″ ‘Those boys looked mean, like they’d start a fire or something like that. That’s why I hollered at them like I did.’
‘I see. Ima Dean, can you hear me or have your ears gone bad on you again?’
‘No’m, I can hear you. You’re mad at me, aren’t you?’
‘Why, no. Why should I be? It’s all right to holler at strangers. I always do. If they run up to you and stick a knife in your ribs, well, what does that matter? We’re Christians. We know this is not the only life.’ ”