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"I'm going to teach you how to walk Doodle" i said.
"why?"
"so i wont have to haul you around all time"
"I can't walk, Brother."
"Who say's so?"
"Mama, the doctor- everybody."
"Oh you can walk" i took him by the arms and stoo him up. he collapsed on to the grass like a half-empty flour sack. it was if his little legs had no bones.
"Dont hurt me,Brother"
"Shut up. I'm not going to hurt you. I'm going to teach you to walk" i heaved him up again, and he collapsed.
"I just can't do it"
"Oh, yes,you can,Doodle. All you have to do it try. Now come on." i hauled him up once more.
It seemed so hopeless tat it's a miracle i didnt give up. but all of us must have something to be proud of, and Doodle had become my something.
Finally one day he stood alone for a few seconds. when he fell, i grabbed him in my arms and hugged him, our laughter ringing through the swamp like a bell. now we knew it could be done.
We decided not to tell anyone untill he was actualky walking. At beakfast on our chosen day, i brought Dodle to the door in the cart. i helpped Dodle up; and when he was standing alone, I let them look. there wasn't a sound as Doodle walked slowly across the roomand sat down at the table. then mama began to cry and ran over to him, hugging him and kissing him. Daddy hugged him, too. Doodle told them it was I who had taught him to walk, so they wanted to hug me, and i began to cry.
"what are you crying for?" asked Daddy, but i couldn't answer. they didn't know that i did it just for myself, that Doodle walked only because i was ashamed of having a crippled brother.
Within a few months, Doodle had learned to walk well. since i had succeeded in teaching Doodle to walk, i began to believe in my own infallibility. i decided to teach him to run, to row, to swim, to climb trees, and to fight. Now he,too, believed in me; so, we set a deadline when Doodle could start school.
*part 3 next*