Who We Are by Samantha Marsh Read Free Book Online

She knew better than to be so inquisitive but she couldn’t help it.
    “Papa wanted to come home for a nice hot cup of tea and slice of pie.” And that was it, end of story.
    That is strange. We don't even have any pie!
                  After lunch, Mama told her to sit on the front porch and study her Bible. She read a little bit and then drifted off to sleep on the porch rocker.
                  A couple hours later, Mama gently nudged her awake. She had brought out some tea and cookies. They sat in silence, much like the night before, but today Desire felt like a completely different person.
                  “Mama, how does the baby seed get inside my womb?” Mama almost choked on her tea. “Sshhhh, Desire! We don’t speak of such things out in the open.”
    If a baby was a gift from God, why did we need to be so secretive?
    “Come inside, my dear.” Mama got the tea tray and they went into the kitchen and sat down.
    Mama sighed a little, and then said, “Desire, God is mysterious and he has ways that we must not question. We don’t talk of such things because it is not our place to questions God’s will. All we know is that when God determines a woman is worthy to bear his fruit, he will plant a seed in her womb at a time that he feels is right. That is it. We have faith in God that he will bless us as he sees fit. Most of the time, God will wait until a woman has a husband, but occasionally he does not. Papa will make sure you find a suitable husband soon, hopefully before you are with child.”
                  With child? Was she serious? I did not want a husband or a child. She was not even sure what to do with a husband except to cook all his meals and wash his clothes! Did she really need a husband?
                  “So does that mean that God might put his seed in me now?” She was terrified of the answer. Mama looked at her with a strangely desolate look in her eyes.
                  “Yes Desire, God can now plant his seed in you now.”
    Not wishing to discuss it any further, Mama retreated into her sewing room and Desire was sure she heard her start to sob a little bit.
                  She went back upstairs and lay down. Her mind was exhausted and she finally fell deep into a dreamless sleep. She woke up in her room which was almost pitch-black except for a light glow from the moon.
    She walked over and looked out her window. The town was pitch-black and she realized she had slept through dinner and into the night. She didn’t really mind because her stomach was still a little crampy and she wasn’t very hungry. Mama had left a glass of water and her evening vitamins on her desk for her. She sipped the water and swallowed her vitamins.
     
    Staring out at the moon she wondered if anyone else was out there. Did people live on the moon? She looked around her room. Unless she wanted to do some sewing, there was nothing to do but sleep. She never really gave it much thought before, but it suddenly dawned on her that she spent a lot of time taking naps or sleeping. It was as though she was only conscious for part of her life and she passed the rest in the forms of strange but wonderful dreams or chunks of time that just seemed to disappear.
    She didn’t think about this too much because Mama had assured her that this was normal. So instead of fighting it, she lay down on her bed and went back to sleep.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
    Chapter Four
     
                  Preparing for the celebration of a New Year was the happiest time of the year in Hemac. Desire could hardly conceal her excitement. Flowers were in full bloom ready for picking and decorating. All the women were busy planning an endless bounty of food that would be prepared for everyone in the town. There would be baked hams with pineapple and sugar glaze, roasted chickens stuffed with bread and spices, pork and beef ribs,