NEGRO YOUTH SPEAKS
177
CARTER
He wasn't a thing but a boy. Why didn't you'-all explain it to him?
JANE
We done the best we could. We persuaded him not to do no shootin' so it didn't take long to wear off his mind, he bein' a kid; but he never liked none o'you'-all after that.
CARTER
Kept hate in his heart for seven years?
JANE
[Putting the gun in the corner.]
Ah wouldn't call it hate out and out, but you couldn't expect him to love you after you shot his big brother.
CARTER
Can't he see yet that I didn't mean to do it?
JANE
Seems like he can't.
CARTER
I'm glad you kin see I didn't mean it.
JANE
Yes, Ah kin see it, Ben. If Ah couldn't see you didn't mean to do it you'd 'a' been dead years ago.
CARTER
[Starting.]
Dead!
JANE
Yes.
CARTER
You mean you'd 'a' killed me?
