LOUIE/Hughes look. Louie was looking at the floor and Dennis was surprised with the idea that maybe the old man's feelings had been hurt. But then Louie chuckled and said, "Yup, we got us a Christ almighty college boy on the crew." "Oh for hell sakes," Dennis shot back, "That doesn't have anything to do with it. The point is a person should know what he's talking about before he starts talking. Why can't you do some reading and thinking for yourself. You can't just go around repeating cliches you've picked up from Paul Harvey all the time." He waited and took a deep breath. "Jerry, when was that Little Rock problem?" Jerry put up both hands and said, "Wait a minute. Don't get me in this." "Ok, Vern. When was it? You know." Vern looked at Dennis with the same seriousness, his eyes still and his big jaw set. "Why don't you just drop it," he finally said. "No, I want to make my point. I've sat and listened to this crap all summer and you guys have had enough fun with me. Louie seems to have something against me just because I want to get an education. Well, I just want to make this one point and I'll be satisfied. Now come on Vern when was it?" "I can't remember," he said sternly and finally. "You can. You just don't want to," Dennis said. He was sitting up, leaning away from the wall, his hand gripping the legs of his overalls. "Just admit it. It was while Eisenhower was still in, wasn't it?" Louie looked at Vern and his eyebrows were hanging down so low that his eyes were hardly visible. Vern glanced at Louie and then looked down at the floor and said, "Yea, I think it was, but what the hell difference does it make?" "Well, it makes my point, that's all," Dennis said. "Louie is always on my back about being a smart ass college boy. Well, all I can say is that at least in college we learn to think before we start telling everyone else what's true and what's not. At least those college kids at the White House were not afraid to think." Dennis said all this to the floor, avoiding Louie's eyes. When he finally looked up, Louie was staring at him with his hands resting on his lap and his eyes looking very quiet. Hating himself as he said it, Dennis added, "Well, anyway, it happened when Eisenhower was still President." Louie twisted around onto all fours then, and he brought one foot up under him and with his hand against the wall, slowly stood up. He didn't straighten up but hesitated and then leaned back down and got his lunch bucket. He turned then and walked out of the room without looking at anyone. Dennis didn't look up at him, but listened to his big work shoes scuff against the plywood as he walked. He glanced at his watch. It was only twenty-eight minutes after twelve. For at least a full minute no one said anything, and then Vern got up. He walked to the door and then he stopped and looked at Dennis until he was forced to look up. "You know, Dennis," Vern said, "I'd do some thinking about what you're supposed to learn at college. Cause you sure ain't learned a hell of a lot yet, have you?" Dennis sat on the floor until twenty to one thinking about that. Then he decided he better get up and go back to work. He could hear Louie in the other room, pounding with his hammer building something. 38 QUEEN ANN/Ellis Totten In a small country town there lived a lady they called Queen Ann. No one ever knew the reason why. Perhaps, because she spoke firmly, like an officer. Perhaps, because she was large, bony, and imperious. Perhaps, because she governed a multitude of domestic animals, hens, dogs, cats, and any animal she could get her hands on. She gave these familiar subjects neither daintiness, nor pretty (continued on next page)