The Summons

Palmer of the First Presbyterian Church, an ageless little Scot who'd baptized both Atlee sons. Forrest slipped away and hid in the backyard while Ray met the party on th

s one, however, and appeared to be

. He did this without words, but simply nodded at Mr. Magargel with a somber, bureaucratic dip of the chin that said, "He's d

cs. The Judge's full name, date of birth, place of birth, n

ining room table. The minister was much more emotional than t

nd admirers and should be well planned. "Reuben and I talked about it not lon

good," R

nd scriptures, and he made

His overworked brain listened to Palmer and caught most of his words, then it would switch to the broom closet and start swirling

care of. Mr. Magargel's assistant rolled a gurney through the front door,

es were traditional, a necessary prelude to a

no

in the

id instantly

tash already in the broom closet. How much was there? How long would it take to count it? Was it real or counterfeit? Where did it

very plain about

d. We will have a w

ask w

moth

ed and said, "I re

town paraded by. My brother and I hid upstairs and cursed my father for such a spectacle

re a thorough scouring of the house by a cleaning service, and the preparation of food by a ca

nd," the re

as covered from head to foot by a starched white sheet that was tucked neatly under him. With Thurber followin

. He was holding a tall clear glass that was filled with a suspicious-looking br

ps, smoking a cigar. When Forrest sat down next

u find that

place in his bath

ng have you

ty ye

een delivered many times before, and evidently they had failed be

Ray asked aft

s hell,

e her at t

is her limit. Under one-fifty and she'll leave th

she under

n to a hundred pounds. Doctor went to jail and she gained another two hundred. Three hundred

t we would have a wake, but

the ex

agr

ur

bourbon, another lo

sebag who ditched y

ic

ted that bitch eve

sh I

till a

, at the airport, getti

fart, right, some cr

t's talk about

ought u

a big

ink, then said, "Let's tal

was gazing at the front lawn and didn't notice. What mone

t w

is money,

leave som

and dollars on legal fees, court fines, and rehab for Forrest. He could leave the money for Forrest to drink and snort, or he

the house,

appens

a pot with everything else. Fifty percent will

he botto

split fifty thousan

ty money? Should it be included in the estate? If so, it would cause terrible problems. First, it would have to be explained. Second,

ive thousand bucks in

was anxious or disgusted

want the

do

l never go ba

on, Fo

disgraced this family long enough. Told

e apol

esses me. You're the executor, you deal with i

st go through his

want a beer. It's been five months, and I want a beer." H

N

na ride

ger urge to sit tight and protect the Atlee family assets. The Judge

ate

looking for keys, when he heard a loud voice bellowing at the front door. Though

with a large chest and stomach, a big messy bear of a man who worshiped Judge Atlee and would do anything for his boys. He was a br

ou get here

I found him

two weeks, hadn't talked

to buy

. They sat in the rocking chairs near

too, Ha

believe h

thought he'd a

mumbled. "I just can't believe it. I saw him two weeks ago, I guess it

was about twelve months ago. I

uch a toug

ant so

'd be

s of instant ice tea. He took them back to th

ink and concurred.

Harry Rex, and we're not

big smile. "Let's put him in the courthouse, first floor i

re se

e whole town could parade

ike

o the sheriff and get it approved. Eve

esd

tomorrow afternoon. You w

't you just organiz

l picked ou

oing in th

ng I'd ever seen. Magargel can get one out of Tupelo in two hours. And forget the vault, too. They're just rip-of

ill had not mentioned the casket but had specifically requested a vault. And he wanted a nic

hey watched the shadows fall across the long front lawn of Maple Run, Ray

surprised

N

with no insurance, black kids he sent to college, every volunteer fire department, civic club, all-star team,

u start goin

years

hy

a new

ny is t

ly like this

y for

very

ks you just mentioned can pay their respects in public

bril

es behind Harry Rex's Cadillac. He crawled out and lumbered toward them