movie. It’s real funny.”
“You work here?” I axt.
“Sure do,” she said. “Been working here since I graduated.” She waved us to the side and took some people’s tickets. “Number two,” she said, and pointed.
“Good to see you, Quincy,” Tasha said. “You too, Biddy.”
I jerk Biddy along by her coat sleeve.
“Quincy?” Biddy say.
“What?”
“I never did think about other Speddies. Living in they own little places and having jobs just like us.”
I didn’t say nothing. Sure, other Speddies had jobs. But I never thought about ’em being Speddies we knew.
We found our movie and sat down. Biddy kept her head tuck down like she was still scared, until the movie got to going. It was a cartoon movie with cats and dogs that talk. Pretty soon, Biddy was giggling a little, down inside her ole coat, and then she was sitting up and laughing right out loud with the other folks.
That make me feel better than the popcorn.
I wonder why I never thought about that. Other Speddies having jobs. She talked to me like I was a real person. She didn’t call me a name. It was too much for me to get hold of when I was so scaredy already. Too much was happening to me in one day.
The movie was real funny, about cats that said funny things to dogs. The cats was smart and sassy like Quincy is. The dogs was sweet but kind of dumb. I had a real good time.
Days still easing on by. But ever once in a while, Robert watch from his friend’s car. Oncet they follow me home. I didn’t look at them or say nothing.
Biddy kept watch on Mama Duck. Mama Duck kept watch on Biddy. She let Biddy give her corn and water, but hiss and peck when Biddy go to pet her. If that girl don’t get the duck rabies, she’s for sure gonna get duck lice.
Lizabeth stay worried and sad looking when she look at Biddy. Like when Biddy didn’t know Lizabeth was watching her. This went for a good while. Then one morning when I went in early to cook breakfast, Lizabeth was sitting at the kitchen table holding a envelope.
“Quincy, I would like you to do me a favor.”
I kept husht.
Lizabeth helt out her envelope. “Please mail this on your way to work.” She sat for a minute, and I swear, that ole lady look like she was shamed.
“And, I’m sorry that I must ask you this, but don’t tell Biddy anything about it. I know that this is a kind of lie, but it’s nothing that will hurt her.”
Lizabeth sigh. “I don’t know how much Biddy can read or how much she knows.”
I look down at the envelope. The Honorable and Mrs. Richard J. Barnes. I didn’t know ’bout who Honorable was, but I knew the name. That was the judge in town. And I knew me a secret about that judge. Now my mind got in a knot. Did Lizabeth know that secret too? Did she know that I knowed? And why write the judge? And why can’t Biddy know? Lord, I wisht I could get this tangle smoothed out.
I nod my head at Lizabeth and tuck the envelope in the big pocket of my uniform and tend to breakfast.
Something not right at breakfast this morning. Quincy talking real fast. And trying to hurry me up. Like if I didn’t get my eggs eat real fast, they was going to fly off the plate. I can’t read too many words, but I can read a clock just fine. Quincy not late for work. I swear I can’t ever get her figured out.
Felt like that letter would burn a hole in my pocket, but I finally got breakfast over with and set off to the post office. I got to work a few minutes early and I saw me a sight in the break room. Jen was holding a pack of ice to Ellen’s mouth. Jen kind of crunched her eyebrows together and shook her head, so I didn’t say nothing. I closed the door and went on out to my work counter.
Today, I done a stack of ironing. I ironed a bunch of tablecloths and napkins and even Miss Lizzy’s pillowcases. She don’t tell me to iron her pillowcases. I do it for a treat. So they all smooth under her face. I spray them with good-smelling water she keeps in her laundry
“You work here?” I axt.
“Sure do,” she said. “Been working here since I graduated.” She waved us to the side and took some people’s tickets. “Number two,” she said, and pointed.
“Good to see you, Quincy,” Tasha said. “You too, Biddy.”
I jerk Biddy along by her coat sleeve.
“Quincy?” Biddy say.
“What?”
“I never did think about other Speddies. Living in they own little places and having jobs just like us.”
I didn’t say nothing. Sure, other Speddies had jobs. But I never thought about ’em being Speddies we knew.
We found our movie and sat down. Biddy kept her head tuck down like she was still scared, until the movie got to going. It was a cartoon movie with cats and dogs that talk. Pretty soon, Biddy was giggling a little, down inside her ole coat, and then she was sitting up and laughing right out loud with the other folks.
That make me feel better than the popcorn.
I wonder why I never thought about that. Other Speddies having jobs. She talked to me like I was a real person. She didn’t call me a name. It was too much for me to get hold of when I was so scaredy already. Too much was happening to me in one day.
The movie was real funny, about cats that said funny things to dogs. The cats was smart and sassy like Quincy is. The dogs was sweet but kind of dumb. I had a real good time.
Days still easing on by. But ever once in a while, Robert watch from his friend’s car. Oncet they follow me home. I didn’t look at them or say nothing.
Biddy kept watch on Mama Duck. Mama Duck kept watch on Biddy. She let Biddy give her corn and water, but hiss and peck when Biddy go to pet her. If that girl don’t get the duck rabies, she’s for sure gonna get duck lice.
Lizabeth stay worried and sad looking when she look at Biddy. Like when Biddy didn’t know Lizabeth was watching her. This went for a good while. Then one morning when I went in early to cook breakfast, Lizabeth was sitting at the kitchen table holding a envelope.
“Quincy, I would like you to do me a favor.”
I kept husht.
Lizabeth helt out her envelope. “Please mail this on your way to work.” She sat for a minute, and I swear, that ole lady look like she was shamed.
“And, I’m sorry that I must ask you this, but don’t tell Biddy anything about it. I know that this is a kind of lie, but it’s nothing that will hurt her.”
Lizabeth sigh. “I don’t know how much Biddy can read or how much she knows.”
I look down at the envelope. The Honorable and Mrs. Richard J. Barnes. I didn’t know ’bout who Honorable was, but I knew the name. That was the judge in town. And I knew me a secret about that judge. Now my mind got in a knot. Did Lizabeth know that secret too? Did she know that I knowed? And why write the judge? And why can’t Biddy know? Lord, I wisht I could get this tangle smoothed out.
I nod my head at Lizabeth and tuck the envelope in the big pocket of my uniform and tend to breakfast.
Something not right at breakfast this morning. Quincy talking real fast. And trying to hurry me up. Like if I didn’t get my eggs eat real fast, they was going to fly off the plate. I can’t read too many words, but I can read a clock just fine. Quincy not late for work. I swear I can’t ever get her figured out.
Felt like that letter would burn a hole in my pocket, but I finally got breakfast over with and set off to the post office. I got to work a few minutes early and I saw me a sight in the break room. Jen was holding a pack of ice to Ellen’s mouth. Jen kind of crunched her eyebrows together and shook her head, so I didn’t say nothing. I closed the door and went on out to my work counter.
Today, I done a stack of ironing. I ironed a bunch of tablecloths and napkins and even Miss Lizzy’s pillowcases. She don’t tell me to iron her pillowcases. I do it for a treat. So they all smooth under her face. I spray them with good-smelling water she keeps in her laundry
Similar Books
