Darnell barely got his feet on the ground before the two children came dashing up. They both skidded to a halt, mouths going into a gape as they stared at him.
“Dad, you said there was going to be a lady.” That was the boy, hair slicked back in a clumsy effort to tame it, and legs and arms too long for his dungarees and worn shirt.
“Things changed. She couldn’t come. This is Mr. Davis. He’s a cousin of your mother’s, and he came out to help us for a while. He says he cooks real good.”
The little girl hung back, wide-eyed and clearly uncertain. Darnell knelt quickly to bring himself closer to her level. He smiled. “I’m really a nice guy,” he said. “I never act like a bogeyman or growl at little girls. In fact, I really like them and boys, too. I had two sisters and two brothers, all youn
