The key clicks in the lock and the farmer says, “I just don’t believe he’s much of a mind to heal him, mama. We can go up here and take us a nap and when we come back down they liable to be discussing philosophy or something, you cain’t never tell.”

“You people don’t understand,” the healer says. “He’s beyond help. There’s nothing I can do for him. I don’t deal with the mind. I deal with the body.”

“Ain’t nothing wrong with his body,” the mother says. “We just had to slow him down a little.”

“His body’s in good shape,” the farmer says. “He’s strong as a ox. Why I’ve seen him pull cows out of mud holes before. I don’t believe he knows how strong he is.”

“We’ll be back after a while,” the mother says, and out the door she goes.

“Come on, daddy,” she says back. The farmer backs out the door holding the gun on the healer and then the door closes. There are sounds of the other lock being affixed on the other side. The healer backs hard into the corner and eyes the mumbling being in front of him.

“Jesus would heal him if He was here!” the farmer hollers through the thick door. “I done read all about what He done in the Bible! What They’ve done, They’ve done laid this burden on us to test our faith? Ain’t that right, mama!”

“That’s right, daddy!” the mother shouts through the door.

“We been tested!” the farmer screams. “We been tested hard and we ain’t been found wanting! Have we, mama!”

“You got that right, daddy! Lot of folks couldn’t put up with what we’ve put up with!”

“Just don’t make him mad!” the farmer shrieks. “Don’t try to take nothing away from him if he’s playing with it! He don’t like that! He’s a little spoiled!”

“He likes to rassle but don’t get in a rasslin’ match with him ’cause he gets mad sometimes! Don’t get him mad! We’ll be back in about a hour! Talk to him! He likes that!”

A rapid clump of footsteps climbing up the stairs fades away to a slammed door above. The healer flattens himself in the corner with his arms bracing up the walls.

“Don’t touch me, please,” he says, then adds, “I’m not going to hurt you.”