Read Online Trouble's Child by Mildred Pitts; Walter - Free Book Online Page A

said.
    â€œLucky fuh Martha she could have the season’s first quiltin.” Ocie teased.
    â€œHe’ll ask fuh her hand, yes,” Alicia said, and all the women laughed.
    Hal came toward them and greeted them in his deep voice, which still sounded foreign. “How are things this morning?”
    The women giggled and answered together. “Fine mornin.”
    Then to Martha, Hal said, “And is your grandmother well?”
    Martha dared not look at him when she answered, “She well.”
    Just then Ovide came to open the commissary and the women rushed inside.
    Ovide had brought three bolts of new cotton to choose from and, for the one who chose first, a small mirror, but Martha was not surprised when no one rushed to buy.
    â€œA lil mirror like that in my house, never!” Alicia said. “Too easy t’ break. And when it breaks that’s seben yeas bad luck.”
    â€œGood Lord, seben!” Ocie cried.
    â€œYuh better cover a mirror when it storm, and when somebody die too. If yuh don’t they soul’ll be trapped in that mirror and the mirror’ll sho turn dark,” Cora said.
    â€œToo much trouble. No mirror fuh me,” Alicia cried.
    The women’s talk upset Martha, but she was more irritated by the twinkle in Ovide’s eye and the satisfaction he was getting out of the women’s talk. I’d gladly take that mirror. But mebbe breakin it might bring bad luck. But how? She remembered Titay covering their mirror when it stormed. How can a mirror do all that? Mirrors don’t do nothin but reflec .
    The women’s fear and the smirk on Ovide’s face humiliated her. That humiliation turned to anger and before Martha knew it she shouted, “Tis stupid t’ think that bout a lil ole lookin glass.”
    The women gasped and Ocie said angrily, “Miss Know-It-All …”
    â€œPay er no mind,” Cora said. “She blieves that. She can’t be hexed by nothin, that girl. She already been hexed through and through, bein bo’ned in a stom.”
    The other women said nothing, but the hostility on their faces was frightening. They turned, almost as one, and left the commissary.
    The mirror was still lying on the counter when Martha went to pay for her kerosene. But before she paid, Hal walked into the store and Ovide went to get his mail.
    â€œI’m glad you’re still here,” Hal said. “I want to give you something. You and your grandmother. I owe you two my life, you know.”
    Martha was still frightened.
    â€œWhat about a nice head scarf for your grandmother, and what would you like?”
    â€œOh, I don’t know,” she said, still visibly upset.
    â€œWhat’s the matter?”
    Had he heard her and the women? She looked at him. Believing he had not, she said, “Oh, nothin.”
    â€œWould you like that mirror?”
    Regaining control, she said, “Yeah, but Granma …”
    He grinned affectionately, “Does she think, maybe, you’d spend too much time looking at yourself, is that it?”
    Martha did not answer and he said, “I know I enjoy watching every move you make. Do you know how beautiful you are?” He smiled and looked into her eyes.
    Martha’s face burned and her scalp tingled. She averted her eyes from his smile and intense gaze. Without looking at him, she said, quietly, “It might bring us bad luck.”
    â€œWhere I come from we call that superstition. You’re not superstitious, are you?”
    She looked up at him. “Mebbe.”
    â€œHere, take it. It won’t bring bad luck, I promise.”
    â€œBut Granma …”
    â€œShe doesn’t have to know. If you don’t tell, I won’t.” He whispered, “Don’t fear the mirror, fear fear of the mirror.”
    â€œSay what?”
    Hal repeated what he had said and they both laughed. Then he took his mail from Ovide, paid for the head scarf and the