Complete Works of William Faulkner

by William Faulkner

  “I’ll declare.” Luster said. “You fusses when you dont see them and you fusses when you does. Why cant you hush. Dont you reckon folks gets tired of listening to you all the time. Here. You dropped your jimson weed.” He picked it up and gave it back to me. “You needs a new one. You ‘bout wore that one out.” We stood at the fence and watched them.

  “That white man hard to get along with.” Luster said. “You see him take my ball.” They went on. We went on along the fence. We came to the garden and we couldn’t go any further. I held to the fence and looked through the flower spaces. They went away.

  “Now you aint got nothing to moan about.” Luster said. “Hush up. I the one got something to moan over, you aint. Here. Whyn’t you hold on to that weed. You be bellering about it next.” He gave me the flower. “Where you heading now.”

  Our shadows were on the grass. They got to the trees before we did. Mine got there first. Then we got there, and then the shadows were gone. There was a flower in the bottle. I put the other flower in it.

  “Aint you a grown man, now.” Luster said. “Playing with two weeds in a bottle. You know what they going to do with you when Miss Cahline die. They going to send you to Jackson, where you belong. Mr Jason say so. Where you can hold the bars all day long with the rest of the looneys and slobber. How you like that.”

  Luster knocked the flowers over with his hand. “That’s what they’ll do to you at Jackson when you starts bellering.”

  I tried to pick up the flowers. Luster picked them up, and they went away. I began to cry.

  “Beller.” Luster said. “Beller. You want something to beller about. All right, then. Caddy.” he whispered. “Caddy. Beller now. Caddy.”

  “Luster.” Dilsey said from the kitchen.

  The flowers came back.

  “Hush.” Luster said. “Here they is. Look. It’s fixed back just like it was at first. Hush, now.”

  “You, Luster.” Dilsey said.

  “Yessum.” Luster said. “We coming. You done played hell. Get up.” He jerked my arm and I got up. We went out of the trees. Our shadows were gone.

  “Hush.” Luster said. “Look at all them folks watching you. Hush.”

  “You bring him on here.” Dilsey said. She came down the steps.

  “What you done to him now.” she said.

  “Aint done nothing to him.” Luster said. “He just started bellering.”

  “Yes you is.” Dilsey said. “You done something to him. Where you been.”

  “Over yonder under them cedars.” Luster said.

  “Getting Quentin all riled up.” Dilsey said. “Why cant you keep him away from her. Dont you know she dont like him where she at.”

  “Got as much time for him as I is.” Luster said. “He aint none of my uncle.”

  “Dont you sass me, nigger boy.” Dilsey said.

  “I aint done nothing to him.” Luster said. “He was playing there, and all of a sudden he started bellering.”

  “Is you been projecking with his graveyard.” Dilsey said.

  “I aint touched his graveyard.” Luster said.

  “Dont lie to me, boy.” Dilsey said. We went up the steps and into the kitchen. Dilsey opened the firedoor and drew a chair up in front of it and I sat down. I hushed.

  What you want to get her started for, Dilsey said. Whyn’t you keep him out of there.

  He was just looking at the fire, Caddy said. Mother was telling him his new name. We didn’t mean to get her started.

  I knows you didn’t, Dilsey said. Him at one end of the house and her at the other. You let my things alone, now. Dont you touch nothing till I get back.

  “Aint you shamed of yourself.” Dilsey said. “Teasing him.” She set the cake on the table.

  “I aint been teasing him.” Luster said. “He was playing with that bottle full of dogfennel and all of a sudden he started up bellering. You heard him.”

  “You aint done nothing to his flowers.” Dilsey said.

  “I aint touched his graveyard.” Luster said. “What I want with his truck. I was just hunting for that quarter.”

  “You lost it, did you.” Dilsey said. She lit the candles on the cake. Some of them were little ones. Some were big ones cut into little pieces. “I told you to go put it away. Now I reckon you want me to get you another one from Frony.”

  “I got to go to that show, Benjy or no Benjy.” Luster said. “I aint going to follow him around day and night both.”

  “You going to do just what he want you to, nigger boy.” Dilsey said. “You hear me.”

  “Aint I always done it.” Luster said. “Dont I always does what he wants. Dont I, Benjy.”

  “Then you keep it up.” Dilsey said. “Bringing him in here, bawling and getting her started too. You all go ahead and eat this cake, now, before Jason come. I dont want him jumping on me about a cake I bought with my own money. Me baking a cake here, with him counting every egg that comes into this kitchen. See can you let him alone now, less you dont want to go to that show tonight.”

  Dilsey went away.

  “You cant blow out no candles.” Luster said. “Watch me blow them out.” He leaned down and puffed his face. The candles went away. I began to cry. “Hush.” Luster said. “Here. Look at the fire whiles I cuts this cake.”

  I could hear the clock, and I could hear Caddy standing behind me, and I could hear the roof. It’s still raining, Caddy said. I hate rain. I hate everything. And then her head came into my lap and she was crying, holding me, and I began to cry. Then I looked at the fire again and the bright, smooth shapes went again. I could hear the clock and the roof and Caddy.

  I ate some cake. Luster’s hand came and took another piece. I could hear him eating. I looked at the fire.

  A long piece of wire came across my shoulder. It went to the door, and then the fire went away. I began to cry.

  “What you howling for now.” Luster said. “Look there.” The fire was there. I hushed. “Cant you set and look at the fire and be quiet like mammy told you.” Luster said. “You ought to be ashamed of yourself. Here. Here’s you some more cake.”

  “What you done to him now.” Dilsey said. “Cant you never let him alone.”

  “I was just trying to get him to hush up and not sturb Miss Cahline.” Luster said. “Something got him started again.”

  “And I know what that something name.” Dilsey said. “I’m going to get Versh to take a stick to you when he comes home. You just trying yourself. You been doing it all day. Did you take him down to the branch.”

  “Nome.” Luster said. “We been right here in this yard all day, like you said.”

  His hand came for another piece of cake. Dilsey hit his hand. “Reach it again, and I chop it right off with this here butcher knife.” Dilsey said. “I bet he aint had one piece of it.”

  “Yes he is.” Luster said. “He already had twice as much as me. Ask him if he aint.”

  “Reach hit one more time.” Dilsey said. “Just reach it.”

  That’s right, Dilsey said. I reckon it’ll be my time to cry next. Reckon Maury going to let me cry on him a while, too.

  His name’s Benjy now, Caddy said.

  How come it is, Dilsey said. He aint wore out the name he was born with yet, is he.

  Benjamin came out of the bible, Caddy said. It’s a better name for him than Maury was.

  How come it is, Dilsey said.

  Mother says it is, Caddy said.

  Huh, Dilsey said. Name aint going to help him. Hurt him, neither. Folks dont have no luck, changing names. My name been Dilsey since fore I could remember and it be Dilsey when they’s long forgot me.

  How will they know it’s Dilsey, when it’s long forgot, Dilsey, Caddy said.

  It’ll be in the Book, honey, Dilsey said. Writ out.

  Can you read it, Caddy said.

  Wont have to, Dilsey said. They’ll read it for me. All I got to do is say Ise here.

  The long wire came across my shoulder, and the fire went away.
I began to cry.

  Dilsey and Luster fought.

  “I seen you.” Dilsey said. “Oho, I seen you.” She dragged Luster out of the corner, shaking him. “Wasn’t nothing bothering him, was they. You just wait till your pappy come home. I wish I was young like I use to be, I’d tear them years right off your head. I good mind to lock you up in that cellar and not let you go to that show tonight, I sho is.”

  “Ow, mammy.” Luster said. “Ow, mammy.”

  I put my hand out to where the fire had been.

  “Catch him.” Dilsey said. “Catch him back.”

  My hand jerked back and I put it in my mouth and Dilsey caught me. I could still hear the clock between my voice. Dilsey reached back and hit Luster on the head. My voice was going loud every time.

  “Get that soda.” Dilsey said. She took my hand out of my mouth. My voice went louder then and my hand tried to go back to my mouth, but Dilsey held it. My voice went loud. She sprinkled soda on my hand.

  “Look in the pantry and tear a piece off of that rag hanging on the nail.” she said. “Hush, now. You dont want to make your ma sick again, does you. Here, look at the fire. Dilsey make your hand stop hurting in just a minute. Look at the fire.” She opened the fire door. I looked at the fire, but my hand didn’t stop and I didn’t stop. My hand was trying to go to my mouth but Dilsey held it.

  She wrapped the cloth around it. Mother said,

  “What is it now. Cant I even be sick in peace. Do I have to get up out of bed to come down to him, with two grown negroes to take care of him.”

  “He all right now.” Dilsey said. “He going to quit. He just burnt his hand a little.”

  “With two grown negroes, you must bring him into the house, bawling.” Mother said. “You got him started on purpose, because you know I’m sick.” She came and stood by me. “Hush.” she said. “Right this minute. Did you give him this cake.”

  “I bought it.” Dilsey said. “It never come out of Jason’s pantry. I fixed him some birthday.”

  “Do you want to poison him with that cheap store cake.” Mother said. “Is that what you are trying to do. Am I never to have one minute’s peace.”

  “You go on back up stairs and lay down.” Dilsey said. “It’ll quit smarting him in a minute now, and he’ll hush. Come on, now.”

  “And leave him down here for you all to do something else to.” Mother said. “How can I lie there, with him bawling down here. Benjamin. Hush this minute.”

  “They aint nowhere else to take him.” Dilsey said. “We aint got the room we use to have. He cant stay out in the yard, crying where all the neighbors can see him.”

  “I know, I know.” Mother said. “It’s all my fault. I’ll be gone soon, and you and Jason will both get along better.” She began to cry.

  “You hush that, now.” Dilsey said. “You’ll get yourself down again. You come on back up stairs. Luster going to take him to the liberry and play with him till I get his supper done.”

  Dilsey and Mother went out.

  “Hush up.” Luster said. “You hush up. You want me to burn your other hand for you. You aint hurt. Hush up.”

  “Here.” Dilsey said. “Stop crying, now.” She gave me the slipper, and I hushed. “Take him to the liberry.” she said. “And if I hear him again, I going to whip you myself.”

  We went to the library. Luster turned on the light. The windows went black, and the dark tall place on the wall came and I went and touched it. It was like a door, only it wasn’t a door.

  The fire came behind me and I went to the fire and sat on the floor, holding the slipper. The fire went higher. It went onto the cushion in Mother’s chair.

  “Hush up.” Luster said. “Cant you never get done for a while. Here I done built you a fire, and you wont even look at it.”

  Your name is Benjy. Caddy said. Do you hear. Benjy. Benjy.

  Dont tell him that, Mother said. Bring him here.

  Caddy lifted me under the arms.

  Get up, Mau — I mean Benjy, she said.

  Dont try to carry him, Mother said. Cant you lead him over here. Is that too much for you to think of.

  I can carry him, Caddy said. “Let me carry him up, Dilsey.”

  “Go on, Minute.” Dilsey said. “You aint big enough to tote a flea. You go on and be quiet, like Mr. Jason said.”

  There was a light at the top of the stairs. Father was there, in his shirt sleeves. The way he looked said Hush. Caddy whispered,

  “Is Mother sick.”

  Versh set me down and we went into Mother’s room. There was a fire. It was rising and falling on the walls. There was another fire in the mirror. I could smell the sickness. It was a cloth folded on Mother’s head. Her hair was on the pillow. The fire didn’t reach it, but it shone on her hand, where her rings were jumping.

  “Come and tell Mother goodnight.” Caddy said. We went to the bed. The fire went out of the mirror. Father got up from the bed and lifted me up and Mother put her hand on my head.

  “What time is it.” Mother said. Her eyes were closed.

  “Ten minutes to seven.” Father said.

  “It’s too early for him to go to bed.” Mother said. “He’ll wake up at daybreak, and I simply cannot bear another day like today.”

  “There, there.” Father said. He touched Mother’s face.

  “I know I’m nothing but a burden to you.” Mother said. “But I’ll be gone soon. Then you will be rid of my bothering.”

  “Hush.” Father said. “I’ll take him downstairs awhile.” He took me up. “Come on, old fellow. Let’s go downstairs awhile. We’ll have to be quiet while Quentin is studying, now.”

  Caddy went and leaned her face over the bed and Mother’s hand came into the firelight. Her rings jumped on Caddy’s back.

  Mother’s sick, Father said. Dilsey will put you to bed. Where’s Quentin.

  Versh getting him, Dilsey said.

  Father stood and watched us go past. We could hear Mother in her room. Caddy said “Hush.” Jason was still climbing the stairs. He had his hands in his pockets.

  “You all must be good tonight.” Father said. “And be quiet, so you wont disturb Mother.”

  “We’ll be quiet.” Caddy said. “You must be quiet now, Jason.” she said. We tiptoed.

  We could hear the roof. I could see the fire in the mirror too. Caddy lifted me again.

  “Come on, now.” she said. “Then you can come back to the fire. Hush, now.”

  “Candace.” Mother said.

  “Hush, Benjy.” Caddy said. “Mother wants you a minute. Like a good boy. Then you can come back. Benjy.”

  Caddy let me down, and I hushed.

  “Let him stay here, Mother. When he’s through looking at the fire, then you can tell him.”

  “Candace.” Mother said. Caddy stooped and lifted me. We staggered. “Candace.” Mother said.

  “Hush.” Caddy said. “You can still see it. Hush.”

  “Bring him here.” Mother said. “He’s too big for you to carry. You must stop trying. You’ll injure your back. All of our women have prided themselves on their carriage. Do you want to look like a washer-woman.”

  “He’s not too heavy.” Caddy said. “I can carry him.”

  “Well, I dont want him carried, then.” Mother said. “A five year old child. No, no. Not in my lap. Let him stand up.”

  “If you’ll hold him, he’ll stop.” Caddy said. “Hush.” she said. “You can go right back. Here. Here’s your cushion. See.”

  “Dont, Candace.” Mother said.

  “Let him look at it and he’ll be quiet.” Caddy said. “Hold up just a minute while I slip it out. There, Benjy. Look.”

  I looked at it and hushed.

  “You humour him too much.” Mother said. “You and your father both. You dont realise that I am the one who has to pay for it. Damuddy spoiled Jason that way and it took him two years to outgrow it, and I am not strong enough to go through the same thing with Benjamin.”

  “You dont
need to bother with him.” Caddy said. “I like to take care of him. Dont I, Benjy.”

  “Candace.” Mother said. “I told you not to call him that. It was bad enough when your father insisted on calling you by that silly nickname, and I will not have him called by one. Nicknames are vulgar. Only common people use them. Benjamin.” she said.

  “Look at me.” Mother said.

  “Benjamin.” she said. She took my face in her hands and turned it to hers.

  “Benjamin.” she said. “Take that cushion away, Candace.”

  “He’ll cry.” Caddy said.

  “Take that cushion away, like I told you.” Mother said. “He must learn to mind.”

  The cushion went away.

  “Hush, Benjy.” Caddy said.

  “You go over there and sit down.” Mother said. “Benjamin.” She held my face to hers.

  “Stop that.” she said. “Stop it.”

  But I didn’t stop and Mother caught me in her arms and began to cry, and I cried. Then the cushion came back and Caddy held it above Mother’s head. She drew Mother back in the chair and Mother lay crying against the red and yellow cushion.

  “Hush, Mother.” Caddy said. “You go upstairs and lay down, so you can be sick. I’ll go get Dilsey.” She led me to the fire and I looked at the bright, smooth shapes. I could hear the fire and the roof.

  Father took me up. He smelled like rain.

  “Well, Benjy.” he said. “Have you been a good boy today.”

  Caddy and Jason were fighting in the mirror.

  “You, Caddy.” Father said.

  They fought. Jason began to cry.

  “Caddy.” Father said. Jason was crying. He wasn’t fighting anymore but we could see Caddy fighting in the mirror and Father put me down and went into the mirror and fought too. He lifted Caddy up. She fought. Jason lay on the floor, crying. He had the scissors in his hand. Father held Caddy.

  “He cut up all Benjy’s dolls.” Caddy said. “I’ll slit his gizzle.”

  “Candace.” Father said.

  “I will.” Caddy said. “I will.” She fought. Father held her. She kicked at Jason. He rolled into the corner, out of the mirror. Father brought Caddy to the fire. They were all out of the mirror. Only the fire was in it. Like the fire was in a door.