Earl and Lucy had decided to talk out things the following morning with Carl after the children left fur school. They were wondering if it was a wise decision to be moonshinin fur their main income or if they should reconsider. They wanted to sleep on it overnight and then be able to talk about it without a bunch of little pitchers with big ears around. Along about 9:00 that night, their phone rang.

  Phone lines had been strung up their holler the year before and their phone actually began workin two months previously. It was all done on a party line. This meant that each household in the area was given a paper with their number of rings on it and what the neighbors’ number of rings was. When someone called the Higgins, for instance, there were three long rings and two short ones, so they knew the call was fur them. Everybody in the holler could pick up the phone and listen in to the call, since they was on the party line, but everybody knew that call was fur them. Donna’s phone was two shorts and one long. And everybody had their own combination like that.

  You had to really think about what you was sayin on the phone. It was like the game of gossip…you didn’t know who was listenin and who knew yore business! Well, Earl picked up the phone and it was Donna callin them. She was all excited! “Earl, Earl, I did just what you said and the kids and I was outside and I saw the stream of smoke just in the direction you said and then a huge plume of a smoke cloud raised up from there real quick like and then nothin! Hurry! Cousin Pete is in trouble!”

  “Now, calm down honey. Catch yore breathe. What are you tryin to say?” Earl said in a puzzled way.

  “Earl, the kids just went to bed and it was the first chance I had to call you and let you know. I think the still Pete has was workin earlier, cause I saw the smoke risin just where you said it would. But then (and her voice rose and got squeaky) I think it may have blown up because It was no longer a stream of smoke, but a huge cloud! Is that what happens when a still blows up? And I’m worried about Pete. Kin you go check on him?”

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  Earl tried to pacify her and said, “I ain’t never seen no still blow up, Donna. I don’t know if that is what is goin on or not.”

  Margie interjected, “Yep, that’s what it looks like.”

  Donna said, “You hang up Margie. This call is fur Earl, not you! Git off of this party line!”

  Margie said, “Well quit hoggin the phone; I need to make a call! Some folks just ain’t considerate!”

  Earl asked “Are you shore of what you saw, Donna?”

  “Yes, I am! Oh and that’s not all. I forgot. After, I heard a police siren and saw a car racin up the hill that way! I just know they is after cousin Pete! What are we goin to do, Earl?” Donna was just beside herself!

  Earl said, “If’n what you said is goin on, the police will take keer of Petey. I mean git him to the hospital if he’s hurt. There’s really not anything I kin do tonite fur him. I tried to tell him that oatmeal paste is not goin to seal up a busted still, but he is so bull-headed, he wouldn’t listen to me. He was goin to do what he was goin to do! Now, I kin go tomorrow to see what is goin on.”

  “Oh, would you please, Earl? I’d be much obliged!” Donna said, relieved.

  “You just git some shut-eye tonight and quit worryin. Borryin tomorrow’s problems never helped no one, Donna. You got them young-uns to take keer of tomorrow and you need yore strength.” Earl said comfortin-like.

  “You are right Earl. Thank you. I’m so glad to have neighbors like you and Lucy! I’m goin right to bed. Good-night” And Donna hung up the phone.

  Margie said, “Good-night Donna, Good-night Earl.”

  “Confound it Margie! Cain’t a body have no privacy? Good-night!” and Earl slammed down the phone.