[phil_]

Little Joe was the first to reach the mess hall. He hooped and hollered in victory. Hoss caught up and bopped him in the head, then walked into the hall. "You ain't supposed to holler outside," said Hoss.

Jolly Ol' Pete came through his special door, which was two feet wider than the other one, and started serving them their food. Lil' Joe asked, "Is it beans, Jolly Ol' Pete?"

"Naw, just grits and bacon." Pete didn't like beans, but he'd never tell the other men, as they were prone to hollerin' outside. Hollering outside made his head hurt, just like Hoss.

The bacon was sizzling on the stove, sputtering and giving off a bacony smell. Bacon in the morning was something the cowpokes loved, because it was made of meat and went well with beans.

Boss and the cowpokes outside came inside and started eating. They all were tired of grits, as they weren't as good as beans, but they still ate, because they were hungry. They weren't tired of bacon, though, because they loved it. They ate and ate and ate and then they were done. Sal finished first. "Al'right, less go outside again. The cows need watering." Boss got up and said, "That's my job, Sal, but you're right so let's get to it."

The cowpokes shouted "Hooray!" and they wen't out to water the cows and maybe the horses, if they were thirsty.