When I finally get out the door, I don't got no parasol nor my fan. The blast of hot air that welcomes me, crushes the inside of my lungs, promptin' the skin on my forehead to grow real clammy. On the back my neck, the short hair missin' from the design atop my head, coils 'round an' round, stickin' to the damp skin there.
I take a step back, almos' slammin' into the door, an' take a moment to collect myself. My breaths are shallow, but I able to actually get air into me- which feels real nice after almos' chokin' on the heat. The air too heavy today.
I debate on whether or not I should turn 'round, an' rejoin my lessons, or even turn 'round an' jus' sit back in my chair in the kitchen but I decide to take neither. I feel like I need to be with nature today, enjoy the sun while it still up shinin' in the sky. Enjoy my freedom while I still got some. Lookin' at my empty rin' finger- with a soft sigh, I smile. It may be my soon future but I ain't married yet. No sir. I ain't married yet.
I head in the opposite way of the slave shacks an' cotton field- 'cause I don't wanna risk runnin' into Mista Johnston nor daddy. They'd both kno' that it ain't proper fo' a lady to be roamin' 'roun' an' such a hot day as today. They'd see the water on my forehead an' send me righ' back into the manor- righ' back into the hands of Miss. Lizabeth. I ain't gonna let that happen.
At first I really ain't sure of where I goin', jus' wanderin' round crushin' fallin' leaves beneath my feet. It only when I almos' meltin' beneath the sun that I see the lake. It our private property, one mile lon' an' two miles wide before spillin' into some river which in itself spills into some other river down the way. I don't often visit it, cause there some fish that can brush up against you, if you sit in there fo' too lon', but that don't bother me today. It much to hot to care.
I set my sights fo' the lake, an' don't get there too lon' after. Standin' on its edge, one toe in, I realize that I ain't got no swimmin' dress with me. I pause fo' a lon' moment, cause certainly I ain't able to swim in what I wearin' now. It'll weigh me down, an' I'll drown fo' sure. The only option I got is to swim in nothin' at all, exposin' my naked body to the world or to turn 'round an' head back inside.
I shake my head at the latter, physically expressin' my dislike of that choice. There ain't no way I walked all the way out 'ere fo' nothin. I take a shaky breath, then look out in all directions. I ain't able to see nobody, the grassy field 'round me empty save the insects diggin' in the dirt.
With a nervous feelin' in my stomach, I pull my dress off, an' tug the strings of my corset loose. I step outta it, an' carefully into the cool water.
I take a step back, almos' slammin' into the door, an' take a moment to collect myself. My breaths are shallow, but I able to actually get air into me- which feels real nice after almos' chokin' on the heat. The air too heavy today.
I debate on whether or not I should turn 'round, an' rejoin my lessons, or even turn 'round an' jus' sit back in my chair in the kitchen but I decide to take neither. I feel like I need to be with nature today, enjoy the sun while it still up shinin' in the sky. Enjoy my freedom while I still got some. Lookin' at my empty rin' finger- with a soft sigh, I smile. It may be my soon future but I ain't married yet. No sir. I ain't married yet.
I head in the opposite way of the slave shacks an' cotton field- 'cause I don't wanna risk runnin' into Mista Johnston nor daddy. They'd both kno' that it ain't proper fo' a lady to be roamin' 'roun' an' such a hot day as today. They'd see the water on my forehead an' send me righ' back into the manor- righ' back into the hands of Miss. Lizabeth. I ain't gonna let that happen.
At first I really ain't sure of where I goin', jus' wanderin' round crushin' fallin' leaves beneath my feet. It only when I almos' meltin' beneath the sun that I see the lake. It our private property, one mile lon' an' two miles wide before spillin' into some river which in itself spills into some other river down the way. I don't often visit it, cause there some fish that can brush up against you, if you sit in there fo' too lon', but that don't bother me today. It much to hot to care.
I set my sights fo' the lake, an' don't get there too lon' after. Standin' on its edge, one toe in, I realize that I ain't got no swimmin' dress with me. I pause fo' a lon' moment, cause certainly I ain't able to swim in what I wearin' now. It'll weigh me down, an' I'll drown fo' sure. The only option I got is to swim in nothin' at all, exposin' my naked body to the world or to turn 'round an' head back inside.
I shake my head at the latter, physically expressin' my dislike of that choice. There ain't no way I walked all the way out 'ere fo' nothin. I take a shaky breath, then look out in all directions. I ain't able to see nobody, the grassy field 'round me empty save the insects diggin' in the dirt.
With a nervous feelin' in my stomach, I pull my dress off, an' tug the strings of my corset loose. I step outta it, an' carefully into the cool water.
