Breakfast is silent, Lloyd and his father gone. They left real early this morn', and I had to get up even earlier to help pack their carriage. Miss. Lizabeth said it would be unlady like if I hadn't helped them, an'
if I hadn't helped then she would've told daddy. And then she would've spanked me herself. And daddy would have joined her.
They'd been here for three days. Lloyd ain't no awful man, but he ain't no great one neither. And it ain't no secret that daddy wants us married. He convinced Lloyd and his father to come back next week and this time stay a whole lot longer.
I stare at daddy cross the table, tired though not as tired as I'd been on Monday. I stop eatin' for a minute, cause I really ain't that hungry. And daddy don't like when I stuff my face.
"When do we gotta leave for Mister Smith's place?"
My daddy looks up from his own food, eyein' me.
"Didn't Miss. Lizabeth tell you?"
I shake my head, no she ain't. Daddy sighs, puttin' down his fork.
"Mary ain't gettin' married quite yet, we postponin' the wedding for a few months."
I don't react, thinkin' that maybe it was too good to be true. Daddy ain't a liar, but I'm havin' trouble believin' him. Does that mean Mary's comin' back? Did God hear me?
"If you get married," daddy don't say to who, "We was thinkin' you could marry on the same day."
I smile. I ain't plannin' on gettin' married anytime soon, not even to Llloyd, but daddy don't gotta know that. Mary's comin' back! My stomach churns, though I swear I feel happy. It's jus' a little feelin', what if I've idealized Mary? Cause I know she different than how I've remembered her.
But truly, I am real glad she comin' back. Cause this time I won't mess it up, no sir. I'm gonna be a real good sister.
"Oh daddy, what a clever idea!"
He smiles at me, all proud that he made his little girl happy. I jump up from the table and give 'em a hug. A real big one, even though I ain't comfortable, cause it remindin' me of them days in the night, I still hug 'em real lon'. I hold on for a whole seven seconds.
"Thank you so much daddy!"
I give a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"She'll be back tonight."
if I hadn't helped then she would've told daddy. And then she would've spanked me herself. And daddy would have joined her.
They'd been here for three days. Lloyd ain't no awful man, but he ain't no great one neither. And it ain't no secret that daddy wants us married. He convinced Lloyd and his father to come back next week and this time stay a whole lot longer.
I stare at daddy cross the table, tired though not as tired as I'd been on Monday. I stop eatin' for a minute, cause I really ain't that hungry. And daddy don't like when I stuff my face.
"When do we gotta leave for Mister Smith's place?"
My daddy looks up from his own food, eyein' me.
"Didn't Miss. Lizabeth tell you?"
I shake my head, no she ain't. Daddy sighs, puttin' down his fork.
"Mary ain't gettin' married quite yet, we postponin' the wedding for a few months."
I don't react, thinkin' that maybe it was too good to be true. Daddy ain't a liar, but I'm havin' trouble believin' him. Does that mean Mary's comin' back? Did God hear me?
"If you get married," daddy don't say to who, "We was thinkin' you could marry on the same day."
I smile. I ain't plannin' on gettin' married anytime soon, not even to Llloyd, but daddy don't gotta know that. Mary's comin' back! My stomach churns, though I swear I feel happy. It's jus' a little feelin', what if I've idealized Mary? Cause I know she different than how I've remembered her.
But truly, I am real glad she comin' back. Cause this time I won't mess it up, no sir. I'm gonna be a real good sister.
"Oh daddy, what a clever idea!"
He smiles at me, all proud that he made his little girl happy. I jump up from the table and give 'em a hug. A real big one, even though I ain't comfortable, cause it remindin' me of them days in the night, I still hug 'em real lon'. I hold on for a whole seven seconds.
"Thank you so much daddy!"
I give a chaste kiss on his cheek.
"She'll be back tonight."
