Our Vines Have Tender Grapes

Georgie's going to be a farmer

when he grows up.

Only he's going to raise buffalo.

Buffalo have all been killed.

I know. My father killed them all.

All the same, they aren't all dead.

Anyway, that's what Georgie's going to be

when he grows up.

When I grow up, I'm going to be a soldier

and shoot all the time.

I'll be fierce.

I'm going to be a WAC.

And I'm going to shoot more than you do

'cause I'm older.

No, you won't. You're a girl.

Girls fight just as well as boys.

Looky.

When I'm a WAC,

I'm going to pull out my gun.

WACs don't have guns.

I'm going to pull out my gun

and go bang, just like that.

Oh.

You sure killed him, Selma.

You killed him dead.

Oh, oh, but I didn't mean to.

I didn't mean to kill you,

little squirrel.

It was just pretend.

Shucks, it's only a red squirrel.

They're bad.

But he wasn't doing anything bad.

He was just eating his dinner

when I picked up a rock...

A-And I almost never hit where I aim.

And...

Hello.

You're Selma.

You're Arnold.

Shucks, we know that.

You're crying, Selma.

It's bad for children to cry.

It's worse for grown-ups.

You're grown-up, and you cry.

Let me hug you.

No.

Well, then I'll...

I'll make you a chain of flowers.

I'll make one for each of you.

Ingeborg.

Get back to your work.

Good-bye.

I don't like her,

and I don't like her pa.

I don't like her pa the most.

Let's go down to the river and play.

I don't feel like playing anymore.

I want to go home.

You want to play with Shadjack?

You can.

It's Editor.

Hi, kids.

Hello, Editor.

Hi.

Hop in. I'll take you home.

I'm not going home.

I'm having dinner at Selma's house.

Aunt Bruna's going to fix egg pancakes.

With jelly?

No, with honey.

We just met Ingeborg Jensen.

I'm always meeting her.

Every time I meet her,

she always tries to hug me.

Ingeborg hugs all little children.

That's because she loves them.

I'm not little children.

I'm 5.

Oh, excuse me.

I'd forgotten.

My mother says

Ingeborg Jensen isn't quite right.

That's because she's crazy.

That means crazy in the head.

That's because her father always beats her all the time.

He beats Mrs. Jensen, too.

Mrs. Jensen is very sick right now,

so I guess he isn't beating her.

And Ingeborg isn't crazy.

It's just that she's not quite as smart

as we are, that's all.

Arnold didn't know about Ingeborg not being right

until I told him.

Maybe somebody

had to tell you, too, Selma,

before you knew.

I suppose so.

Yeah, see?

Who's that?

Hello.

Can we give you a lift?

Oh, no, thank you.

I'm really enjoying the walk.

You're new here, aren't you?

Yes.

Oh, I'm sorry.

It's not a matter of curiosity.

You see, I'm Nels Halverson,

Editor of The Spectator here in Fuller Junction.

And when a stranger's seen walking

in this part of the country,

well, it's news.

Oh, how do you do, Mr. Halverson?

I'm Viola Johnson, the new school teacher.

First to eighth grade.

Well, that's wonderful.

Meet one of your pupils, Selma Jacobson.

How do you do, Selma?

Hello. I'm 5.

Oh?

Oh, this is Arnold Hanson. They're cousins.

Hello, Arnold.

Hello.

Going any place in particular

or just walking?

Oh, I'm on my way to the Faraassens

and then the Jensens.

That's quite a walk.

Better let us take you.

Do you think there's enough room?

Oh, sure. Come on, get in.

All right, I will.

Stand up, Arnold.

Don't mind holding a young man

on your lap, do you?

I think not.

Shucks.

You know, Miss Johnson,

it always makes a much better item

to carry a little human interest

along with our news.

Such things for example as,

well, where does

our new school teacher come from?

Milwaukee.

And then it's always proper

to add something like this:

When asked how she likes Fuller Junction,

Miss Johnson said...

But Miss Johnson doesn't like Fuller Junction.

And you wouldn't quote what she'd have to say.

Oh, that bad?

Well, among other things,

it's awfully small.

So's a diamond, Miss Johnson.

Tell me,

what is there in Milwaukee

that you can't find

right here in Fuller Junction?

Well, Milwaukee's a city.

It isn't dull.

There's concerts and lectures and theaters.

Good magazine stands.

There's too much activity for life to ever get dreary.

Well, if that's what you wanted,

why'd you come here?

I had to, Mr. Halverson.

It was no choice of mine.

I'm studying for my Ph.D. in education.

One of the requirements is a year of practical teaching.

My parents are Norwegian.

And when the university heard I spoke the language,

I found myself on the next train for Fuller Junction.

End of the year, I go back.

It's as simple as that.

Norwegian, eh?

Well, we do have something in common.

Why is everybody here Norwegian?

Well, because most of the people

came here from Norway,

like Miss Johnson's folks.

But why do so many Norwegians come right here?

Well, because Wisconsin

is a country

of green hills, pine trees,

deep lakes, and many rivers.

It reminds them

of the homes they left behind.

But they're not Norwegians anymore.

They're Americans.

My pa calls me jente mi.

That's Norwegian.

That means "girl mine."

My pa just calls me.

This is your stop coming up,

Miss Johnson.

If you have any spare time,

I'd like to show you some of the things

around Fuller Junction

you can't find in Milwaukee.