Tuesday, January 26, 2010 - It burned the familiar path through her body,... |
| It burned the familiar path through her body, dulling her
painShe held out her empty glass to Will, and he poured some more
whiskey into it"Hello, darlings," she said to her children, "come
give Mother a hug Scarlett heard her own voice; it sounded as if it
belonged to someone else, but at least it was saying the right thing
She spent all the time she could in Mammy's room, at Mammy's side
She
had fastened all her hopes on the comfort of Mammy's arms around
her,
but now it was her strong young arms that held the dying old black
womanScarlett lifted the wasted form to bathe Mammy, to change
Mammy's linen, to help her when breathing was too hard, to coax a
few
spoonfuls of broth between her lipsShe sang the lullabies Mammy
had
so often omega seamaster watch sung to her, and when Mammy talked in delirium to Scarlett's
dead mother, Scarlett answered with the words she thought her
mother
might have saidSometimes Mammy's rheumy eyes recognized her,
and the
old woman's cracked lips smiled at the sight of her favoriteThen her
quavering voice would scold Scarlett, as she had scolded her since
Scarlett was a baby"Your hair looks purely a mess, Miss Scarlett,
now you go brush a hundred strokes like Mammy taught you Or,
"You
ain't got no call to be wearing a frock all crumpled up like thatGo
put on something fresh before folks see you Or, "You looks pale as a
ghost, Miss ScarlettIs you putting powder on your face? Wash it off
this minute Whatever Mammy commanded, Scarlett promised to do
There was never imitation chanel handbags time enough to obey before Mammy slid back into
unconsciousness, or that other world where Scarlett did not exist
During the day and evening Suellen or Lutie or even Will would share
the work of the sickroom, and Scarlett could snatch a half hour's
sleep, curled in the sagging rocking chairBut at night Scarlett kept
solitary vigilShe lowered the flame in the oil lamp and held Mammy's
thin dry hand in hersWhile the house slept and Mammy slept, she
was
able at last to cry, and her heartbroken tears eased her pain a
little
Once, in the small quiet hour before dawn, Mammy woke"What for is
you weeping, honey?" she whispered"Old Mammy is ready to lay
down
her load and rest in the arms of the LordThere ain't no call to take
on so Her hand black chanel tote stirred in Scarlett's, freed itself, stroked
Scarlett's bent head
Nothing's so bad as you think
"I'm sorry," she sobbed, "I just can't stop crying Mammy's bent
fingers pushed Scarlett's tangled hair away from her face"Tell old
Mammy what's troubling her lamb Scarlett looked into the old, wise,
loving eyes and felt the most profound pain she had ever known"I've
done everything wrong, MammyI don't know how I could have made
so
many mistakes
"Miss Scarlett, you done what you had to doCan't nobody do more
than
thatThe good Lord sent you some heavy burdens, and you carried
them
No sense asking why they was laid on you or what it took out of you to
tote them
Don't fret yourself now Mammy's heavy eyelids closed over tears
that
glistened in the dim replica swiss rolex submariner light, and her ragged breathing slowed in sleep
How can I not fret? Scarlett wanted to shoutMy life is ruined, and
I don't know what to doI need Rhett, and he's goneI need you,
and
you're leaving me, tooShe lifted her head, wiped her tears away on
her sleeve and straightened her aching shoulders
The coals in the pot-bellied stove were nearly used up, and the bucket
was emptyShe had to refill it, she had to feed the fire
The room was beginning to chill, and Mammy must be kept warm
Scarlett pulled the faded patchwork quilts up over Mammy's frail form,
then she took the bucket out into the cold darkness of the yardShe
hurried toward the coal bin, wishing she'd thought to put on a shawl
There was no moon, only a crescent sliver lost behind a dior monogram messenger bag cloud |
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