Papa had already gone to the store the next morning when I
woke. I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes and looked over at
Mierd's and Wiley's study table. Their books were gone, so I knew
they had left for school. It was that way almost every morning,
no matter how hard I tried to wake early. The whole family could
eat breakfast, and Mama could even get the milking done and the
cows turned out to pasture before my eyes would open.
I could hear talking. Sounded like Doanie. Yeah, that was
Doanie, in the kitchen with Mama.
Mama was saying, "What colored woman was having a baby
yesterday evening? Mister Jodie told me you and Huldie had to go
help with one."
"Law, me and Huldie was up the blessed night! I ain't shet my
eyes yet! Hit wasn't no colored! Hit was Miss Addle Mae!"
"Addie Mae Bailey! Why, didn't nobody know she- I declare to
my soul! She's been visiting off down in Louisiana for the
longest!"
"Miss Addle Mae, she come home the day after Christmas, and
Mister Wes and Miss Lida Belle, they makes her hide in the
smokehouse so's nobody'd see her.
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