I retire to my room early- claimin' that the heat had a real bad affect on me. Daddy dismissed me righ' after I said so, not seein' through my act one bit. Although, I guess it ain't much of an act. I ain't feelin' too well in my brain. Maybe the heat got somethin' to do with it. Either way- daddy sent Miss. Lizabeth up with me to untie my corset an' help wash me up. I didn't take a full bath- that tomorrow- but I got cleaner than I've been.
Lloyd didn't say much when I left. Jus' a proper goodbye with the rest of our guests. If we marry- I worried that he won't be no happier. What if he always hate me so- fo' takin' 'em from that girl he said didn't matter? Maybe it'd be worth it if I loved 'em fo' real. Maybe. But, again, that jus' somethin' that won't never happen. I shouldn't think 'bout the impossible.
I can still 'ear the rest of them downstairs, talkin' bout the weather an' Mista Granger. Daddy like to kno' what goin' on in the world 'round him, specially 'bout Mista Granger. With daddy beatin' 'em with our property- Mista Granger's been real upset. He staged some marriages between slaves- to produce children. It his new plan, I guess, to have a whole bunch a slave children- so that technically he got mo' than daddy. It actually ain't bad of an idea- but from the tone of daddy's voice downstairs- he don't like it too much. The women would get an excuse to have a week off- fo' birth recovery. Beside- they'd be slower with a baby on 'em.
The men retire to the parlor quick after they done talkin' bout Mista Granger- which ain't directly beneath me so I can hear them no longer. So I fall back on my bed, half in a dream world- thinkin' bout the lakes kisses on my skin. I smile at the idea of goin' back there sometime soon, maybe brin' Cecile alon' or that slave boy in the shack. He'd like the water.
I think jus' bout anyone would- but I ain't gonna take jus' anyone with me. No sir- they gotta be trusted.
"You asleep?"
I sit up- turn to face the door an' Mary who stands in it. I shake my head, though it obvious now that I ain't sleepin'. What ain't obvious is why she here- standin' in my bedroom lookin' to me fo' comfort. We ain't much comfort to each other no more- we never really was.
"Good," she says in a whisper, "Would you mind if I came in 'ere with you?"
I shake my head again, though rather surprised. "Not one bit."
"I jus' don't wanna sleep alone tonigh'." I invite 'er into my bed, pullin' the covers back to allow 'er in. When she that close- I see the tears in 'er eyes.
Lloyd didn't say much when I left. Jus' a proper goodbye with the rest of our guests. If we marry- I worried that he won't be no happier. What if he always hate me so- fo' takin' 'em from that girl he said didn't matter? Maybe it'd be worth it if I loved 'em fo' real. Maybe. But, again, that jus' somethin' that won't never happen. I shouldn't think 'bout the impossible.
I can still 'ear the rest of them downstairs, talkin' bout the weather an' Mista Granger. Daddy like to kno' what goin' on in the world 'round him, specially 'bout Mista Granger. With daddy beatin' 'em with our property- Mista Granger's been real upset. He staged some marriages between slaves- to produce children. It his new plan, I guess, to have a whole bunch a slave children- so that technically he got mo' than daddy. It actually ain't bad of an idea- but from the tone of daddy's voice downstairs- he don't like it too much. The women would get an excuse to have a week off- fo' birth recovery. Beside- they'd be slower with a baby on 'em.
The men retire to the parlor quick after they done talkin' bout Mista Granger- which ain't directly beneath me so I can hear them no longer. So I fall back on my bed, half in a dream world- thinkin' bout the lakes kisses on my skin. I smile at the idea of goin' back there sometime soon, maybe brin' Cecile alon' or that slave boy in the shack. He'd like the water.
I think jus' bout anyone would- but I ain't gonna take jus' anyone with me. No sir- they gotta be trusted.
"You asleep?"
I sit up- turn to face the door an' Mary who stands in it. I shake my head, though it obvious now that I ain't sleepin'. What ain't obvious is why she here- standin' in my bedroom lookin' to me fo' comfort. We ain't much comfort to each other no more- we never really was.
"Good," she says in a whisper, "Would you mind if I came in 'ere with you?"
I shake my head again, though rather surprised. "Not one bit."
"I jus' don't wanna sleep alone tonigh'." I invite 'er into my bed, pullin' the covers back to allow 'er in. When she that close- I see the tears in 'er eyes.
