we kept it quiet. We told him that it was the kitten that was
             making the noise and he order us to drive it away. We tried to make the
             kitten leave, but it would not budge. His father took a hand.
             "Kill the damn thing!" my father exploded. "Do anything, but get it away
             "He said for us to kill the kitten," Richard told his brother.
             "He didn't mean it," his brother said.
             "He did, and I'm going to kill'im."
             Then he will howl," His brother said.
             "He can't howl if he's dead," Richard said.
             He didn't say kill'im," his brother protested.
             "He did!" Richard said. "And you heard him!" ...
             "I killed'im," Richard whispered.
             "You did bad," his brother said.
             "Now Papa can sleep," Richard said, deeply satisfied.
             "He didn't mean for you to kill it," his brother said.
             "Then why did he tell me to do it?" Richard demanded...
             "What in God's name have you done?" Richard's mom said
             "The kitten was making noise and Papa said to kill it," Richard explained.
             "You little fool!" she said. "Your father's going to beat you for this!"
             "But he told me to do kill it," Richard said.
             "You know better that that that!" his father stormed.
             "You told me to kill'im," Richard said.
             "I told you to drive him away," his father said.
             "You told me to kill'im," he countered positively.
             "You get out of my eyes before I smack you down!" his father bellowed in
             He had his first triumph over his father. He had made him believe
             him that he had taken his dad's words literally. His papa could not punish
             him now without risking his authority. He was happy because he had at
             last found a way to throw his criticism ...