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“Honey, that’s Sue’s property,” Ama said, laying a
hand on Maggie’s arm, but the withered face was wreathed in smiles. “Mind,
she keeps what’s hers with an iron fist.”
“I’m my own man,” Benny shouted. He clapped a hand over
his mouth and peered down the hall with an ear cocked for any sound from Sue. He
scowled at the old women for their grins. “Where’s this stuff go?”
“Ain’t that nice,” Ama said. “Just a boy, but already
domesticated.”
“Yeah. But there ain’t no freekin ring on this nose.”
Benny saluted with his thumb to his nose. “Got it? I’m free, and I’m gonna
stay that way.”
Ama took a deep, slow breath. “Sonny, ain’t nobody free.
The worst and meanest of us drag around chains heavier than those that bear the
burdens o’ this old world.”
“Ni:io,” Maggie said. Amen.
Benny lit a fire in the stove, grimacing at having to use
rotting wood and dried manure, but the manure burned with a fierce, white heat,
even if it did smell a little bitter. He filled a teakettle from the tap. A
rusty trickle of water came from it, and he grimaced at the smell. Eh, at her
age, old Maggie had better get used to a little brimstone.
The table was set to rights and a brick was used to hammer
out the dent in the leg. Benny pulled a pair of long sticks from the wood box
and some wire to make a splint.
When the water boiled, Maggie put herbs in a jar, slowly
pouring the water over them.
“One cup of this at every mealtime and at night till she
can handle food.”
Benny nodded, watching the herbs swirl in the murky water.
When it cooled, he dipped a cup full and walked with care back to the bedroom.
Sue smiled, and he gave her a crooked, shy grin back.
Sitting on the bed, he shook his head as she reached for the
cup and fed her it a sip at a time, softly admonishing her to ignore the taste
and drink it all.
“Easy for you to say,” she muttered, making a face and
holding her nose. “Tastes worst than moldy dog crap.”
“Donno.” Benny’s face was the very picture of
innocence. “Never ate dog crap, moldy ner otherwise.”
She scowled, so he grinned again and sat the cup on the
dresser before helping her lay back in the bed. He started to leave, but she
whispered a protest.
“Don’t go.”
He threw a worried glance at the doorway, then scowled. Benny
sat on the edge of the bed. Sue drew the cover over both of them, and she drifted
off to sleep with her head on his shoulder.
Almost in wonder he touched her face.
“If you were a flower, lilies would die of jealousy,” he
whispered. “If you were in outer space, the moon would turn green and run
away.”
“And me?” Ama was standing in the doorway. “What about
me?”
She wasn’t holding a club this time, so Benny said, “Why,
heavenly, lady. Your teeth are like stars. They come out at night.”
A grin ticked at the corners of Ama’s mouth. She killed it
and snarled, “Mind, boy. You touch her wrong, I break you’ neck.”
He scowled back, but there was ice in his
stomach. At the age of being a grandmother, Ama knew how to make a dude feel at
home. Still, being a man meant he didn’t have to put up with it. He had his
pride. So Benny waited until the old woman turned away before shuddering right
down to his socks.
©2004 StoriesByEmail.com
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