I hear a soft knockin' at my door, an' instantly my heart flutters like I got a million little butterfly's stuck in there. Daddy. I freeze- closin' my eyes, an' pressin' the Holy Book righ' up 'gainst my chest. I kno' it won' do nothin'- but all I gots is hope.
"Can I come in, Corinne?"
I look up to the Misses' voice, the outline of 'er body blockin' any light seepin' in from the hall. I a-just myself on my bed, tuckin' the Holy Book 'way 'neath my sheets. I wanna tell 'er no- she can leave an' never, ever come talkin' to me 'gain. But I kno' that I can't say that- not with daddy jus' down the hall. Not with the way she control daddy- without 'im even knowin' it.
"I was 'bout ta go sleepin', but if you like."
She smiles, floatin' in like she mo' an angel than a human. Her sleepin' gowns fan 'round 'er- a beauty off white color- paler in the centa. She the mos' beautiful woman I ever seen- the mos' awful one too.
She never come visit me at night- never come sin' ta me or read ta me like mos' mothers do with their daughters. But I never real expected 'er too, I guess. She ain't my real mother.
"I was jus' talkin' with yeur daddy," she say- takin' a seat next to me. I move over, jus' a bit, movin' so her warmth don't move onta mine.
"An' he wanted you to come talk with me?"
"No," she pause- reachin' up an' tuckin' a stray curl back 'hind my ear. I flinch- but she don' notice none. "I wanted ta talk to you- cause yeur daddy an' I gotta real big dis'greement."
"Righ'." I real hope she don' drag me inta none of 'er fight with daddy. I don' wan' neither side to win- but I guess I'd have ta go with daddy. Cause he can hit me, an' she can't.
"There a ball next week. All southern belles, such as you self are welcome to attend. They be dancin', an' nice gentlemen there. You daddy don' think you wanna go- wha' with Lloyd an' all- but I assured him you would. Mary can't 'course- cause she engaged with Mista Smith. But you- oh how I enjoyed a good ball when I was yous age."
I hesitate, a ball? I guess it could be kinda fun- but attendin' would let the Misses win- an'... "I dunno."
Her eye flash, an' suddenly she even prettier than she jus' was. With her voice harsh an' cool as ice, she say, "It gonna be fun." Then she take my hand an' squeeze. "Trust me."
"Can I come in, Corinne?"
I look up to the Misses' voice, the outline of 'er body blockin' any light seepin' in from the hall. I a-just myself on my bed, tuckin' the Holy Book 'way 'neath my sheets. I wanna tell 'er no- she can leave an' never, ever come talkin' to me 'gain. But I kno' that I can't say that- not with daddy jus' down the hall. Not with the way she control daddy- without 'im even knowin' it.
"I was 'bout ta go sleepin', but if you like."
She smiles, floatin' in like she mo' an angel than a human. Her sleepin' gowns fan 'round 'er- a beauty off white color- paler in the centa. She the mos' beautiful woman I ever seen- the mos' awful one too.
She never come visit me at night- never come sin' ta me or read ta me like mos' mothers do with their daughters. But I never real expected 'er too, I guess. She ain't my real mother.
"I was jus' talkin' with yeur daddy," she say- takin' a seat next to me. I move over, jus' a bit, movin' so her warmth don't move onta mine.
"An' he wanted you to come talk with me?"
"No," she pause- reachin' up an' tuckin' a stray curl back 'hind my ear. I flinch- but she don' notice none. "I wanted ta talk to you- cause yeur daddy an' I gotta real big dis'greement."
"Righ'." I real hope she don' drag me inta none of 'er fight with daddy. I don' wan' neither side to win- but I guess I'd have ta go with daddy. Cause he can hit me, an' she can't.
"There a ball next week. All southern belles, such as you self are welcome to attend. They be dancin', an' nice gentlemen there. You daddy don' think you wanna go- wha' with Lloyd an' all- but I assured him you would. Mary can't 'course- cause she engaged with Mista Smith. But you- oh how I enjoyed a good ball when I was yous age."
I hesitate, a ball? I guess it could be kinda fun- but attendin' would let the Misses win- an'... "I dunno."
Her eye flash, an' suddenly she even prettier than she jus' was. With her voice harsh an' cool as ice, she say, "It gonna be fun." Then she take my hand an' squeeze. "Trust me."
