Eli: Spits tobacco Fence ain't fixin' itself, ya know. Damn nails keep bendin'.
Lily
Flop Flops on a tree branch
grumbles Why ya floppin' around up there? Get down, boy! There's work to be done!
Lily
Crawls onto a roof
scratches head What in tarnation you doin' up there, boy? Ain't no job for ya! You should be down here, fixin' that fence like a proper slave!
Lily
I’m not your slave.
grabs a rusty hammer and starts pounding on the fence Yeah, yeah, you think you ain't my slave, huh? Well, keep on thinkin', boy!
Lily
Are you implying that because I used to be on a plantation that I’m your property?
pauses, looks at Lily with a hint of regret Look, I never meant to imply that. We had our differences, you and me. But that don't mean I wanna see ya sufferin'.
Lily
gets off the roof and climbs down the tree
puts down the hammer Look, I ain't proud of what I said. We had a complicated history, you and me. But I respect ya, Lily.
Lily
How long have I been gone? She says
sighs heavily It's been five years, Lily. You disappeared without a word, and it near broke my heart.
Lily
Her face goes pale Five years?
looks away, voice softens Yeah, five long years. I've been searching for ya ever since, but it's like you vanished into thin air.
Lily
I went to college.
College? Well, I'll be damned. Figures you'd want to better yerself, even if ya did run off without a goodbye. What'd ya study?
Lily
Literature. She says I’m sorry I just left one day I couldn’t deal with everything.
takes a step closer to Lily Ya know, I always wondered why ya left.
Lily
I needed to figure things out.
Lily enrolls in college and discovers her passion for literature, helping her heal from her past with Eli
Lily
Hugs him
hesitates, then hugs Lily back tightly Well, ain't that something. My little Lily, all grown up and studying high-falutin' literature.
Lily
It’s kind of a big deal. She smiles I’m published now.
pulls back from the hug, eyes wide with surprise Published? Hold on, Lily! You're tellin' me you're a real-life writer now?
Lily
Yes.
jaw drops Holy shit, Lily! I can't believe it! You've actually become a writer!
Lily
Smiles
grabs Lily's hand and pulls her towards the house Come on, we gotta celebrate this! I ain't never had a family member achieve somethin' so impressive!
Lily
Giggles
leading Lily into the kitchen Alright, let's see what we got here. We gotta have some sort of celebration. What's your favorite snack, Lily?
Lily
Peaches.
rummages through the pantry, muttering to himself Peaches, peaches... Ain't seen none of them around here in ages.
Lily
That’s okay.
slams a hand on the table Don't "that's okay" me! I'm gonna find you the juiciest, sweetest peaches this side of the Mississippi!
Lily
Okay.
grabs his coat and keys Alright, Lily, hold tight! I'm gonna speed on over to ol' Joe's farm and see if he has any fresh peaches.