human
I'm sorry to be late, Allan, he said pleasantly as he came through the study-hall door.
gpt
What's on your mind, son?
human
Mr. Demarest, Bud stammered,
gpt
I want to be a farmer.
human
Is something stopping you?
gpt
No, Bud said.
human
I'm certain I can throw in with Gramps Bennett and take over from him. I can buy out Gram and Gramps' children. They aren't interested in farming.
gpt
Think it over carefully, Mr. Demarest said seriously.
human
There are better farms you might have.
gpt
I don't want any other farm, Bud said firmly.
human
I want that one.
gpt
It's sort of special, eh?
human
It's very special.
gpt
Then what is your problem?
human
I don't know enough, Bud said.
gpt
Three years ago, for Christmas, I was given a pen of White Wyandottes. They're the Eichorn strain, about as good as you can get. I built from them and I was able to show Gramps that my purebreds were more profitable than his mongrel flock. We replaced his flock with Eichorn Wyandottes, too, and we're doing all right with them. But I can see where I made a lot of mistakes that needn't have been made if I had known how to avoid them. I want to go to college and study agriculture.
human
Do you have any money?
gpt
No, Bud said.
human
I'm going to need most of what I have saved for berry plants next spring.
gpt
But why, if you've built up a flock of Eichorn Wyandottes from one single pen, do you have only enough money to buy some berry plants?
human
The chickens have earned money, but I have needed it for day-to-day living,
gpt
Can Mr. and Mrs. Bennett help you at all?
human
They have a little more than four thousand dollars in the bank here at Haleyville, but that's all they have. They'll need it if anything goes wrong with either of them and I wondered if I could work my way through agriculture college?
gpt
You could, but I wouldn't consider earning all your expenses. At least, not at the beginning. Haven't you been able to sell any breeding stock from your Wyandottes?
human
No, Bud said.
gpt
That's one reason I want to go to college.
human
What's your scholastic average?
gpt
B plus.
human
Good, but not good enough for a scholarship even if there were enough of them for all able youngsters and if Haleyville Consolidated School received its just share. Allan, I don't want to be a killjoy, but you asked for my advice. Don't even think of college until you're able to finance at least your first semester. Then, if you show enough promise, the college will help you find ways to continue.
gpt
How much will I need?
human
If you're careful, you should be able to get by with about seven hundred dollars. Perhaps even less.
gpt
Seven hundred dollars!
human
It isn't a million.
gpt
It might as well be!
human
You can earn that much on summer jobs.
gpt
Gramps has been sick. He can't spare me in summer.
human
What will he do when you go to college?
gpt
It looks as though I'll be spared that worry, Bud said miserably.
human
If I need seven hundred dollars, I'm not going.
gpt
You asked for my advice and I gave it, Allan, and I'd have rendered you no service if I hadn't been realistic, Mr. Demarest said gently.
human
If I had a magic wand to wave you into college with, believe me, I'd wave it. But I have no such thing. All you can do is to keep trying and never abandon hope.
gpt
The bus has left. How will you get home?
human
I'll walk.
gpt
I'll take you,