Spilly Willy sprang forth from his retreat as one 

 electrified, and gave a cry of joyous relief that 

 gripped my throat. It was Tildy in the flesh, Tildy 

 safe, Tildy back home again to her lover and her 

 brood! She gave Spilly Willy one gleeful greeting 

 and song of explanation, then sped within the back 

 door to her crying children. 



Spilly sat on the balcony stem outside; his vigil, 

 his labor, his heartaches suddenly relieved, his little 

 head drooped and nodded in the exhaustion of sleep. 



As the children grew older they would hang out 

 the front and back doors squawking for food, and 

 almost tumble out before their parents could bring 

 it. This nearly frightened Tildy to death but I 

 really believe Spilly Willy took pride in it, for one 

 day while Tildy was off foraging he deliberately sat 

 on the balcony and dared little Billee to come clean 

 out. Billee did and so did Sally and Tildy, Jr., and 

 Beatrice and Harold and little Pearl — all six just 

 fluttered, fell and spilled out front and back doors 

 and made off for inaccessible foreign parts. 



Then Tildy returned and was flabbergasted; she 

 accused Spilly Willy; he denied it and I didn't tell 

 on him. There was pandemonium, wifely shrieks 

 and flutterings, then all of a sudden both laid all the 



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