I don't go too far, jus' a few miles so daddy won't be able to see me from the porch. He'll calm down after a brandy, 'cause I'm his favorite child, and he'll pretend it was Mary with the tone. Jus' thinkin' 'bout her makes me feel all rotten and guilty inside cause I'll bet he's talkin' to her right now, all angry. I decide to stop thinkin' for the night.
The sky is pretty, the sun low, pink shootin' from it like a bunch of little tributaries. I stare at the wonderful sight, dismissin' any thoughts that dare cross my mind. I'm not to think no more, it just leads to trouble.
It ain't long before I feel a tear makin' it's way down from my eye to my chin. I don't make any move to brush it away, and I don't dare try and think of where it came from. Cause that thought could lead to many more tears, and many more nights where I sit and pretend I ain't thinkin'.
The tears come and go, finally leavin' for good when the sun finishes settin'. It ain't as pretty out, but in the dark no one can see you. You're safe.
I catch a glimpse of a shadow and hear light footsteps, so I hold my breath real tight. I pray to the Lord that it ain't daddy or Miss. Lizabeth, but I wouldn't mind if it were Mary. I kinda owe her, I did cause her some trouble.
A twig breaks and I snap my head to the left, my heart beatin' fast. If I run as best I can, I might be able to get away from Miss. Lizabeth. I dunno 'bout daddy, but I sure will try. I stand, gettin' ready, when the shadow steps into my sight.
I can't see him really, but that don't matter cause I know what he is. He ain't daddy, nor any other white man. He's a slave, black as the night around him. I only ponder why he's here for a second, and then I realize he's runnin' away.
I ain't sure what to do at first, scream, run or try and stop him. Screamin' will cause my daddy to come find me, and maybe Mr. Johnston who lives with us too. I don't want that. And without nobody near to help me, I don't stand no good chance winnin' a fight. That leaves runnin'. I sure hope he ain't fast.
"Wait," he calls, grabbin' my arm with his hand. It's rough on my skin. "You won't tell nobody you saw me, now will you?"
I shake my head, but he don't see me in the dark. I close my eyes, picture Mary in his place and talk.
"I won't tell nobody if ya come back with me."
I can't see his face real well, just the outline of a mouth, nose and eyes. I feel real trapped, hopin' he'll just do what I say.
"They'll find you if you go, what with the dogs and what not."
The sky is pretty, the sun low, pink shootin' from it like a bunch of little tributaries. I stare at the wonderful sight, dismissin' any thoughts that dare cross my mind. I'm not to think no more, it just leads to trouble.
It ain't long before I feel a tear makin' it's way down from my eye to my chin. I don't make any move to brush it away, and I don't dare try and think of where it came from. Cause that thought could lead to many more tears, and many more nights where I sit and pretend I ain't thinkin'.
The tears come and go, finally leavin' for good when the sun finishes settin'. It ain't as pretty out, but in the dark no one can see you. You're safe.
I catch a glimpse of a shadow and hear light footsteps, so I hold my breath real tight. I pray to the Lord that it ain't daddy or Miss. Lizabeth, but I wouldn't mind if it were Mary. I kinda owe her, I did cause her some trouble.
A twig breaks and I snap my head to the left, my heart beatin' fast. If I run as best I can, I might be able to get away from Miss. Lizabeth. I dunno 'bout daddy, but I sure will try. I stand, gettin' ready, when the shadow steps into my sight.
I can't see him really, but that don't matter cause I know what he is. He ain't daddy, nor any other white man. He's a slave, black as the night around him. I only ponder why he's here for a second, and then I realize he's runnin' away.
I ain't sure what to do at first, scream, run or try and stop him. Screamin' will cause my daddy to come find me, and maybe Mr. Johnston who lives with us too. I don't want that. And without nobody near to help me, I don't stand no good chance winnin' a fight. That leaves runnin'. I sure hope he ain't fast.
"Wait," he calls, grabbin' my arm with his hand. It's rough on my skin. "You won't tell nobody you saw me, now will you?"
I shake my head, but he don't see me in the dark. I close my eyes, picture Mary in his place and talk.
"I won't tell nobody if ya come back with me."
I can't see his face real well, just the outline of a mouth, nose and eyes. I feel real trapped, hopin' he'll just do what I say.
"They'll find you if you go, what with the dogs and what not."
