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"You have indeed kept ," Mamaw said

Lucille turned her head to look at her "What’s that?"

"I’," Maer you’re going to keepto tellon?"

Lucille turned her head and looked straight ahead through the windshield

"I thought ere friends," Maain froave nothing away

"That we didn’t keep secrets from each other," Mamaw continued

"You told me you didn’t want no more bad news," Lucille said

"What? When did I say that?"

"A while back In this very car"

Ma that, and even if I did, I certainly didn’t mean to be taken literally Lucille, for pity’s sake, I know you don’t have the flu Please tellon"

Lucille turned to look at her Then she said in a flat voice, "I got the cancer"

Mamaw felt her heart skip a beat, even as her stomach dropped "Oh, no" She sed hard, then asked, "What kind? What do the doctors say?"

"Slon," Lucille said, tapping the dashboard "You’re gonna kill us both"

Ma her speed She applied the brake and slowed to the speed lie and drove up Cole lot she spied She pulled in and stopped the car Turning, she faced Lucille

"Tell "

Lucille looked at her with co You’re alreadya list of what doctors to call, what treatonna have to listen to what I’ ht"

Lucille shifted her weight in the seat "A while back I got these pains I tried to o away I went to see my doctor He sent ave me a mess of tests"

Mamaw feared the worst "What kind of--"

Lucille put up her hand to stop Mamaw’s question and Mamaw snapped her mouth shut

"They told me I had cancer Pancreatic cancer"

Mamaw sucked in her breath, then exhaled "Oh, Lord"