Faulkner Reader

  “You, Caddy.” Father said.

  They fought. Jason began to cry.

  “Caddy.” Father said. Jason was crying. He wasn’t fighting any more, but we could see Caddy fighting in the mirror and Father put me down and went into the mirror and fought too. He lifted Caddy up. She fought. Jason lay on the floor, crying. He had the scissors in his hand. Father held Caddy.

  “He cut up all Benjy’s dolls.” Caddy said. “I’ll slit his gizzle.”

  “Candace.” Father said.

  “I will.” Caddy said. “I will.” She fought. Father held her. She kicked at Jason. He rolled into the corner, out of the mirror. Father brought Caddy to the fire. They were all out of the mirror. Only the fire was in it. Like the fire was in a door.

  “Stop that.” Father said. “Do you want to make Mother sick in her room.”

  Caddy stopped. “He cut up all the dolls Mau—Benjy and I made.” Caddy said. “He did it just for meanness.”

  “I didn’t.” Jason said. He was sitting up, crying. “I didn’t know they were his. I just thought they were some old papers.”

  “You couldn’t help but know.” Caddy said. “You did it just.”

  “Hush.” Father said. “Jason.” he said.

  “I’ll make you some more tomorrow.” Caddy said. “We’ll make a lot of them. Here, you can look at the cushion, too.”

  Jason came in.

  I kept telling you to hush, Luster said.

  What’s the matter now, Jason said.

  “He just trying hisself.” Luster said. “That the way he been going on all day.”

  “Why dont you let him alone, then.” Jason said. “If you cant keep him quiet, you’ll have to take him out to the kitchen. The rest of us cant shut ourselves up in a room like Mother does.”

  “Mammy say keep him out the kitchen till she get supper.” Luster said.

  “Then play with him and keep him quiet.” Jason said. “Do I have to work all day and then come home to a mad house.” He opened the paper and read it.

  You can look at the fire and the mirror and the cushion too, Caddy said. You wont have to wait until supper to look at the cushion, now. We could hear the roof. We could hear Jason too, crying loud beyond the wall.

  Dilsey said, “You come, Jason. You letting him alone, is you.”

  “Yessum.” Luster said.

  “Where Quentin.” Dilsey said. “Supper near bout ready.”

  “I dont know’m.” Luster said. “I aint seen her.”

  Dilsey went away. “Quentin.” she said in the hall. “Quentin. Supper ready.”

  We could hear the roof. Quentin smelled like rain, too.

  What did Jason do, he said.

  He cut up all Benjy’s dolls, Caddy said.

  Mother said to not call him Benjy, Quentin said. He sat on the rug by us. I wish it wouldn’t rain, he said. You cant do anything.

  You’ve been in a fight, Caddy said. Haven’t you.

  It wasn’t much, Quentin said.

  You can tell it, Caddy said. Father’ll see it.

  I dont care, Quentin said. I wish it wouldn’t rain.

  Quentin said, “Didn’t Dilsey say supper was ready.”

  “Yessum.” Luster said. Jason looked at Quentin. Then he read the paper again. Quentin came in. “She say it bout ready.” Luster said. Quentin jumped down in Mother’s chair. Luster said,

  “Mr Jason.”

  “What.” Jason said.

  “Let me have two bits.” Luster said.

  “What for.” Jason said.

  “To go to the show tonight.” Luster said.

  “I thought Dilsey was going to get a quarter from Frony for you.” Jason said.

  “She did.” Luster said. “I lost it. Me and Benjy hunted all day for that quarter. You can ask him.”

  “Then borrow one from him.” Jason said. “I have to work for mine.” He read the paper. Quentin looked at the fire. The fire was in her eyes and on her mouth. Her mouth was red.

  “I tried to keep him away from there.” Luster said.

  “Shut your mouth.” Quentin said. Jason looked at her.

  “What did I tell you I was going to do if I saw you with that show fellow again.” he said. Quentin looked at the fire. “Did you hear me.” Jason said.

  “I heard you.” Quentin said. “Why dont you do it, then.”

  “Dont you worry.” Jason said.

  “I’m not.” Quentin said. Jason read the paper again.

  I could hear the roof. Father leaned forward and looked at Quentin.

  Hello, he said. Who won.

  “Nobody.” Quentin said. “They stopped us. Teachers.”

  “Who was it.” Father said. “Will you tell.”

  “It was all right.” Quentin said. “He was as big as me.”

  “That’s good.” Father said. “Can you tell what it was about.”

  “It wasn’t anything.” Quentin said. “He said he would put a frog in her desk and she wouldn’t dare to whip him.”

  “Oh.” Father said. “She. And then what.”

  “Yes, sir.” Quentin said. “And then I kind of hit him.”

  We could hear the roof and the fire, and a snuffling outside the door.

  “Where was he going to get a frog in November.” Father said.

  “I dont know, sir.” Quentin said.

  We could hear them.

  “Jason.” Father said. We could hear Jason.

  “Jason.” Father said. “Come in here and stop that.”

  We could hear the roof and the fire and Jason.

  “Stop that, now.” Father said. “Do you want me to whip you again.” Father lifted Jason up into the chair by him. Jason snuffled. We could hear the fire and the roof. Jason snuffled a little louder.

  “One more time.” Father said. We could hear the fire and the roof.

  Dilsey said, All right. You all can come on to supper.

  Versh smelled like rain. He smelled like a dog, too. We could hear the fire and the roof.

  We could hear Caddy walking fast. Father and Mother looked at the door. Caddy passed it, walking fast. She didn’t look. She walked fast.

  “Candace.” Mother said. Caddy stopped walking.

  “Yes, Mother.” she said.

  “Hush, Caroline.” Father said.

  “Come here.” Mother said.

  “Hush, Caroline.” Father said. “Let her alone.”

  Caddy came to the door and stood there, looking at Father and Mother. Her eyes flew at me, and away. I began to cry. It went loud and I got up. Caddy came in and stood with her back to the wall, looking at me. I went toward her, crying, and she shrank against the wall and I saw her eyes and I cried louder and pulled at her dress. She put her hands out but I pulled at her dress. Her eyes ran.

  Versh said, Your name Benjamin now. You know how come your name Benjamin now. They making a bluegum out of you. Mammy say in old time your granpa changed nigger’s name, and he turn preacher, and when they look at him, he bluegum too. Didn’t use to be bluegum, neither. And when family woman look him in the eye in the full of the moon, chile born bluegum. And one evening, when they was about a dozen them bluegum chillen running round the place, he never come home. Possum hunters found him in the woods, et clean. And you know who et him. Them bluegum chillen did.

  We were in the hall. Caddy was still looking at me. Her hand was against her mouth and I saw her eyes and I cried. We went up the stairs. She stopped again, against the wall, looking at me and I cried and she went on and I came on, crying, and she shrank against the wall, looking at me. She opened the door to her room, but I pulled at her dress and we went to the bathroom and she stood against the door, looking at me. Then she put her arm across her face and I pushed at her, crying.

  What are you doing to him, Jason said. Why cant you let him alone.

  I aint touching him, Luster said. He been doing this way all day long. He needs whipping.

  He needs to be sent to Jackson, Quentin said. How can anybody li
ve in a house like this.

  If you dont like it, young lady, you’d better get out, Jason said.

  I’m going to, Quentin said. Dont you worry.

  Versh said, “You move back some, so I can dry my legs off.” He shoved me back a little. “Dont you start bellering, now. You can still see it. That’s all you have to do. You aint had to be out in the rain like I is. You’s born lucky and dont know it.” He lay on his back before the fire.

  “You know how come your name Benjamin now.” Versh said. “Your mamma too proud for you. What mammy say.”

  “You be still there and let me dry my legs off.” Versh said. “Or you know what I’ll do. I’ll skin your rinktum.”

  We could hear the fire and the roof and Versh.

  Versh got up quick and jerked his legs back. Father said, “All right, Versh.”

  “I’ll feed him tonight.” Caddy said. “Sometimes he cries when Versh feeds him.”

  “Take this tray up,” Dilsey said. “And hurry feack and feed Benjy.”

  “Dont you want Caddy to feed you.” Caddy said.

  Has he got to keep that old dirty slipper on the table, Quentin said. Why dont you feed him in the kitchen. It’s like eating tenth a pig.

  If you dont like the way we eat, you’d better not come to the table, Jason said.

  Steam came off of Roskus. He was sitting in front of the stove. The oven door was open and Roskus had his feet in it. Steam came off the bowl. Caddy put the spoon into my mouth easy. There was a black spot on the inside of the bowl.

  Now, now, Dilsey said. He aint going to bother you no more.

  It got down below the mark. Then the bowl was empty. It went away. “He’s hungry tonight.” Caddy said. The bowl came back. I couldn’t see the spot. Then I could. “He’s starved, tonight.” Caddy said. “Look how much he’s eaten.”

  Yes he will, Quentin said. You all send him out to spy on me. I hate this house. I’m going to run away.

  Roskus said, “It going to rain all night.”

  You’ve been running a long time, not to ’ve got any further off than mealtime, Jason said.

  See if I dont, Quentin said.

  “Then I dont know what I going to do.” Dilsey said. “It caught me in the hip so bad now I cant scarcely move. Climbing them stairs all evening.”

  Oh, I wouldn’t be surprised, Jason said. I wouldn’t be surprised at anything youd do.

  Quentin threw her napkin on the table.

  Hush your mouth, Jason, Dilsey said. She went and put her arm around Quentin. Sit down, honey, Dilsey said. He ought to be shamed of hisself, throwing what aint your fault up to you.

  “She sulling again, is she.” Roskus said.

  “Hush your mouth.” Dilsey said.

  Quentin pushed Dilsey away. She looked at Jason. Her mouth was red. She picked up her glass of water and swung her arm back, looking at Jason. Dilsey caught her arm. They fought. The glass broke on the table, and the water ran hinto the table. Quentin was running.

  “Mother’s sick again.” Caddy said.

  “Sho she is.” Dilsey said. “Weather like this make anybody sick. When you going to get done eating, boy.”

  Goddamn you, Quentin said. Goddamn you. We could hear her running on the stairs. We went to the library.

  Caddy gave me the cushion, and I could look at the cushion and the mirror and the fire.

  “We must be quiet while Quentin’s studying.” Father said. “What are you doing, Jason.”

  “Nothing.” Jason said.

  “Suppose you come over here to do it, then.” Father said.

  Jason came out of the corner.

  “What are you chewing.” Father said.

  “Nothing.” Jason said.

  “He’s chewing paper again.” Caddy said.

  “Come here, Jason.” Father said.

  Jason threw into the fire. It hissed, uncurled, turning black. Then it was gray. Then it was gone. Caddy and Father and Jason were in Mother’s chair. Jason’s eyes were puffed shut and his mouth moved, like tasting. Caddy’s head was on Father’s shoulder. Her hair was like fire, and little points of fire were in her eyes, and I went and Father lifted me into the chair too, and Caddy held me. She smelled like trees.

  She smelled like trees. In the corner it was dark, but I could see the window. I squatted there, holding the slipper. I couldn’t see it, but my hands saw it, and I could hear it getting night, and my hands saw the slipper but I couldn’t see myself, but my hands could see the slipper and I squatted there, hearing it getting dark.

  Here you is, Luster said. Look what I got. He showed it to me. You know where I got it. Miss Quentin gave it to me. I knowed they couldn’t keep me out. What you doing, off in here. I thought you done slipped back out doors. Aint you done enough moaning and slobbering today, without hiding off in this here empty room, mumbling and taking on. Come on here to bed, so I can get up there before it starts. I cant fool with you all night tonight. Just let them horns toot the first toot and I done gone.

  We didn’t go to our room.

  “This is where we have the measles.” Caddy said. “Why do we have to sleep in here tonight.”

  “What you care where you sleep.” Dilsey said. She shut the door and sat down and began to undress me. Jason began to cry. “Hush.” Dilsey said.

  “I want to sleep with Damuddy.” Jason said.

  “She’s sick.” Caddy said. “You can sleep with her when she gets well. Cant he, Dilsey.”

  “Hush, now.” Dilsey said. Jason hushed.

  “Our nighties are here, and everything.” Caddy said. “It’s like moving.”

  “And you better get into them.” Dilsey said. “You be unbuttoning Jason.”

  Caddy unbuttoned Jason. He began to cry.

  “You want to get whipped.” Dilsey said. Jason hushed.

  Quentin, Mother said in the hall.

  What, Quentin said beyond the wall. We heard Mother lock the door. She looked in our door and came in and stooped over the bed and kissed me on the forehead.

  When you get him to bed, go and ask Dilsey if she objects to my having a hot water bottle, Mother said. Tell her that if she does, I’ll try to get along without it. Tell her I just want to know.

  Yessum, Luster said. Come on. Get your pants off.

  Quentin and Versh came in. Quentin had his face turned away. “What are you crying for.” Caddy said.

  “Hush.” Dilsey said. “You all get undressed, now. You can go on home, Versh.”

  I got undressed and I looked at myself, and I began to cry. Hush, Luster said. Looking for them aint going to do no good. They’re gone. You keep on like this, and we aint going have you no more birthday. He put my gown on. I hushed, and then Luster stopped, his head toward the window. Then he went to the window and looked out. He came back and took my arm. Here she come, he said. Be quiet, now. We went to the window and looked out. It came out of Quentin’s window and climbed across into the tree. We watched the tree shaking. The shaking went down the tree, then it came out and we watched it go away across the grass. Then we couldn’t see it. Come on, Luster said. There now. Hear them horns. You get in that bed while my foots behaves.

  There were two beds. Quentin got in the other one. He turned his face to the wall. Dilsey put Jason in with him. Caddy took her dress off.

  “Just look at your drawers.” Dilsey said. “You better be glad your ma aint seen you.”

  “I already told on her.” Jason said.

  “I bound you would.” Dilsey said.

  “And see what you got by it.” Caddy said. “Tattletale.”

  “What did I get by it.” Jason said.

  “Whyn’t you get your nightie on.” Dilsey said. She went and helped Caddy take off her bodice and drawers. “Just look at you.” Dilsey said. She wadded the drawers and scrubbed Caddy behind with them. “It done soaked clean through onto you.” she said. “But you wont get no bath this night. Here.” She put Caddy’s nightie on her and Caddy climbed into the bed and Dilsey
went to the door and stood with her hand on the light. “You all be quiet now, you hear.” she said.

  “All right.” Caddy said. “Mother’s not coming in tonight.” she said. “So we still have to mind me.”

  “Yes.” Dilsey said. “Go to sleep, now.”

  “Mother’s sick.” Caddy said. “She and Damuddy are both sick.”

  “Hush.” Dilsey said. “You go to sleep.”

  The room went black, except the door. Then the door went black. Caddy said, “Hush, Maury,” putting her hand on me. So I stayed hushed. We could hear us. We could hear the dark.

  It went away, and Father looked at us. He looked at Quentin and Jason, then he came and kissed Caddy and put his hand on my head.

  “Is Mother very sick.” Caddy said.

  “No.” Father said. “Are you going to take good care of Maury.”

  “Yes.” Caddy said.

  Father went to the door and looked at us again. Then the dark came back, and he stood black in the door, and then the door turned black again. Caddy held me and I could hear us all, and the darkness, and something I could smell. And then I could see the windows, where the trees were buzzing. Then the dark began to go in smooth, bright shapes, like it always does, even when Caddy says that I have been asleep.

  JUNE 2, 1910

  When the shadow of the sash appeared on the curtains it was between seven and eight oclock and then I was in time again, hearing the watch. It was Grandfather’s and when Father gave it to me he said, Quentin, I give you the mausoleum of all hope and desire; it’s rather excrutiating-ly apt that you will use it to gain the reducto absurdum of all human experience which can fit your individual needs no better than it fitted his or his father’s. I give it to you not that you may remember time, but that you might forget it now and then for a moment and not spend all your breath trying to conquer it. Because no battle is ever won he said. They are not even fought. The field only reveals to man his own folly and despair, and victory is an illusion of philosophers and fools.

  It was propped against the collar box and I lay listening to it. Hearing it, that is. I dont suppose anybody ever deliberately listens to a watch or a clock. You dont have to. You can be oblivious to the sound for a long while, then in a second of ticking it can create in the mind unbroken the long diminishing parade of time you didn’t hear. Like Father said down the long and lonely light-rays you might see Jesus walking, like. And the good Saint Francis that said Little Sister Death, that never had a sister.