Color Purple, The - Alice Walker [58]
By now Squeak see a pair shelike. Oh, Miss Celie, she say. Can I try on those?
She put on a pair the color of sunset. Orangish with a little grayish fleck. She come back out looking just fine. Grady look at her like he could eat her up.
Shug finger the pieces of cloth I got hanging on everything. It all soft, flowing, rich and catch the light. This a far cry from that stiff army shit us started with, she say. You ought to make up a special pair to thank and show Jack.
What she say that for. The next week I'm in and out of stores spending more of Shug's money. I sit looking out cross the yard trying to see in my mind what a pair of pants for Jack would look like. Jack is tall and kind and don't hardly say anything. Love children. Respect his wife, Odessa, and all Odessa amazon sisters. Anything she want to take on, he right there. Never talking much, though. That's the main thing. And then I remember one time he touch me. And it felt like his fingers had eyes. Felt like he knew me all over, but he just touch my arm up near the shoulder.
I start to make pants for Jack. They have to be camel. And soft and strong. And they have to have big pockets so he can keep a lot of children's things. Marbles and string and pennies and rocks. And they have to be washable and they have to fit closer round the leg than Shug's so he can run if he need to snatch a child out the way of something. And they have to be something he can lay back in when he hold Odessa in front of the fire. And...
I dream and dream and dream over Jack's pants. And cut and sew. And finish them. And send them off.
Next thing I hear, Odessa want a pair.
Then Shug want two more pah- just like the first. Then everybody in her band want some. Then orders start to come in from everywhere Shug sing. Pretty soon I'm swamp.
One day when Shug come home,^I say, You know, I love doing this, but I got to git out and make a living pretty soon. Look like this just holding me back.
She laugh. Let's us put a few advertisements in the paper, she say. And let's us raise your prices a hefty notch. And let's us just go ahead and give you this diningroom for your factory and git you some more women in here to cut and sew, while you sit back and design. You making your living, Celie, she say. Girl, you on your way.
Nettie, I am making some pants for you to beat the heat in Africa. Soft, white, thin. Drawstring waist. You won't ever have to feel too hot and overdress again. I plan to make them by hand. Every stitch I sew will be a kiss.
Amen,
Your Sister, Celie Folkspants, Unlimited. Sugar Avery Drive Memphis, Tennessee I am so happy. I got love, I got work, I got money, friends and time. And you alive and be home soon. With our children.
Jerene and Darlene come help me with the business. They twins. Never married. Love to sew. Phis, Darlene trying to teach me how to talk. She say us not so hot. A dead country give-away. You say us where most folks say we, she say, and peoples think you dumb.
Colored peoples think you a hick and white folks be amuse.
What I care? I ast. I'm happy.
But she say I feel more happier talking tike she talk. Can't nothing make me happier than seeing you again, I think, but I don't say nothing. Every time I say something the way I say it, she correct me until I say it some other way. Pretty soon it feel tike I can't think. My mind run up on a thought, git confuse, run back and sort of lay down.
You sure this worth it? I ast.
She say Yeah. Bring me a bunch of books. White-folks all over them, talking bout apples and dogs.
What I care bout dogs? I think.
Darlene keep trying. Think how much better Snug feel with you educated, she say. She won't be shame to take you anywhere.
Shug not shame no how, I say. But she don't believe this the truth. Sugar, she say one day when Shug home, don't you think it be nice if Celie could talk proper?
Shug say, She can talk in sign language for all I care. She make herself a nice cup of herb tea and start talking bout hot oiling her hair.
But I let Darlene worry on. Sometimes I think