It late afternoon before I get no time to myself. I was drillin' my reading with Miss. Lizabeth, who seemed to be happier than she'd been all week. She more excited than I for Mary to get back. I didn't forget my promise to God, so I read fifteen whole pages more than I went last time. Though she don't say it, I know Miss. Lizabeth real proud.
Now I sit, watchin' over some slaves that are cleanin' round the Study. Cecile is one of 'em, lookin' rather dirty in the harsh light. She smell real bad too. I gotta tell daddy to let them house slaves wash- so they don't stink up the manor.
One of the slaves, Eliza, is slackin' off real hard, she jus' stand in' in the corner pretendin' to do somethin'. It make me all annoyed, cause I hate reprimandin' anyone when Cecile around. Mary does it mostly. Luckily she'll be back tomorrow to do the dirty work. I don't say nothin' to Eliza.
It rather dull, jus' watchin' them, so I find my mind wanderin'. I want Mary to come back, but more than that I want my brother, James to come home. It been so long since I've even talked to 'em, or even 'bout him, more than jus' in passin'. Daddy always shy away from that topic, and Mary never favored 'em, and Miss. Lizabeth didn't know him real well.
Sighin', I make a promise to myself to write, and to ask Miss. Lizabeth to teach me how. I know a little, and basic, cause I can read, but tricky letters always trip me up.
Comin' back to the read world, I glance over at Eliza, who now ain't doin' nothin' at all. I can't let this happen, but I don't know really what to do. Yellin' always makes me tired.
Cecile seems to notice me, and she nudge Eliza, who goes on pretendin' once again. Cecile always real nice to me. I wish she had known James, but he didn't like talkin' with no slaves, so she only knew him like she know daddy. Which is not at all.
I smile at her, though she ain't lookin' and stand up. I ain't gonna waste no more day jus' sittin' here and doin' nothin'. Besides I made a promise and I intend to keep it.
I don't run into nobody, walkin' outside. The house seems all empty, daddy and the Mistress no where in sight. Miss. Lizabeth ain't nowhere neither. But I don't wanna find them, so I don't look real hard, continuin' on my way to the shacks. Though I don't even need to, I break into a run as soon as my feet hit grass, and sprint to the slave boy's cabin. I need someone to talk to real bad.
Now I sit, watchin' over some slaves that are cleanin' round the Study. Cecile is one of 'em, lookin' rather dirty in the harsh light. She smell real bad too. I gotta tell daddy to let them house slaves wash- so they don't stink up the manor.
One of the slaves, Eliza, is slackin' off real hard, she jus' stand in' in the corner pretendin' to do somethin'. It make me all annoyed, cause I hate reprimandin' anyone when Cecile around. Mary does it mostly. Luckily she'll be back tomorrow to do the dirty work. I don't say nothin' to Eliza.
It rather dull, jus' watchin' them, so I find my mind wanderin'. I want Mary to come back, but more than that I want my brother, James to come home. It been so long since I've even talked to 'em, or even 'bout him, more than jus' in passin'. Daddy always shy away from that topic, and Mary never favored 'em, and Miss. Lizabeth didn't know him real well.
Sighin', I make a promise to myself to write, and to ask Miss. Lizabeth to teach me how. I know a little, and basic, cause I can read, but tricky letters always trip me up.
Comin' back to the read world, I glance over at Eliza, who now ain't doin' nothin' at all. I can't let this happen, but I don't know really what to do. Yellin' always makes me tired.
Cecile seems to notice me, and she nudge Eliza, who goes on pretendin' once again. Cecile always real nice to me. I wish she had known James, but he didn't like talkin' with no slaves, so she only knew him like she know daddy. Which is not at all.
I smile at her, though she ain't lookin' and stand up. I ain't gonna waste no more day jus' sittin' here and doin' nothin'. Besides I made a promise and I intend to keep it.
I don't run into nobody, walkin' outside. The house seems all empty, daddy and the Mistress no where in sight. Miss. Lizabeth ain't nowhere neither. But I don't wanna find them, so I don't look real hard, continuin' on my way to the shacks. Though I don't even need to, I break into a run as soon as my feet hit grass, and sprint to the slave boy's cabin. I need someone to talk to real bad.
