The Baby Tree
continued
KEVIN
Glass of water?
MISS LOUISE
Never touch the stuff.
KEVIN
Lemonade?
MISS LOUISE
Too yellow.
KEVIN
Milk?
MISS LOUISE
Gives me wind.
KEVIN
What then?
MISS LOUISE
What’s that you got? Think just because I am old, I wouldn’t like a brew? (Kevin tentatively opens one for her while Louise whips off her hat, shoves it in her pocket, ruffles her hair and looks intensively at Elizabeth.) What happened to your hand honey?
ELIZABETH
I cut it peeling apples.
MISS LOUISE
You sure about that? There are many sharp things around this old place that could’ve snagged you. Lemme see. (Elizabeth hesitates) Lemme SEE little missy! (Ms. Louise unwraps her hand and looks.) Here I can fix it. (She reaches into her pocket and pulls out a small tube of super glue and glues the wound shut.)
KEVIN
Hold on! What are you doing? Wait! I wanted to stitch that up.
MISS LOUISE
This works better, Mr. Big City Doc, less infection. Evertime my dogs get into it, I use this on their ears to close ‘em up. I got dogs. Hounds. Hear ‘em yonder? You will. They’re lively. Better company than humans I can tell you.
ELIZABETH
Ow, it stings.
MISS LOUISE
Aw. c'mon Missy, take it like a woman, for the love of Pete! (She looks at Beth rather more closely and relents.) Oh. alright. Can't stand to see the tears. Got something fer that too… These leaves leech out stings… (She takes out a pouch and pulls out green leaves. She presses them to the wound and rewraps Beth’s hand. Kevin watches with interest.) I can't wait to see how you handle birthin' your little girl there if that bugged you.
KEVIN
Natural aspirin. Nice work. Miss Louise, I need to spend some time with you. You could teach me a thing or two I bet.
MISS LOUISE
Flattered but not lookin’ fer a boyfriend at this delicate time in my life. However, if you have this good beer all the time, we can engage in proper conversation on the porch once in a while.
ELIZABETH
Miss Louise, did you pass a woman outside wearing a brim hat and a shawl? I saw her standing under the tree…Maybe you know her. We didn’t invite her in. Maybe she was just out for an evening stroll or something...
MISS LOUISE
She wouldn’t a come in anyway. She thinks her Daddy’s still here. Personally, I think her Daddy’s still here, evil son of a bitch. Even though he shoulda gone di-rectly to hell when he died. Hell wouldn’t have him, I reckon. Puked him right back out I bet. (She points to Beth's wounded hand.) Figures he’d make a nuisance of himself. Oh, don't worry, he got his in the end. He died tangled up in the thresher. Got chopped into 8 pieces and they had to completely pull the blade apart to fish out all his remains… (She whispers conspiratorially.) People say he was pushed over the guard by someone ‘cause it takes some real effort to fall in. Stands to reason he got kilt by mechanized knives. He liked to use ‘em on people he didn’t like. (She eyes Beth.) You should watch it. He has a special dislike for pregnant women. (Ms. Louise warms to the idea of telling a story and sits.) You want to hear more about it?
(To be continued...)
o_0
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