12 - Thieves Like Us by Edward Anderson

Dive into the gripping narrative of Thieves Like Us, also known as Your Red Wagon. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression, it tells the story of Bowie Bowers, a young prison escapee who, along with two accomplices, sets his sights on a daring bank heist. As plans unravel, Bowie finds himself entangled in a passionate love affair with Keechie, a relative of one of his partners in crime. This classic noir tale of doomed lovers on the run has been immortalized in film not once, but twice. Originally by Nicholas Ray in 1940s They Live By Night and later by Robert Altman in 1973s rendition of Thieves Like Us. Join us as we delve into this captivating tale. - Synopsis by Ben Tucker

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter twelve of Thieves Like Us by Edward Anderson. This
LibriVox recordings in the public domain read by Ben Tucker,
Chapter twelve. They're spoons tinkled and the peanut buttered glasses
of soft boiled eggs and crumbled crackers. Kite Chee sat
on the edge at the foot of the bed, the
golden glow of the oil heater's jagged crown caressing her face.

(00:25):
It's about time you started eatin somethin, Bowie said. I
never heard of anybody not eatin any more'n you do
an not gettin any more? Asleep tis two or three
hours an, I never heard of it. I've gone three
nights without sleeping, an it doesn't bother me at all.
I've done it all my life. You've fallen off some
too since I saw ye last An, you'd better start
sleepin an eatin more, young lady. Now me, I got

(00:48):
to have my eight and nine an ten hours at night,
or I'm just blowed up. Their spoons scraped in the
empty glasses, and they laughed. Don't you ever want to
leave this town? Kee Chee Bowie said yes. She got
up and took the glass out of his hand, placed
it with her own on the table. Then she came
back and sat down. She talked. Her voice was as

(01:09):
soft as the reflection on the heater's dull brass. Once,
she said, an old couple drove into the filling station,
and she got acquainted with them. The man was paralyzed
and they were tore in the country for his health.
They dropped her post cards and talked about her coming
to live with them, as she would like to have gone.
But then the cards stopped, and finally one day she
got a card from the woman sayin the old man

(01:31):
was dead and makes it pretty hard on a girl
when she doesn't have have what a mamma kitchy shook
her head. It depends on the mother. I don't know
what I would a done without mine. Never has bawled
me out for a thing, my aunt says. My mother
is the reason why my father drinks an goes on

(01:52):
like he does. But that doesn't have a thing to
do with it. He's no good an. Perhaps she was,
but I can't see that she's any better. Outside there
was a sound like the sirens in Texaco City, and
Bowie stiffened, and the skin on his chin and throat
stretched what's the matter, kitche said. She got up. It

(02:12):
was only the wind and the telephone wires over on
the highway. Nothin said Bowie, you're back. He shook his head.
This old world is some old world, ain't it, Kichee? Yes?
Who's your fellow? Kit Chee? Why do you ask that?
I just thought I would ask why? That isn't any

(02:36):
of my business? Most girls have fellows, and I was
just asking. I don't know what most girls have. I
don't believe you like men folks do, yahki chee? They
are as good as the women I've seen. I believe
you are kind of down on people. I don't know.
And you never have had a fellow, No even just

(02:58):
to go to church with or something like that. No,
why do you think I should have? Why? No? I
was just asking, that's your own business. I never did
see any use of it. Keeche reached over him and
picked up the pack of cigarettes on the window sill.
The breasts under the polo shirt stirred, I'll take one too,

(03:18):
Bowie said, you know, I don't know what could have
happened to that chickamaw. I guess he is seeing his folks.
You'll get along a lot better if he stays away
from you. Ah, kechee, you just got that cousin of
yours down wrong. I'm not kin to anybody. You're a
little soldier, that's what you are. Why you call me that?

(03:40):
Because you are? Isn't it all right? Yes? She went
over to the table and picked up the granite coffee
pot and looked in the side of it. She put
it down and then picked it back up. Keechee. She
turned the coffee pot in her hand. You know, I've
been wanting to give you something ever since I've been here,
and I'd like to give it to you. Now. What

(04:01):
is it? A little o watch? She returned the pot
to the table. Do you want it? Do you want
to give it to me? Yes? Yes, I want it.
End of chapter twelve.