May knew that look.
He was thinking about bills.
He had spent the morning speaking with the bank, and the conversation had not gone well.
The farm needed a substantial repair to its combine before harvest. Without that machine, the family would have to hire outside help at a cost they could barely afford.
Her father also owed money for replacement parts purchased earlier in the year.
He had tried to negotiate more time.
The bank was willing to discuss an extension, but only if he could demonstrate a realistic plan for the coming season.
May looked toward the notebook.
Then she made her decision.
“Dad?”
“Yeah?”
“I want to bid on the tractor.”
He turned.
“What?”
“At the auction.”
He stared.
“May, we talked about this.”
“I know.”
“We don't have money for another broken machine.”
“I have my own.”
Her father frowned.
“How much?”
“Fifty-five dollars.”
He stared at her.
“All your savings?”
She nodded.
“Almost.”
He leaned against the workbench.
“Sweetheart, fifty-five dollars probably won't buy the tires.”
“I don't want it for the tires.”
“Then why?”
She looked down at the notebook.
“Because Grandpa knew this machine.”
Her father softened.
May continued.
“He wrote about it like it mattered. And now it's sitting in a barn where everybody thinks it's junk.”
He studied her.
“What if it's not what you think?”
She hesitated.
“Then I'll have an old tractor.”
He laughed despite himself.
“You'll have a very expensive lawn ornament.”
She smiled.
“Maybe.”
Her father grew serious again.
“May, you know I can't promise we'll be able to repair it.”
“I know.”
“And you can't operate it.”
“I know.”
“And if you buy it, we still have to get it home safely.”
She nodded.
“I thought about that.”
He raised an eyebrow.
“Oh, you did?”
She opened another page of her notebook.
She had already written down the name of a neighboring farmer who owned an equipment trailer.
She had also listed the approximate dimensions of the tractor and notes about securing heavy machinery for transport.
Her father stared at the page.
Then he began laughing.
May looked offended.
“What's funny?”
“Nothing.”
He wiped his eyes.