Let the Circle Be Unbroken by Mildred D. Taylor Read Free Book Online

serve anyway.”
    “Well, ain’t there nothin’ can be done for T.J.?”
    Mr. Jamison studied the floor for a moment, then looked back at Stacey. “Son, I’ll promise you this. I’ll be doing all I can. What I’m planning to do is put T.J. on the stand. That means, of course, that he’ll have to admit to the burglary. But if he can testify, I’m hoping that I can convince the jury that he was not the one who killed Jim Lee Barnett. If I don’t put him on the stand, we don’t have anything. After all, there’s that farmer who picked him up right outside of Strawberry, and R.W. and Melvin Simms will be testifying that they saw him running from the Mercantile. And then there was that pearl-handled gun found in T.J.’s mattress. I can perhaps punch some holes in the prosecutor’s case, but not enough. He’ll
have
to take the stand.”
    “And . . . and if they don’t believe him?”
    “Then we’ll try to get an appeal, another trial.”
    Stacey nodded and said no more.
    Mr. Jamison waited as if expecting more questions. I kept hoping that one of the grown-ups would ask the questions I would have liked to ask about the proceedings, but none of them did. It was as if the verdict was already in.
    With no more questions asked, Mr. Jamison said, “David,there was something else. I was wondering if any of you are planning on going to the trial?”
    Papa took his pipe from his pocket and hit it hard against his palm as if he expected ashes to come out, but since there had been no tobacco for several months, the action was more out of habit than expectation. “Don’t know yet. The Averys are close friends.”
    “I know that,” said Mr. Jamison, his words slow and spaced and full of meaning. “They know it too. They know also how folks in town feel about you. That feeling, it’s still there, and if you or Mr. Morrison or any of your family go into town, it could make things worse for the boy. Folks haven’t forgotten about that boycott, and they blame you for it.” He paused, then added, “And then, there’s still the coincidence of that fire. . . .”
    My heart began to race wildly.
    Papa put the pipe in his mouth. He never said anything where any white people were concerned, not even Mr. Jamison, without having carefully thought it through first. There was no rushing him. Withdrawing the pipe, he smiled faintly. “I ain’t hardly forgotten that. You think I would?”
    Mr. Jamison returned his smile, showing he understood. “No, David, didn’t think you had.” He stood up. “Well, I guess I’d best be getting on back toward town. My wife’s probably been looking for me this past hour. Mrs. Logan, I’d thank you for my hat.”
    When Mr. Jamison had left with both Papa and Mr. Morrison walking out with him, Big Ma commented: “It sho’ gotta be hard on that man tryin’ to help T.J. like he is.”
    “Probably more than we even know,” Mama said.
    We heard the car leave, and after a few minutes whenPapa and Mr. Morrison did not return, Little Man went to the front door and opened it.
    “Clayton Chester, don’t you go out there!” Mama said, forbidding his leaving with his given name, so seldom used.
    Little Man glanced back at Mama, not daring to disobey, but there was fear in his eyes, for since the fire he had been afraid that Papa or Mr. Morrison or Stacey would leave at night and never return.
    “But Papa—”
    “He’s all right. Mr. Morrison too. Now close the door.”
    Little Man obeyed but didn’t move from the door, and as soon as he heard footsteps on the steps swung it open.
    Papa’s eyes met Mama’s as he entered and saw Little Man. “Well, thank you, son,” he said. Little Man trembled and Papa took his hand. “Looks like ole man winter’s gone and got you cold. I ’spect you best get your book and come sit over here closer to me and this fire and get yourself warm.”
    Little Man hurried to do his bidding. Retrieving his book, he dashed back to Papa’s side, and