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a single blade of the man’s grass through the fence. Not one single blade.
    That evening, Papa told Mama about the angry man. Mama had spent the day baking and the house smelled of fresh baked bread. Papa said that he had an errand to run after supper and would need to drive past the man’s house. “Would you mind if I took a loaf of homemade bread? I’d like to stop at the neighbor’s house and give it to him.”
    Mama wrapped the bread in a nice towel and gave it to Papa.
    On the front porch, Lily watched Jim pull the little open buggy with Papa on the wagon seat. The loaf of bread sat beside Papa. Lily felt worried. She hoped that the man had put his gun away before Papa stopped by. She hoped that Jim wouldn’t try to eat any grass from the man’s yard.
    Finally, Papa came home. He said the man’s name was Harold Young, and that he had been pleased to accept the loaf of bread. “Every time we think of Harold Young,” Papa said, “we will try and think of something nice to say or do for him the next time we see him.”
    That night, lying in bed, Lily gave Papa’s words some serious thought. She scrunched up her face and thought long and hard. She tried to think of one nice thing to say about Harold Young. But nothing came to mind. Lots of mean, horrible things, but nothing nice. Not one nice thought! She had promised Papa she would try. She would just have to try harder. Maybe tomorrow.

7

Joseph Wants to Fly
    P apa was full of surprises. One afternoon he came into the kitchen and handed his big red handkerchief to Mama. He had tied the corners together to make a little basket. “Look what I found when I was checking the fence,” he said, his eyes twinkling.
    Lily stood beside Mama and watched her untie it. What was inside?
    Out rolled five big, juicy, dark red plums. Mama looked up at Papa, a smile in her voice. “You found a plum tree!”
    She went to get a knife and cut them open. She twisted the plum halves apart to reveal a juicy golden and pink flesh. Lily’s mouth watered as Mama handed half of a plum to Papa to eat.
    â€œThat is the best plum I’ve ever tasted,” Papa said. “If you have a few empty pails, I’ll go pick the rest of them.”
    â€œWait a few minutes and I’ll go with you,” Mama said.“The bread is almost done baking and the rest of the work can wait.”
    Mama cut the rest of the plums into halves and handed them to Lily and Joseph. Lily took tiny bites, savoring the sweet sticky goodness. She tried to make her plum last longer than Joseph’s. Joseph gobbled his plum and then watched as Lily slowly finished hers. Lily took even tinier bites. She couldn’t help but feel a little smug as Joseph watched her, a hungry look in his brown eyes. Little boys had to learn to not be so greedy.
    The oven timer went off and Mama pulled several loaves of beautiful golden bread from the oven.
    â€œLily, you had better get your shoes and socks on,” Papa said. “There are brambles in the woods and I don’t want you to hurt your feet.”
    Sadly, Lily put on her shoes. Papa helped her tie her laces. The shoes made her feet feel heavy and her toes penned in, but it would be a worse feeling to step on prickly brambles with her bare feet.
    Lily loved to walk in the woods with Papa. Today, with Mama joining them, it would be even more fun. Mama held Dannie in her arms as they all walked along the new fence that Papa had made. When they came to the creek, they walked along the bank, stepping over fallen tree limbs and dodging bramble bushes. Lily liked to listen to the quiet gurgle of the creek as the water ran over the rocks in the creek bed. Ferns and other woodland plants grew along the banks. Usually, Lily would stop to gather a few ferns and wildflowers to take home to Mama. Today there was something more important to do. Soon, they came to a tree loaded with red plums. Lily