Randy knew there were a thousand things he should be doing, but he couldn't think of any of
them. He became aware of a rhumba rhythm in
the living room, and presently Missouri skated
into view, feet bundled with waxing cloths,
shoulders moving and hips bouncing with
elephantine elegance, intent on her polishlng.
He yelled, "Missouri!"
"Yessir?" Her forward motion stopped, but
her hips continued to wobble and feet shuffle.
"Quit that struttin' and make up the three
bedrooms on the front. Colonel Bragg's family
will be here tomorrow."
"Oh, ain't that nice! Just like last year."
"No, not like last year. The Colonel's not
coming with them. Just Mrs. Bragg and Ben
Franklin and Peyton."
Missouri peered through the door at him.
"Mister Randy, you don't look good. Them
telegrams are yellow death. You get bad news
or something? Ain't nuthin' happen to Colonel
Mark?"
"No. I'm driving over to McOoy to meet him at
noon."
"Oh, that's good. How come the children up
north get out of school so quick?"
"l don't know."
"l'll dust good, and make up the beds, and
put towels and soaps in the bathrooms just like
last year."
"Thanks, Mizzoo. That's fine."
"Caleb's going to be happy to see Ben
Franklin," Missouri said In the spaces below, list five of the examples you
underlined. Rewrite each word or phrase in standard usage diction.