People in the small town couldn’t possibly have an English na, so Rube used the alias Rubin here.
Rubin nodded and said, "Last ti you helped out again, uncle brought you a gift. Want to check it out in uncle’s car?"
Dottie knew Rubin was Sumr Monroe’s friend and trusted him completely.
It’s hard to earn a child’s trust, but also easy, as Dottie imdiately nodded happily, "Sure! But I need to tell Mom first."
"Alright, let them know I’ll take you to town for dinner tonight and bring you back tomorrow."
"Yay! Going to town to have fun!" Dottie ran inside, brimming with excitent.
Soon, Dottie ca out holding Dottie’s Mom’s hand.
Dottie’s mom apologized profusely, "Rubin, I’m really sorry to bother you again, taking the kid out to play."
"It’s no trouble at all. Dottie’s so lovely and sensible. I’m happy to take him out to play."
"Then I’ll leave it to you." No sooner had Dottie’s mom finished speaking than she covered her mouth and started coughing laboriously.
"Are you alright?" Rubin said with concern, "Your coughing seems to have worsened. Coincidentally, my boss... knows a bit of dicine. Why don’t you co to town with and let my boss take a look at you?"
Dottie’s mom waved her hand in refusal, "No need, it’s an old problem. Besides, look at our house; we don’t have money for a doctor. Let’s not trouble your boss and risk affecting his work."
"My boss won’t charge you."
Yet Dottie’s mom firmly waved her hand again, "Really, there’s no need. Thank you. I haven’t even managed to help persuade that stubborn old man at ho on your behalf. How could I accept your kindness for nothing?"
In Dottie’s family, Dottie’s mom and Dottie both signed, but Dottie’s dad, rembering the many years he worked for the Stanton family, still wouldn’t relent.
Rubin said helplessly, "Alright, but if your condition worsens, you must go to the hospital."
Dottie’s mom’s eyes reddened with gratitude.
"I know you need those signatures for our sake. I’ll do my best to persuade him."
"Thank you." Rubin nodded, calling out to Dottie, "Dottie, shall we go?"
"Okay." Dottie waved to his mom and took Rubin’s hand to leave.
Dottie’s mom stood at the door, watching Dottie and Rubin until they were out of sight, then coughed her way back inside.
Just as Dottie’s mom returned, Dottie’s dad ca back for lunch.
Seeing that Dottie was not ho, he hurriedly asked, "Where’s Dottie? Still collecting coal?"
"He’s gone to town with Rubin for dinner. He’ll be back tonight."
Most of the villagers are simple folks. Dottie’s dad didn’t think Rubin wanted to kidnap a child, but he still frowned, displeased, and said, "How could you let soone just take the child away so easily?"
"Dottie rarely gets to go to town and play like a normal kid. How is that just ’taking him away’? As his father, could you think more about Dottie?"
Dottie’s dad fell silent.
Dottie’s mom seized the opportunity to persuade him, "Think about signing it again. Didn’t Rubin explain to us? If enough people sign, if we unite, we can definitely reclaim the wages they’ve owed us for so many years."
Dottie’s dad still said nothing.
He’s an honest man, used to working for the Stanton family, bowing and scraping his whole life. Suddenly asking him to go against the Stanton family, he couldn’t get over that ntal hurdle.
Dottie’s mom beca anxious.
"If you don’t think for yourself, could you consider us, your wife and son, just once?! Do you really want to die of illness like our daughter, without money for a proper burial?!"
Dottie’s dad took a deep drag on his cigarette and said, "Let’s wait a bit longer, until after the old lady’s funeral. I’ll go ask Hai for the wages. If he refuses to pay... then, then we’ll talk about it then."
With those words, Dottie’s dad finally gave in.
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