Virgin Soul by Judy Juanita Read Free Book Online Page B

been kissing no boys, and that’s what they told us could get you a baby. ‘Don’t be kissing no boys, that get you pregnant.’ So there I was, not even developed, didn’t know bottoms up—pregnant.”
    â€œDon’t worry, Goosey. I know about protection.”
    â€œPoppycock. If you make music, you make babies. I wanted to tell your young man how your father came into the world.”
    She turned away from me and spoke directly to Allwood.
    â€œWe called him Brotherboy, because it felt more like he was my baby brother than my baby. I was thirteen. Then I had Boy-Boy at fifteen from my first husband, Mr. Hightower, who was nice enough to give Niecy’s father his name too and raise him along with Boy-Boy. But Mr. Hightower died on me, bless his big heart. I was sixteen and alone with two small ones.”
    I got money out to put under the sugar bowl, but Goosey wasn’t through yet.
    â€œI get low-sick, chill fever, I pulls out these letters my mama wrote me.”
    Goosey had her brown, tattered letters from when Boy-Boy’s grandmother had helped her get back on her feet after Boy-Boy’s father died. She had read them all to me when I was young. Every few years she had me go to the variety store and buy a new red ribbon to tie around them.
    Goosey patted the letters and untied the red ribbon. I let out a sigh. I was ready to go. My grandma handed us each a letter from the top of the pile. I couldn’t bring myself to open the one I had, but Allwood opened his right away. He started to read but she stopped him.
    â€œLet Niecy read it since she bout a Lindella June if I ever.”
    That was what she was getting at, don’t make her mistakes. I wasn’t going to make her mistakes. I couldn’t; they didn’t have the pill then. I put the letter back on the pile and crossed my arms and shifted my impatience from foot to foot.
    The brat in me came out around Goosey, the only person in the world who loved me as I was, not all gussied up. Allwood was looking at me, his eyes all wide like he was seeing me up close. Just to stop that gooey look, I took the letter and breathed hard. “Okay, I’ll read it, for heaven’s sake.”
    To Mrs. Lindella Goosby, 18th and Fondulac, Muskogee, Oklahoma
    From Mrs. Florence Stapleton, Columbus, Georgia
    On the date of the fourth of June
    In the year of our Lord nineteen hundred and twelve
    Dear Lindella June
    Please give Ma Goosby my kindest regard—She is not as you say Adding salt to the wound—This blow has hit you an her equally hard But I hear your heart bleating like a lost sheep across the windy plains As to this so-called Rev Cleophus—Ma Goosby did write
    Accusing you—Of taking an improper liking to him
    Trust her in this matter—Circuit preachers can preach the gospel
    Good as any man in a pulpit—But roaming is their habit
    A womans heart an the prairie—Near bout equal to them
    The very fact of him saying to Ma Goosby—What he never say to you
    She a little piece of leather but she well put-together
    Show he have less on his mind—An more round his holster
    Than is good for him or yall—He sound like a dip over here
    Dip over there type—Iffen I read Ma Goosby right
    You still young even with death—Having sat down
    Inside your heart—Trust Ma Goosby as I do
    For these two God honest reasons—She is blood to your child
    She been through an through the storms of life
    She can also iron up a petticoat stiff as you please
    An thats an accomplishment Lindella darling
    Men be like found money—Iffen you find a shiny dollar on the street
    Spend it dont depend on it—And dont be expecting to find it
    Again—Sometime colored women happen up on mens
    Like found money—You know what Poppa John used to say
    White folks do business Negroes make rangements
    Sometime what else can we do? Anybody you decide to get
    A hold of Lindella—please