"Freddy...Freddy?" he heard Pa talking to him.
"Huh? What?"
"I was saying, I have to drive down to the Johnson farm after dinner. I need to tell Lawrence that the shearers are coming here tomorrow. They will go to his farm the next day and he needs to get ready for them. Do you want to come along with me?"
"Sure, Pa," said Freddy, momentarily distracted from his need for two slices of warm pie.
"Walter, can we go to Sunday services tonight?" asked Ma. "I missed church this morning and I would like to go tonight."
"Sure, I'll get the milking done early and then we can go after supper."
Freddy jumped into the passenger seat of Pa's pick-up truck and they drove the short distance down to the Johnson farm.
Freddy scooted out of the truck and ran into the house to visit with his friend Danny.
Pa and Mr. Johnson went into the barn to get out of the rain and stood in the doorway talking.
"Lawrence, I don't know when I've seen it rain for this long."
"I know," said Mr. Johnson. "If this keeps up I won't be able to get into the fields to plant."
"You got your fields all worked up?"
"Got them all done two weeks ago. It's been raining for ten days straight,Walter."
"Yeah, I know. Oh...the reason I came here...the sheep shearers are coming tomorrow. I wanted to let you know so you could get your sheep in the barn to make sure their wool gets dried out."
"Thanks for letting me know. Will you check with them and make sure they are coming here on Tuesday? I talked to the foreman of the job last month, but I want to make sure he's got me in his book for shearing on Tuesday."
"I'll let him know, Lawrence. Well...I better get back. Gotta do milking early tonight so we can get to evening church services."
Pa walked toward the truck and hollered for Freddy. Freddy scampered out of the house and jumped into the truck.
"Geez, Pa..."
"Frederick, don't swear," said Pa.
"I'm sorry, but...Danny and I didn't get to play."
"You know I have to get back and get the milking done early. Ma wants us to go to church tonight. You and Danny can play some other time."