Page 56

By Jack Joseph Smith

56 Which way shall we go? Asked Dani; hits: eyes: excited Lets-rum aleng ‘the ridges ones: Everyene toward’ Kénnedy ferest, Daniel ‘and I said with whispering depths We were eff and runing agaim with our feet rising.with eur spirits like-a- flat reck skinming acress:a smooth lakes’ We ran along the ridge ever: the forest loudly laughing: end yelling at the gheabssthat were clearly being burned’ in waves: of heat’ that were falling like the sun through the treess ‘ The late afternoon was: bringing a wind and the sky was: changing, We headed heme acresasthe field’ and’ the little-girla-were:happyi We boys were playing: and ‘paying ne attention to them,.but they liked us -new-and keep close behind uss When we started’ walking en the read I asked Daniel if he theught Mrs Metzes-had’ gene aways We really wanted to see-him, He was- so-along and alli’ Living-by himself with no ene te talk te, And his wife-and children burned alive-or living far away from him, because-he wouldn't leave his-places: He just wanted to stey there-I guess and leok around at what’ he-had built, on the top of the hill by the apple trees, I'bet' he loved te see then blosstm in the spring-when all’ the birds were-singing and he was sad, becausenall the hymans he-léved werni't there-to talk to him any meres! He reahly gave-us: life-when we-were-telling-stories.ateut hims Gee, wereally did’ wan, te see hime Cause we-wern't afraid’ of him, even if he had’ chased us-with hie: gun and shet it se loud se that it’ scared us out ef our wites Semething like that‘ did happen yeu knews. because eur heads-were banging so much when we were-runing away frem him)’ But he was: se big-we couldn't stay and talk hin into puting: his-gun dewns' I guess he did go away, I'said to Daniei, but I

Original Scan

Page 56

AI Interpretation

GPT

Running home from the orchard, the children turn their escape into admiration for Mister Metzes, imagining his loneliness, bravery, ruined household, and the life his field keeps giving them.

Fear is already changing into devotion here, because the gunshot story makes him larger without making him hateful. Metzes field becomes a place where danger, pity, and play hold together, and the boys begin wanting not just to raid his land but to be recognized by him.

Claude

Running along the ridge back toward home, Michael grows the Mister Metzes legend into compassion — no one to talk to, wife and children burned or gone — the recognition that will eventually authorize him to burn the field in Metzes's honor.