Truth was, I figured that if Papa'd let the state people have Earl Dean, they'd learn that he'd been locked in that cage after getting drunk and shooting Papa when they was in an argument over who was gonna walk up to the high meadow and bring the cattle down that had been on summer graze.  Ever'body knowed Earl Dean could drive cattle better 'n anyone.  It didn't matter if 'n he'd been drinking or not.  Earl Dean always brought the cattle down to winter in our creek meadow.  But for some reason, mebe some of that Middle Creek shine, I don't know, anyway he had a cuss fight with Papa 'bout who was gonna drive them cattle down from the high meadow and shot him.  Bullet went clean through Pap's shoulder and straight into the head of Grandma's calico cat.  Papa'd lived, but Grandma's cat was dead.  And Earl Dean ended up locked in the grainery for a spell and then in his cage where he listened to the radio and banged knots on his head with his yoyo.