Ocie was pleased to show her material and pattern. Both were simple, but nice. She had chosen soft white calico with fine lace and tiny buttons. It would be a dress that could be worn many times after the wedding to parties and festivals.
The women settled to quilting and their talk turned to prices at the commissary. Then they talked about plans for the fishing festival, the biggest event on the island, which came every year at the end of summer. Finally their conversation turned to their children.
“Say, Cam, you’s lookin mighty pretty round heah,” Cora said. “Yo skin like velvet. You ain’t in child way agin, no?”
There was deep silence broken by Cam’s uneasy giggle. She covered her mouth to hide a missing front tooth. “Ah, Miss Cora, leave me lone.”
Martha lowered her eyes, trying to relieve the hurt she felt for Cam. Only a few days ago, Cam had come to visit Titay, upset because she felt she was expecting another child. It would be her fifth, and her youngest was only nine months old. She and Titay had talked for a long time. When Cam left, Titay was silent, and Martha knew her grandmother faced a problem she could not solve.
Just then Tee came through the door. “Look who I brung,” he said, ushering Titay into the room. Everyone applauded. Cora said, “You jus in time t’ tell us bout Cam.”
Titay gave Cam a quick look, then turned to Cora. “What’s t’ tell?”
“Aw now, Miss Titay, look at er. She’s too pretty. You mus know there’ll be a new baby round heah soon, yes?”
Everyone knew that Cora wanted to take Titay’s place as the island midwife and caretaker, but the women were afraid of her. It was rumored that she practiced hoodoo. Her question now was meant to put Titay on the spot.
The women were quiet as Cora kept her angry eyes on Titay. In that throbbing moment, Martha wondered how Titay would answer.
“Ah,” Titay said. “That need no word from me, no. If it be so, we’ll know sooner or later, ahn?” She moved to place a hand on Cam’s shoulder.
Martha caught Cam’s eye and responded to her smile.
Cora’s anger chilled the room, but Titay calmly took her place at the quilting frame to do the work in the center of the final roll.
Martha smiled again. Even if Titay’s eyes were failing, she still made the neatest, most even stitches, twelve within an inch.
Just as the frame was being taken down, the men began to arrive. Soon the party moved outside and shouts went up for Ocie and Tee to do the courting dance. Drumbeats and hand-clapping set the rhythm. Ocie stood still, marking time to the music, while Tee did steps that moved from the simple to the most difficult.
Tee strutted on his toes, moving his shoulders, neck, arms and head. Ocie teased with her eyes and smile while she stood in place, keeping time to the beat. The tempo increased and Tee’s whole body caught the music.
Martha, fired by the music and movements, clapped and urged the dancers on.
After the courting dance everyone was ready for cake and lemonade. As they settled and were served, the men began to swap tall tales. The women listened and laughed. Only Cora was bold enough to add a story of her own and sip the elderberry wine that Tee’s father brought out for the men to sample.
Martha sat on the ground, close to Titay, watching, listening and laughing at the stories. She felt at home, but with an uneasiness hard for her to explain. It was like moving down a smooth, endless road without a single curve. She looked up at Titay and said, “I’m ready t’ go, Granma, when you ready.” Then she leaned her head on Titay’s knee and listened to the laughter.
THREE
The Gulf was calm, and the murmur of the waves seemed to be whispering a blessing on the day of Ocie’s wedding. Martha slept late. When she awoke, the sun was hot in a cloudless sky.
She lay in bed wondering how she would fill her days now. She wouldn’t have Ocie. With Tee in her life, Ocie would have much more in common with the married women.
Oh, if only she could leave this place. She wished she had talked more to the teacher, had tried to create some plans. But going to high school would mean being away from home for months. Suddenly she recalled that snake sliding off into the brush. Who’d look after Granma? Wish I had a big family.
Martha had never known her mother. Her father, Titay’s youngest son, had drowned in the Gulf before she was five years old. He was now only a faint memory. Then she thought, There’s Beau and gittin married. But she quickly put that out of her mind.
If only there was someone who understood her. She was only fourteen, and her life was already over. Silly! There was still a lot to do. There was the fishing festival only two months away. Who’s gon lead em dancin down t’ the sea? Titay, probly. Hard t’ blieve Granma so old. She’s led that dancin since I can member.
The church bell rang.
Martha was still in bed when Titay called, “You ready in there?”
“I’m comin, but you go on, Granma.” She was glad now that she had decided to wear the pale blue voile dress that had belonged to her mother. Though the sheer cotton was more than fourteen years old, it was still lovely and fitted her just right. She wished she had a wide, soft straw hat like the one the teacher wore in the sun. Titay’s parasol would have to do.
The green of the trees was deep and solid and shining under the brilliant silver sky. Stepping lively on the trail, Martha admired her tall lean shadow, sheltered by the small parasol. As she walked along enjoying the sounds and fervor of her island, she forgot that moments before she had thought her life over.
Near Ocie’s house Martha’s excitement increased. All of Ocie’s family were getting in line for the wedding march to the church. Suddenly Martha wished she had gone earlier to see if her friend needed anything: something borrowed, maybe. Then she saw Ocie with her father. Ocie looked nervous, but pretty.
From a distance Martha watched the march begin, knowing she had plenty of time. Ocie and her family would take the long route to the church that passed many houses. Anyone unable to attend the ceremony could see the bride and wish her happiness.
The church was already crowded when Martha arrived. Titay was in a place right down front. With a magnolia blossom in her hair, she looked prouder than the parents. After all, she had delivered both Tee and Ocie, which gave her special claim. Martha was happy there was still a seat in the back pew.
Soon the bridal party arrived. Ocie walked through the church followed by all of her family. She no longer looked nervous. Now she was beaming. Smiling shyly at Tee as he waited with his family behind him, she leaned toward him and lost her balance. Tee caught her and hugged her close. There were sounds of appreciation for the beauty of the scene.
“Who gi’e this woman in marriage?” The preacher’s voice boomed. The ceremony was underway.
There was a long silence. Ocie’s father had tears in his eyes. What he thinkin? Ocie was his only daughter and she was young. Just fifteen.
When Ocie’s father couldn’t speak, her mother spoke up and said, “I do.”
Suddenly Martha could not hold back her tears. Who would answer for her? I ain’t got nobody but Titay. We can’t even make a weddin party. She swallowed again and again to stifle her sobs.
But weddings are for fun, and Ocie’s was well planned for just that. Her father came alive as he and Ocie’s brothers played never-ending music. There was loud talk and laughter as people enjoyed the many dishes. Just as Tee’s father was the island’s best fisherman, his mother was the finest cook. There were fresh shrimp, tubs of crawfish, lots of Gert’s gumbo and rice and many delicious cakes, puddings and pies.
The celebration lasted far into the night with everyone dancing, including Titay. Martha, catching the rhythm of the drums, rocked the party with her movements. There were whispers: “She will take Titay’s place, sho, and lead the festival.”
Martha woke drenched. Her little room seemed without air. She got out of bed and was surprised to find no sun. A heavy fog hung over the island. The quiet frightened her until she rea
lized that it was already noon, dinnertime.
Titay was making her rounds visiting the sick. Martha went into the kitchen feeling drained by the heat. Titay had left a covered plate on the table. Curious, Martha lifted the cover. Cake! Leftovers from Ocie’s wedding. She could not resist—one piece, then two. The cake made her thirsty.
She went outside to fill the water pail, but it was so hot, she sat under the pump letting the water stream over her. Then she drank and drank. It was a great effort to move. Before she had changed her dripping clothes, she was hot again. Feeling worn, she decided to go back to bed.
When she awoke, the fog had gone; the sinking sun left the sky aglow.
“What’d you do tday? You ain’t even swept the flo, no?” Titay was preparing supper.
“It be too hot, Granma.” Martha got busy to help finish the meal. They ate in silence, and while Martha put food away and washed the dishes, Titay went to sit outside. Soon Martha smelled the smoke from rags set out to smolder and keep mosquitoes away. Voices of people who came for advice or just to talk briefly with Titay drifted to her.
Before she had finished the dishes, Titay called in the voice she always used to summon Martha for serious talk. “Mat, come heah.”
Martha stood in the doorway.
“C’mon, sit, girl.”
The smoke curled up and spread out, stinging Martha’s eyes and nose. There was silence between them.
“Ocie had good weddin, yes?” Titay finally said.
“Eveybody had good time, yes. Know I did.”
“They liked yo dancin. They all say how good you look and what woman you is now. So I think tis time fo you t’ start thinkin bout yo life work. I’m old, Mat. Done kept the way o’ this island. I gather herbs, wait on the sick. Peoples look t’ me fo midwifin. I hope yuh ready t’ take m’ place.”
The warm sticky sweat that had bothered Martha all day suddenly chilled. She shivered.
“You mus git ready fuh yo quiltin. I’ll vite the whole island and show yo patten. They’ll know yo hand’s out fuh marryin.”
Martha felt the muscles tighten in her throat. She sucked in her breath, fighting the feeling of suffocation. Across the way in the dark, small houses stood in rows. The light of the stars was strong and bright. The night was filled with sounds, and with the smells of flowers, of the Gulf and of wet and dry things. Suddenly she felt a surge of love for this place.
She longed to tell her grandmother that she didn’t want to be married, not now. There was no one on Blue Isle she wanted as a husband. But how could she say she would not have quilting parties, would not marry? She knew of no one who had not.
Titay went on. “You’ll like yo patten. I dreamed this one befo you’s bo’ned. I see this plain piece wid five rings in the cener locked t’ one nother, making a design in the middle o’ the rings. Twas so clear that I knowed it would make a beautiful quilt patten. And I prayed fuh a girl chile t’ come in this family. God blessed me only wid sons. And they all been gift t’ the Gulf. Oh Mat, tis you that keep me goin. I’ll teach you so you can take m’ place and keep the way.”
“But Granma … can’t we wait awhile?”
“Why wait, girl?”
“Cause, Granma. I thought … well, I’m thinkin … I wanna go way.”
“Go way where?” Titay snapped.
“T’ high school, mebbe.”
“You done finish school. Now you learn from me. We gather herbs and seaweed. We make the rounds, visit the sick. I’ll learn yuh all you need know.”
A voice came out of the darkness. “Titay, we smell yo smoke way yonder, and we yearn fuh yo talk.” It was Alicia.
“Can we sit wid y’all?” Gert asked.
“Welcome,” Titay said.
“Cora by yo house, yes?” Gert asked.
“Cora LaRue?” Titay was surprised. “No, not heah, no.”
“We jus seen er, yes. She move quick thout sayin the time o’ day t’ us,” Gert said.
“Not heah, no. Passin, mebbe. Come, sit.” Titay seemed glad that they had come.
Martha was glad. They gave her time. As soon as the women started talking about children, eggs and chickens, she excused herself.
She went to her small room and lay on her bed, and her grandmother’s words disturbed her more and more. Yo hand’s out for marryin … I’ll teach yuh … we make the rounds … keep the way of the island.
No, no, no, Martha thought. She had to get away. But to where? She had never been off the island and she had no one but Titay. She had known that Titay depended upon her to become the midwife long before the words were spoken, but now Titay’s hopes were stated and could not be ignored. If she didn’t become the midwife, Cora would.
Slowly Martha undressed in the darkness and got into bed. The sound of the Gulf in the distance did not soothe her.
FOUR
“Mat, le’s git a early start,” Titay called.
Martha got up and opened the wooden shutter to her small window. It was just before dawn. The morning star, big and bright, seemed to hang close to earth, far from the sky. The urge to lie down again tugged at her, but she sat on the bed and slowly put on her clothes.
“We gather seaweed tday,” Titay said, handing Martha a basket and small rakes.
At the Gulf, Martha walked close to Titay along the shore with the basket on her head. She took Titay’s arm to give support and suddenly felt as if she had become the woman and Titay the girl. For a moment, a love for her grandmother filled her. Then Titay’s words came to her again: Take m’ place and keep the way, and Martha felt afraid.
Martha wondered how she could ever take her grandmother’s place in the hearts of the people. Titay was wise and knew so much. Martha longed to open up and tell Titay about her doubts, about the pain she felt when people said that she was born to trouble. She wanted to say that she could never be like Alicia and Gert. Not like Ocie. Not even like Titay. Words rushed around in her head as she raked in silence, filling her basket, carefully avoiding dead and decaying weeds.
The sun burned through the fog. Waves caught the light, rushing to the shore with caps of white foam. Still raking carefully, Martha thought of the fishing festival, just a month away. She looked at her grandmother, who was raking with great energy, and shouted over the sound of the Gulf, “Granma, yuh think they meant it when they say I make good leader fuh the festival?”
Titay smiled. “They know good dancer when they see one.”
Joy sounded in Martha’s voice when she said, “So yuh think so, ahn?”
“I think so, yes.”
When the basket was filled, they started back. People were now up and about. Beau and other Spanish moss pickers with long poles and gunny sacks moved on the trail that led deep into the woods. Smoke rose from many chimneys. Breakfast was over, and now the women were beginning preparations for the noonday meal.
On the way back Martha and Titay saw Ocie and Tee. They had a three-room house like most on the island: one room followed the other from front to back. Tee was sitting on the steps of the high porch while Ocie stood in the door talking to him.
“Hey, cha,” Ocie called to Martha. “C’mon, you n Titay.”
“I’m weary, but Mat’ll come,” Titay said.
Martha felt ashamed that she had not visited her friends since they had settled. Each day had given her a new excuse. She placed the basket near the front steps and plopped down near Tee, but one step lower. Ocie joined them and sat beside her husband.
“Long time no see you, no. Why ain’t yuh come, cha?”
“Busy. Titay be workin me hard, yes.”
“I hear yuh mebbe leavin, no?” Ocie asked.
Martha looked up, surprised. “Who say so?”
“Tis round. They say you won’t lead the fishin festival cause you gon go way.”
“I don’t know who tole yuh that.”
“Aw, come on. You always thought you better’n us.”
Martha, stunned, could not speak.
“Why
you say that, Cie?” Tee asked. “She never done that round me.”
“She put on airs round teacher, specially when she take teacher’s place, yes.”
Martha looked at Ocie, surprised at the attack. Was Ocie just guessing that she wanted to go away? Sholy I ain’t tole er that and fogot it. No, Martha thought. She had never told anyone except Titay. Who did Titay tell? Finally she said to Ocie, “I don’t know what you mean, better’n y’all.” She picked up her basket and started to leave.
“Don’t go, cha. I was only kiddin, honest. But I did heah you gon go way, though.”
“Don’t bring gossip less you name the sender. Good day, y’all.”
“Wait, I’ll carry yo basket,” Tee said.
They walked along in silence, Martha trying to control the feeling of betrayal. Who could be saying that she would leave before the festival? And Ocie, callin erself m’ friend and spreadin mess.
Finally Tee said, “Don’t be shamed if you wanna leave this place. I did one time too. I yearn now, but no use fuh me. Fuh you, yes.”
“But who say sich: I think mahself better?”
“Women talk. But pay no mind t’ that. You mebbe too good fuh heah, no? I think, mebbe, yes. And if you git a chance, go. It make you no better, no worse’n us, no.”
Martha fought back the tears. She was grateful that someone understood, but she didn’t know what to say, so she said nothing.
When they arrived at her house Tee set the basket inside. He looked at her with a broad grin, then left. She knew he understood her silence, and for that her gratitude expanded.
FIVE
Summer moved toward fall. Martha kept her thoughts to herself and joined Titay on the rounds to visit the sick and to gather herbs. Each morning she promised herself to speak to Titay about the rumor that she was leaving, but each night she could not find the courage to do so.
Finally one morning before they started on their rounds, Martha said, “Granma, I wanna talk t’ yuh.”
Trouble's Child Page 2
