They walked together to the house, both laughing. When they came through the back door, Ma looked up, saw their shirts and then looked from one of them to the other.
Mary Jo spoke before Ma could say anything. "Do you have some flour and sugar? We're trying to make a birthday cake."
Monroe burst into a deep laugh and Mary Jo joined him. Ma laughed and shook her head. "I'm afeared to ask what happened."
Monroe tried to sober, but wasn't doing a very good job of it. "I'm sure that it will come as no surprise to you that I fell again - this time with a basket full of eggs."
Mary Jo broke into a fresh peal of laughter. "And I ran into a door jam laughing at him."
Ma took the bucket of milk from Mary Jo. "Y'all best let me take care of this here milk."
Barrett finally managed to sober. "I have a clean shirt in the Car. I'll go change."
Mary Jo headed for her room. "I'll put on a different shirt."
They stopped and looked at each other - then grinned before continuing on their individual missions. Mary Jo changed her shirt and left the house to find Barrett. He didn't come to their house so he could help her with chores. Hopefully he wasn't there to talk about trees, either.
She found Barrett leaning against his car, his arms crossed over his chest, studying the trees. He turned his head as she approached and smiled. He dropped his hands and moved away from the car.
"I came over to find out if you got the word about the birthday dinner. It sounds like you did. Do you want me to pick you up?"
So he wasn't there for a romantic evening. She tried not to look disappointed. "Pa's supposed to be home tomorrow. I know Ma wants to be here. I don't know about Billy Ray."
He lifted a brow. "And you?"
She shrugged. "I ain't got no…I don't have anything decent to wear."
He studied her face for a moment. "I should know better than to bring this up, but…of course it doesn't matter what you are wearing. Still, if it would make you feel more comfortable, I could take you into town and get something for you."
She rolled her eyes. "So, for your birthday, you'll get me something to wear to your party."
He grimaced. "I told you I should know better."