You go, she said, almost sobbing in greatest sacrifice. Is first grandson. Your honor. Must go.

And for once the old man knew he must accept one of her great sacrifices. I go. he told her sadly.

He thought of his old clothes. Strangers would laugh, mock when they saw him. The trip would be an agony for him. His gaze shot forward to the family gathering at the end of the trip and his misery grew worse. He glanced at his son, the one that had inherited his talent to be broken by the sweeping events of the economy, the son that also had hair too long hanging down into his face and would require a whole bar of lye soap to make clean. Your mother makes good soap, son. Is good. Is good. He wanted to turn to the wall and let his tears flow. A lifetime of hard work and nothing I have. I am sorry.

And son, he say: You have been good father. Of you, I am proud.

Father, a say: One thing I buy, and it hangs around my neck like a millstone.

Behind him his wife sobbed, around her neck too was a millstone.

The sun was sobered. Well he knew the history of that document. Man, he say be worth thousands someday.

The own man nodded. Someday, it never come, huh? His eyes clouded. I have shame. Whole family shame with me.

The son, his eyes misted too. Family, it shame.

I burn it now, said the father with great anger. It shame me no more. Wife, bring document. Bring match. This shame be gone.

Openly now, wife, she sob. It is sad day for family. Almost reverently she bring document, But it is no match in the house, she said. Is great shame. Old man cry some little. Mother she cry much.

Son his throat tight and raw, need great drink of water. He say: New century now. Shame too long. Let us take this shame to bank, see if maybe worth little for trip.

Would shame me more, said the old man. He thought for a moment. Yes. To bank we go, in big city, not here. If worth no little then no one here know our shame.

everyone nodded and the tears dried up. Shame no more, said the old woman. If worth no little then you burn there. Is good.

When they drive down muddy road, the old man marveled that the Model A was still running. Long time run good, huh?

Good buy, said the son, try to cheer up old man. Father good buy automobile and mules.

Good mules, old man grunt. Bad land, bad sells.

He pull ragged beaver from head and grunt. Good hat. 10, 15 years now, good hat.

Son smile. Good hat.

Father see smile put beaver on head. Foolish one throw way and I find. Is good hat. No shame.

No shame, son say.

Geecago, big bank first come, we stop. Show document, then burn. Big burn. I blow ashes away. No more shame.

Son drive good, mud holes deepest he miss. No splat, drive slows. Hard roads she come and faster he go. Go all night, no sleep. Good son, no shame. Bad luck long time. No shame. Next morning still drive, No stop no eat, Shecago soon there. Bank big, they stop. 3 floors high bank, say old man. Must be big. They know.

He pull document out, stare at it moment, then father son go inside. Old man is smart. They go bar and say, Want loan today. He show document, Have security.

Good security, say son.

Tall man come, is smart, is big tall. Has tight shirt. How big loan you want? he ask.

Father think big, think big. Father count on fingers, think hard. 32, he say.

Smile tall man. We can loan 32 dollars, say. Do you have security?

Son smile. Good security.

Father hand document over table. Take tall man smiles. Stares at document. Is certificate of shares.

Buy big, Father says. Security good? Loan make todays?

Tall man stands tall. Chair falls backward on floor. Wheels spin. Eyes wide, tall man say, Alice, call mister Johnson.

Bad security? Father says, We go, no trouble. We burn.

Tall man yank document back. No go, say. Whole bank look at Father. Look at son. Father hide beaver under table. Is old. Is shame Why bring in beaver? Hands make beaver little be.

Fat man come, stare at father, stare at son. What is problem Jim? Fat man ask.

Document hand to old man. Tall man pick up chair. Whole bank look at Father. Look at son. Is big shame silence. Fat man sit down chair. Tell me, where get document.

I buy good, many years go, Father say.

Fat man stare at document. Fat man stare top, stare bottom. Fat man pull up ribbon, look under. Old he say. How much loan want?

Father much worried. 32 he say.

We hold document, say fat man. Father nod. Smiles fat man. “Sure Jim. We can loan $32,000 on this. Smart man buy cheap, sells high. Smart man is no shame Father.

Son say how much is document worth now? Fat man laugh. “Hundreds. Hundreds and hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Hands shake much. Mouth open wide. Father can no sign paper. Father X, Son sign.

Muchs money say tall man. Smart you open account here. We give you checks.

Father shut mouth. Like boss man say son. Checks good. Yes. Start account here.

Yes, checks smart say Father.

I need money now say Father. Tall man say how much. Father counts on fingers again then say give me 50 dollares. Tall man smile say sure, write check. Old man steady hand now. Write check like boss man. Big boss man. 50 dollares.

Father son come out bank, look at A Model automobile. Good automogrille Father say. Smart man keep good no more.

Son smile. Proud. Smart man keep good no more son say.

Father son get in automobile. Father push out beaver put hat on head. Good hat Father say. No shame wear good hat. Home Father say. We go home. Beautiful mother go with us now. Shame is no more.