The Color Purple - Alice Walker [23]
How you manage? us ast.
Every time they ast me to do something, Miss Celie, I act like I’m you. I jump right up and do just what they say.
She look wild when she say that, and her bad eye wander round the room.
Mr. _____ suck in his breath. Harpo groan. Miss Shug cuss. She come from Memphis special to see Sofia.
I can’t fix my mouth to say how I feel.
I’m a good prisoner, she say. Best convict they ever see. They can’t believe I’m the one sass the mayor’s wife, knock the mayor down. She laugh. It sound like something from a song. The part where everybody done gone home but you.
Twelve years a long time to be good though, she say.
Maybe you git out on good behavior, say Harpo.
Good behavior ain’t good enough for them, say Sofia. Nothing less than sliding on your belly with your tongue on they boots can even git they attention. I dream of murder, she say, I dream of murder sleep or wake.
Us don’t say nothing.
How the children? she ast.
They all fine, say Harpo. Tween Odessa and Squeak, they git by.
Say thank you to Squeak, she say. Tell Odessa I think about her.
DEAR GOD,
Us all sit round the table after supper. Me, Shug, Mr. ____, Squeak, the prizefighter, Odessa and two more of Sofia sisters.
Sofia not gon last, say Mr. ____.
Yeah, say Harpo, she look little crazy to me.
And what she had to say, say Shug. My God.
Us got to do something, say Mr. _____ and be right quick about it.
What can us do? ast Squeak. She look a little haggard with all Sofia and Harpo children sprung on her at once, but she carry on. Hair a little stringy, slip show, but she carry on.
Bust her out, say Harpo. Git some dynamite off the gang that’s building that big bridge down the road, blow the whole prison to kingdom come.
Shut up, Harpo, say Mr. ____, us trying to think.
I got it, say the prizefighter, smuggle in a gun. Well, he rub his chin, maybe smuggle in a file.
Naw, say Odessa. They just come after her if she leave that way.
Me and Squeak don’t say nothing. I don’t know what she think, but I think bout angels, God coming down by chariot, swinging down real low and carrying ole Sofia home. I see ’em all as clear as day. Angels all in white, white hair and white eyes, look like albinos. God all white too, looking like some stout white man work at the bank. Angels strike they cymbals, one of them blow his horn, God blow out a big breath of fire and suddenly Sofia free.
Who the warden’s black kinfolks? say Mr. ____.
Nobody say nothing.
Finally the prizefighter speak. What his name? he ast.
Hodges, say Harpo. Bubber Hodges.
Old man Henry Hodges’ boy, say Mr. ____. Used to live out on the old Hodges’ place.
Got a brother name Jimmy? ast Squeak.
Yeah, say Mr. ____. Brother name Jimmy. Married to that Quitman girl. Daddy own the hardware. You know them?
Squeak duck her head. Mumble something.
Say what? ast Mr. ____.
Squeak cheek turn red. She mumble again.
He your what? Mr. _____ ast.
Cousin, she say.
Mr. _____ look at her.
Daddy, she say. She cut her eye at Harpo. Look at the floor.
He know anything bout it? ast Mr. ____.
Yeah, she say. He got three children by my mama. Two younger than me.
His brother know anything bout it? ast Mr. ____.
One time he come by the house with Mr. Jimmy, he give us all quarters, say we sure do look like Hodges.
Mr. _____ rear back in his chair, give Squeak a good look from head to foot. Squeak push her greasy brown hair back from her face.
Yeah, say Mr. ____. I see the resemblance. He bring his chair down on the floor.
Well, look like you the one to go.
Go where, ast Squeak.
Go see the warden. He your uncle.
DEAR GOD,
Us dress Squeak like she a white woman, only her clothes patch. She got on a starch and iron dress, high heel shoes with scuffs, and a old hat somebody give Shug. Us give her a old pocketbook look like a quilt and a little black bible. Us wash