If he could learn when to keep his mouth shut, thought Clearwater, and how to think ahead, he might could still turn out with some kind of maturity and style.

From Edgerton, Clyde. 2007. 'The Great Speckled Bird' in Southern Review 43:1. (author is from Bethesda, NC) Full Context: beside the Chrysler, turned off the ignition, and got out. " If you'd left him alone, " he said, " we'd done be thirty mile up the road. " Clearwater was squatting, changing license plates on the Chrysler. He said, " I don't want to hear no more about it. " He caught the boy's eye. The boy, tapping his fingers against his thigh, looked away. If he could learn when to keep his mouth shut, thought Clearwater, and how to think ahead, he might could still turn out with some kind of maturity and style. From the trunk of the Ford, Clearwater retrieved eight license plates from eight different states; his photo album; a canvas bag containing a hunting jacket, two.38 pistols, masking tape, rope, and cigarette lighters; and a suitcase of clothes with a stash of jewelry and cash stored beneath false sides. He placed his things in the roomy Chrysler trunk, hid the license plates behind the trunk lining, and then waited until the