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

lone?” Martha asked.
    â€œI’ll send Ocie t’ set wid yuh. If he rouses, gi’e im tea or water. But I’ll be back directly.”
    Titay hadn’t been gone long enough to attend one person before she returned. “How come yuh back so soon?” Martha asked.
    â€œTrouble. That Cora spreadin evil. They sayin I harbor death. The stranger come t’ bring sickness to our people. Ain’t that why I found im, they say. No one’ll speak t’ me. They so scared they won’t let me tend the sick. Sayin I might spread sickness to em.”
    â€œWhat yuh gon do, Granma?”
    â€œMake im well! Mat, girl, if he die now I may as well die too, cause Cora’s way’ll bcome the way of the island.”
    Martha knew Titay was worried when she went into the room and closed the door to do her communin.
    The stranger still slept, his breathing even and quiet. Martha watched his brow and waited for the sweat that meant a fever was broken.
    Shadows lengthened and the sounds deepened. Titay stayed in her room, and the stranger didn’t awaken. No one had stopped by to talk, to bring Titay little gifts or to ask Titay’s advice.
    When the waiting had become almost unbearable, Titay began to move about in her room. Soon she came out and bent over the stranger. Then she smiled. “He better, but not best. We’ll wrap im in flannel and gi’e im mo tea.”
    They waited. The moon shone in the small window and cast the shadow of the two women in the darkness over the bed of the stranger.
    Finally Titay lit the lamp and said with great joy, “Hallelujah! He sweatin. He be all right. Mat, you go t’ bed.”
    That morning Titay came to her room just before dawn. She said to Martha, “He better. He ast ‘Where am I?’ and when I tole im he heah on Blue Isle, Lousana, he was sho muff surprised. Went right on back t’ sleep. I know he better.”
    â€œOh, that’s good, Granma. C’mon t’ bed now and git some rest.”
    Noise at the front of the house awoke Martha.
    â€œTitay, Titay, come out heah,” Cora shouted. “We know you harborin that stranger, tryin t’ stroy us all.”
    Martha jumped from her bed. The sun was high. Cora continued her shouting. “Titay. You in there. Answer me.”
    Martha was frightened. Had Cora convinced the people of danger? And suppose the stranger did bring a terrible sickness? But he was much better, Titay said so.
    She dressed hurriedly and rushed to see if the stranger was able to show himself to Cora LaRue. “Granma!” she called. “He gone.”
    Titay rushed into the room. “He can’t be.” She looked behind the door, under the bed. “He mus be heah. Look see in the kitchen.”
    Martha ran to the kitchen. He was not there. Other islanders had arrived and Cora was shouting to them. “She got somethin t’ hide, yes. If not, whyn’t she come answer me? Whyn’t she let us see the stranger?”
    What had happened to him, Martha wondered. Was Cora working evil tricks? The stranger couldn’t just disappear. Martha ran to her room again. He wasn’t there. What had happened? She ran to Titay. “Granma, he ain’t in this house.”
    â€œI’ll face er.” Titay walked out the door with Martha close behind. Martha was surprised to see so many people standing about in their yard. They were all quiet, but looked afraid. Titay said nothing. She stood, waiting.
    â€œWhyn’t yuh answer, old woman?” Cora shouted.
    The people mumbled and Martha knew they did not like Cora talking to Titay in that way. But they too wanted proof that their lives were not endangered by the stranger.
    Titay didn’t answer. She kept her head up, her eyes toward the Gulf. Suddenly a smile spread over her face. Martha looked. The stranger was coming down the path, walking slowly as if he was very tired. He had changed his clothes.