one

A Chapter by implicit

work in progress

I’m Casey. Don’t go asking Casey who or Casey what. I don’t got another name. I just been Casey as far as I remember back. I s’pose I musta been Casey sumth'n back when I lived with my folks, but I don't remember none of that time. Now I’m just Casey and I just live with Mr. Cooper and Mrs. Cooper. They’s old folks so they’re always in bed early. That’s good ‘cause it means once they think I’m a-sleepin’ I can sneak out and have some adventure. But sometimes I act a fool an’ forget to get back ‘fore the sun gets up. An’ then Mr. Cooper finds me and tans me and Mrs. Cooper tries to learn me about prayin’ right and all that. When I’m sittin’ at her table I really do want to act good and remember those prayers ‘cause she’s nicer to me than Mr. Cooper. But as soon as I’m up in the woods or wandering around the town I remember being good’s no fun, even if it makes God happy. When I’m running through the woods on my own I act like I’m a bandit an’ I sneak up and rob people I imagine to be there. Sometimes I wish I had some other boys up there with me, but all the boys who ain’t too old for me is Jim Rogers and Jake who hain’t got another name neither an’ Jim’s a crybaby who won’t play nothin’ fun. I can’t play with Jake on account of us bein’ enemies. We been enemies since I was ten an’ he stole my knife. He said he didn’t touch it an’ Mrs. Cooper wouldn’t let us fight to settle it, so we hadda become enemies instead. She’s like that sometimes but it’s okay ‘cause she’s real nice to me. She only makes me learn about God and stuff ‘cause she thinks it’ll make me happy, but I can’t see how she figures that. Bein’ good an’ generous to a body’s only good for that person I’m nice to, it’s no good for me.