A Child Forgets A Time

Someday You'll Remember What I Said And You'll Thank Me For It." Francie Wished Adults Would Stop Telling Her That. Already The Load Of Thanks In The Future Was Weighing Her Down. She Figured She'd Have To Spend The Best Years Of Her Womanhood Hunting Up People To Tell Them That They Were Right And To Thank Them.

This Could Be A Whole Life," She Thought. "you Work Eight Hours A Day Covering Wires To Earn Money To Buy Food And To Pay For A Place To Sleep So That You Can Keep Living To Come Back To Cover More Wires. Some People Are Born And Kept Living Just To Come To This.

How Much Do They Be Paying You?" He Asked Mellowly. "the Usual Salary. A Little More Than They Think I'm Worth And A Little Less Than I Think I'm Worth.

And Always, There Was The Magic Of Learning Things.

It's Come At Last," She Thought, "the Time When You Can No Longer Stand Between Your Children And Heartache. When There Wasn't Enough Food In The House You Pretended That You Weren't Hungry So They Could Have More. In The Cold Of A Winter's Night You Got Up And Put Your Blanket On Their Bed So They Wouldn't Be Cold. You'd Kill Anyone Who Tried To Harm Them - I Tried My Best To Kill That Man In The Hallway. Then One Sunny Day, They Walk Out In All Innocence And They Walk Right Into The Grief That You'd Give Your Life To Spare Them From.