Page:Jay Little - Maybe—Tomorrow.pdf/133

 "They make baskets out of them."

"Baskets? Out of what?" questioned Gaylord.

He glanced downward at the young man's hands. They were clean and strong, firm and entirely capable. Against his will, he was forced to look at his manicured feminine ones; true, they were graceful and long-fingered, but now he wished they were a bit rough … more like Rogers's.

"Armadillos. Didn't you ever see one?" asked Rogers.

"I think I have … I'm not sure."

"They've got a armor-like hide, something like an alligator; still, it's a lot different, but just about as tough. I had one that I killed made into a sewing basket for Mother. Sure did turn out pretty, too."

"Oh, yes, I think I've seen them. They've got a little face and beady eyes, little short feet."

"That's right."

"And with a tank-like shell."

"Yeah, that's the one … Well, when they make a basket out of this shell they clean out all the guts and stuff and cure it. I mean the shell, and then when it's dried they line it with cotton and cloth. They take the tail and make a handle out of it. Simple, huh? And they're darn pretty. Mother's crazy about it."

It didn't sound so pretty to Gaylord. He couldn't understand why anyone would want that around the house.

"So that's how they do it."

"That's it," Rogers answered. "I used to kill a lot of them when I was out in the woods picking dewberries … Gosh there's lots of dewberries in the woods. I could pick a couple of gallons in no time. There's nothing better than dewberry jelly on hot bread; and Gay, I'm telling you, my Mom makes the best bread you've ever tasted. You like home made bread?"

"Sure do."

"I don't like this bakery stuff. It's too soggy. You'll have to eat some of Mom's bread … You'll never like that bakery stuff after eating hers. It's tops." He took a deep breath. "Yeah, it's going to be different living here in town. I used to ride my ole horse all over the woods, shooting, fishing, looking over the cattle and fences. Seeing what cow had dropped a calf, and how it was … pulling calves and 123