How we cite our quotes:
Quote #10
There were two more pistol reports and the grandmother raised her head like a parched old turkey hen crying for water and called, "Bailey Boy, Bailey Boy!" as if her heart would break. (133)
We think the grandmother's heart probably is breaking at this point, because both here and shortly afterwards she no longer seems in control of herself (she becomes dizzy and sinks to the ground). If there's one moment at which you feel sorry for the grandmother in the story, and in which it's clear she really does care for her son, this is that moment. But even here there's still that bit of dark humor; we get the image of the woman as a parched old turkey.