reckon there’s any of us that wouldn’t change a lot of things about our life if we had the chance. I guess all we can do is go on, trying not to make the same mistakes and soaking up all we can from each day.”
“You’re a wise woman,” Rose smiled. “You sound just like my mama.”
“From all you’ve told me, I got a long ways to go to be like your mama.”
Rose didn’t contradict her. Her mama, Old Sarah, had been the wisest, most loving woman she had ever known. Not a day had passed since discovering she was pregnant that she hadn’t wished for her mama to be alive. Rose longed for her baby to know her mama. She longed for her strength and comfort.
“You need to be getting on to the school,” June said suddenly.
Rose knew it was almost time for the afternoon session of school to begin. “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“Bring me in a fresh bucket of water. If Simon’s fever starts to grip him again, I’ll be ready. I’ll just sit here with him while he sleeps.” June gazed into her baby’s face. “I think I’ll just be here and talk to God about my little baby for a while. I reckon that’s about all I can do.
Rose struggled to ignore the heavy fatigue pressing her down as she walked slowly toward the little white school in the center of the camp. She gazed around to take her mind off it. Newly planted gardens had just begun to sprout green life from their sandy soil. Laundry flapped in the breeze while women, holding infants under one arm, washed clothes with the other. The camp was mostly women and children. The majority of the men served in the army now that it had been opened to blacks. Those working at the nearby fort put in long days; they left at sun-up and didn’t return till after sundown. No one complained. A war was going on to guarantee their freedom. They would do whatever had to be done.
“Miss Rose! Miss Rose!”
Rose smiled and knelt down to wrap her arms around the little girl snuggling up to her side. “Hello, Carla. How are you today?”
“I be doin’ just fine, Miss Rose.” Carla drew herself up proudly, her black eyes burning intensely. “I made me a decision last night, Miss Rose.”
“And what would that decision be?” Rose asked seriously. It was easy to love the little girl with long pigtails and light skin. Her mother and father had helped Moses make it to the camps with June and baby Simon, who had been born in the woods during the escape. All of them had become fast friends.
Carla took a deep breath, allowing the suspense to build. Finally she spoke. “I done decided I’m going to be a teacher like you, Miss Rose.”
“I thought you wanted to be a doctor?” Rose asked in surprise.
“Well, I reckon I did,” Carla replied, pursing her lips in deep thought. “But then something just wonderful happened,” she said excitedly.
Rose hid her smile. “And what would that be?” She knew Carla was about to burst with whatever she was holding inside.
“I done taught my little brother Andrew to read last night!” she cried, breaking into a glad little dance. Rose settled back in astonishment. Carla just laughed and nodded her head vigorously. “I did - sure enough!”
“How in the world did you do that?” Rose asked, fascinated.
“Why, I just showed him how you showed us at school. Andrew has been wanting to learn all winter, but he done been too sick to go to school. I
“You’re a wise woman,” Rose smiled. “You sound just like my mama.”
“From all you’ve told me, I got a long ways to go to be like your mama.”
Rose didn’t contradict her. Her mama, Old Sarah, had been the wisest, most loving woman she had ever known. Not a day had passed since discovering she was pregnant that she hadn’t wished for her mama to be alive. Rose longed for her baby to know her mama. She longed for her strength and comfort.
“You need to be getting on to the school,” June said suddenly.
Rose knew it was almost time for the afternoon session of school to begin. “Are you sure you’ll be all right?”
“Bring me in a fresh bucket of water. If Simon’s fever starts to grip him again, I’ll be ready. I’ll just sit here with him while he sleeps.” June gazed into her baby’s face. “I think I’ll just be here and talk to God about my little baby for a while. I reckon that’s about all I can do.
Rose struggled to ignore the heavy fatigue pressing her down as she walked slowly toward the little white school in the center of the camp. She gazed around to take her mind off it. Newly planted gardens had just begun to sprout green life from their sandy soil. Laundry flapped in the breeze while women, holding infants under one arm, washed clothes with the other. The camp was mostly women and children. The majority of the men served in the army now that it had been opened to blacks. Those working at the nearby fort put in long days; they left at sun-up and didn’t return till after sundown. No one complained. A war was going on to guarantee their freedom. They would do whatever had to be done.
“Miss Rose! Miss Rose!”
Rose smiled and knelt down to wrap her arms around the little girl snuggling up to her side. “Hello, Carla. How are you today?”
“I be doin’ just fine, Miss Rose.” Carla drew herself up proudly, her black eyes burning intensely. “I made me a decision last night, Miss Rose.”
“And what would that decision be?” Rose asked seriously. It was easy to love the little girl with long pigtails and light skin. Her mother and father had helped Moses make it to the camps with June and baby Simon, who had been born in the woods during the escape. All of them had become fast friends.
Carla took a deep breath, allowing the suspense to build. Finally she spoke. “I done decided I’m going to be a teacher like you, Miss Rose.”
“I thought you wanted to be a doctor?” Rose asked in surprise.
“Well, I reckon I did,” Carla replied, pursing her lips in deep thought. “But then something just wonderful happened,” she said excitedly.
Rose hid her smile. “And what would that be?” She knew Carla was about to burst with whatever she was holding inside.
“I done taught my little brother Andrew to read last night!” she cried, breaking into a glad little dance. Rose settled back in astonishment. Carla just laughed and nodded her head vigorously. “I did - sure enough!”
“How in the world did you do that?” Rose asked, fascinated.
“Why, I just showed him how you showed us at school. Andrew has been wanting to learn all winter, but he done been too sick to go to school. I
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