“Women make everything easier,” said Vern. “She could help with the wash. I ain’t washed our clothes in a week. We smell bad. And them kids is sweet.”

“That ain’t the point,” said Paul. “That ain’t the point at all.”