Absalom's Daughters by Suzanne Feldman Read Free Book Online Page B

to leave,” said the oldest. “This here’s our land.” But he grabbed his younger brother by the arm and led him, the little boy, and the dog into the darkness of the woods, more or less in the direction of Duncan Justice’s house.
    Judith watched them go, then pushed the albino boy out of the backseat. “Find that New York station.” The albino boy fumbled under the dashboard until the radio came back on, but not the engine. First it was static, and then it was the New York station. Judith climbed out of the backseat and sat on the hood of the car with the bottle of moonshine.
    â€œI used to listen to WINS when I lived in Manhattan,” said the albino boy from the front seat. “I’ve got records of all their music. We can listen to them tomorrow when you come over.”
    â€œMaybe I ain’t comin’ tomorrow,” said Judith. The fire was beginning to die, and she waved smoke away from her face.
    â€œYou and that nigger girl always come on Wednesday.”
    â€œI might take this here car and just drive myself away.”
    The albino boy laughed.
    â€œI been thinkin’ a lot lately.” Judith took another drink. “I been thinkin’, why should I stay here? If my daddy left for something better, why should I stay?”
    The albino boy reached around the windshield, took the bottle from her, and took a swig himself. “I thought you said your dad ran off with a hoor .”
    â€œBut he got some money somehow. He stayin’ in a nice hotel. I don’ see why I should stay d’liverin’ laundry when something better’s out there.”
    The albino boy laughed again, like she was making a joke. “Hey,” he said, “is it true that nigger girl’s your sister?”
    Judith sat up on the car hood. In the bushes, Cassie tucked down deeper into the leaves and thorns.
    â€œWho tol’ you that?” said Judith.
    â€œMy aunt said your dad is—what’s her name again? He’s her dad too.”
    â€œMost ever’body in town’s related one way or the other,” said Judith. “Some people opens their mouth about it. Others don’t.”
    The albino boy put his feet up on the dashboard. “My aunt said that nigger girl’s grandmother made her mother sleep with a white man. That true?”
    â€œPeople say all kinda things,” said Judith. “They got nothing better to do with their time.”
    The albino boy said in a strange, soft voice, “You ever do that?”
    â€œRun my mouth?”
    â€œNo,” said the albino boy, in the same voice as before. “You ever do it with nigger boys?”
    Judith took the bottle from him and drank a big mouthful. Then she slid off the hood of the car and stood up straight, as though the alcohol had evaporated right out of her. “I’m goin’ home,” she said. She put the bottle down by the dying fire. “It’s late and all.”
    The albino boy sat up in the car again. The radio faded into static. “Wait,” he said.
    Judith walked away through the leaves and sticks and woods and hidden snakes. She threw him a look over her shoulder. “You know your way home? It’s just up that hill yonder.”
    â€œWait!” he said, leaning out of the car.
    Judith stopped by the bush where Cassie was hiding. Instead of turning back, she leaned down and said, as though she’d known Cassie was there the whole time, “I din’t tell him none of those damn things.”
    The two of them walked through the trees and out onto the macadam road. The moon was up higher, a thumbnail curve in the eastern sky.
    Cassie watched her own feet move in her hard-soled shoes. “Why’d you tell him you might not be there tomorrow?”
    â€œCause I ain’t.”
    â€œYou gone walk to Virginia?”
    â€œNo,” said Judith. “I’m gonna take that piece of junk back there and leave