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

house.
    â€œHe’ll take yo bed, and you can share mine,” Titay said to Martha.
    Martha didn’t object, but she was not pleased with the decision being made for her. She looked at the helpless stranger. He wasn’t much older than Beau. His eyes were closed, his clothes were covered with salt and mud and one foot was without a shoe. She knew he was very sick, for his dark skin had a grayish tone and he shook like leaves in the wind.
    Titay covered the stranger with quilts, then turned to Elmo and Beau. “Go now and keep still tongues. He mus rest. In time we ast things we need know bout im.”
    When the men had gone, Titay said, “Mat, sit near im. I go make warm tea t’ bring im round.”
    The whole bed moved under the stranger’s trembling body. His head bent backward and his mouth twitched. Martha ran into the kitchen. “Come, Granma, I think he’s dyin.”
    Titay rushed to the bed. “No, jus burnin with fever. Git the vinegar.”
    Martha and Titay sponged him, using all their strength to get the job done. He responded as if he were being rubbed with ice. They gave him sips of cool water; then he slept.
    Throughout the day they watched him and let him sleep. They roused him only for water and to sponge him with vinegar. His fever didn’t cool. Late in the night, Titay peeled a white potato and placed the slices on his head, tying them in place with a clean cloth.
    â€œI think he smiled,” Martha said.
    â€œThat feel good. We mus make im well. Could be the good spirits brung im in place o’ one o’ our men. We mus save im.”
    Martha watched as Titay tucked the quilts with tender confidence and knew that, if he could be saved, Titay would do it.
    The next morning the stranger still burned with fever. He groaned and turned and tossed. A worried Titay sent Martha into the woods just beyond the chinaberry tree to look for roots and leaves. “If you can’t find the fever bush, then bring some magnolia bark.”
    Martha took her basket and a stick to beat off snakes and rushed out to gather the herbs. Near the chinaberry tree, she was surprised to see many of the women gathered together so early. With voices raised, they were talking to Cora.
    As Martha drew closer, all talking stopped and the women turned to look at her.
    â€œWhere yuh rushin, cha?” Ocie asked.
    â€œYeah, where yuh go so early?” Gert asked.
    â€œYou don’t gi’e me greetin ’fo yuh ast where I go,” Martha said. She laughed to hide her feelings.
    They all laughed. Then Cora said, “Fine mornin, ahn? Where Titay? She oughta be out gatherin roots and leaves, no?”
    â€œI don’t make answer for Titay,” Martha said, and walked on.
    â€œTitay make answer t’ us, yes, if that stranger bring death t’ this island,” Cora said.
    What if the stranger did have some sickness that would spread throughout the island? Martha wanted to run home and tell Titay what Cora had said, but when she looked back and saw the women huddled together in worried talk, she knew she had to hurry to find the herbs. Titay must make the stranger well.
    â€œHow’s he, Granma?” Martha asked as soon as she entered the house.
    â€œHe know he in the world, but he cry in pain.”
    â€œYuh ast his name?”
    â€œHe say a hard one fuh me, so call im Hal. He from up the Mis’sippi River.”
    â€œSpose what he got spread, Granma?” Martha asked. The look on Titay’s face made her sorry she had spoken.
    â€œWho think sich?” Titay asked sharply.
    â€œThe women.”
    â€œThe women?”
    â€œCora.”
    â€œGimme them herbs. We break that fever and he live. You see.” Titay went to make the tea.
    When they had sponged him and given him the tea, he slept in a deep sleep with even breathing.
    â€œI mus make m’ rounds now and tend the other sick,” Titay said.
    â€œMus I stay heah