WE KNEW SPRING HAD BEGUN when the hens laid eggs and baby chicks hatched. I couldn't have been more excited. f.a.n.n.y, obliged to remain indoors with her charge, became impatient. when the hens laid eggs and baby chicks hatched. I couldn't have been more excited. f.a.n.n.y, obliged to remain indoors with her charge, became impatient.

"That Sally just a spoiled lil number," f.a.n.n.y told us, but she wasn't very convincing, because we knew how much she cared for the golden-haired child.

To our amazement, one warm spring morning, f.a.n.n.y appeared at the kitchen door with Sally in hand. "Miss Martha say it all right we go see the baby chicks," she said.

Belle and Mama exchanged a look.

"Where Masta Marshall?" Mama asked.

"He's studying," the little girl said.

"What he studyin', Miss Sally?" Mama asked.

"Books," she said. "He has a tutor, Mr. Waters, but Marshall and me don't like him." She looked up at f.a.n.n.y. "Do you like Mr. Waters, f.a.n.n.y?"

f.a.n.n.y looked at Mama, startled.

"Why don't we go see those baby chicks?" Mama Mae said quickly.

In her excitement, the little girl spurted ahead. Her white bonnet, so large only a few blond curls peeked out the back, flapped into her face, and she raised her chubby arms to hold it back when she ran. As she did so, white petticoats peeked out from under her pink dress while the gold buckles on her pink shoes sparkled as though ignited by the sun.

We soon caught up to her, and when we reached the chicken coop, f.a.n.n.y took the little girl to a patch of gra.s.s and carefully sat her down. Then f.a.n.n.y went into the pen and risked a peck from a mother hen as she s.n.a.t.c.hed a chick away. Sally waited patiently until f.a.n.n.y came to place the yellow bird in her outstretched hands.

"Don't hold it too tight," f.a.n.n.y warned, "you kill it easy that way."

The little girl seemed to stop breathing. "Oh, it's so soft, f.a.n.n.y," she whispered.

"That 'cause it a baby," f.a.n.n.y explained to her charge.

"Just like me," Sally said. "Mama said I'm still her baby. Even when the new baby comes, she said, I'll still be her baby."

"Is your mama goin' to have a new baby?" Beattie asked.

"Yes"-the little girl nodded-"a real one. And I can hold it, Mama said. You can, too, f.a.n.n.y," she offered generously.

We stayed awhile longer, but Mama stood by and watched uneasily until f.a.n.n.y safely escorted Sally back to the big house.

"I'll come back," the child called over her shoulder to those of us who waved from the kitchen yard.

SHE WAS TRUE TO HER word. From that day on, weather permitting, f.a.n.n.y brought her new charge down to us. The swing was Miss Sally's favorite joy, and we all took turns sending her into the air. Marshall was not around often. The few times we saw him were when his small sister could persuade him to push her on the swing. The little girl worshipped him, and it was clear that he was devoted to her as well. word. From that day on, weather permitting, f.a.n.n.y brought her new charge down to us. The swing was Miss Sally's favorite joy, and we all took turns sending her into the air. Marshall was not around often. The few times we saw him were when his small sister could persuade him to push her on the swing. The little girl worshipped him, and it was clear that he was devoted to her as well.

During that spring and summer, we all fell in love with Miss Sally. She was a generous and fun-loving child, innocent of all pretense. She insisted on bringing along her dolls and china dishes from the big house and always delighted in sharing them. Only Belle kept her distance from the child.

"Don't you like me?" Sally asked her one day.

Belle looked down at her, and Sally met her gaze with wide questioning eyes. I thought for a minute that Belle would cry. Then she said, "Why, sure, I like you, Miss Sally."

"Oh, good," said the little girl, "'cause sometimes you don't look like you do."

"That must be times when I have a headache," Belle said.

"Do you get headaches, too?" Sally asked. "My mama gets headaches all the time. They're very painful. When I grow up, I hope I never get headaches." headaches all the time. They're very painful. When I grow up, I hope I never get headaches."

"I sure you won't," Belle said. Then she offered the little girl a small bunch of raisins. Belle watched Sally go to each of us with an open hand, sharing generously, and I saw then that Belle had been won over as well.

IT WAS NOT OFTEN THAT summer that the twins and I had leisure time, but there was such a day on a late-August afternoon. Shaded in the woods, the three of us lay on a bed of pine needles, discussing the exciting news that both Dory and Miss Martha were going to have babies. summer that the twins and I had leisure time, but there was such a day on a late-August afternoon. Shaded in the woods, the three of us lay on a bed of pine needles, discussing the exciting news that both Dory and Miss Martha were going to have babies.

"How did that happen?" I wondered out loud. f.a.n.n.y felt free to share a theory that shocked me. After Beattie verified that knowledge, the three of us pondered it in silence. Suddenly, f.a.n.n.y sat up and turned her head to better listen. Then Beattie and I heard it, too. We all recognized Marshall's pleading voice. As it became louder, we heard an adult telling him to be quiet.

"You want me to take your little sister next time instead of you?"

"No, no, leave her alone. I'll be good, I'll be good," Marshall said.

I don't know who was more startled when Marshall was pushed into our clearing. He looked both relieved and terrified to see us. The tutor's angry surprise at finding us glinted in his narrowed eyes.

"Well," he said, wiping the corners of his moist mouth, "it appears we have some company."

"Get out of here," Marshall hissed.

The girls ran, but something about Marshall's distress caused me to stay.

"Come with us," I said, pulling his arm, but he appeared rooted to the spot.

Mr. Waters advanced, smiling. "So, who do we have here?" He grabbed for my arm and latched on, but Marshall, in a burst of rage, pulled the tutor off and screamed for me to go. I was so frightened, I ran.

The girls had already found Papa George in the big barn. When they explained why they had come for him, he didn't wait for them to finish, but grabbed a pitchfork and set out for the woods. However, before he crossed the stream, the tutor and Marshall appeared. Marshall looked imploringly at Papa as he made his way toward them. What Papa said, I do not know, but it caused the tutor's face to turn a bright red. "This boy is my charge!" he shouted. "You're nothing but a barn nigra. If you aren't careful, I'll have you working the fields."

"Papa, you needin' help?" It was Ben, coming quickly from the barns. He had been working at the forge, a hot job on a sweltering day. A dark leather ap.r.o.n covered his front, protecting him from the sparks that flew when he hammered the white iron. Black coal streaks marked his dark wet face, and he carried the sledgehammer that was used to coax metal into shape. His wide shoulders back, Ben walked with the air of a warrior.

Papa turned. "We all right, Ben. I just tellin' this man that we lookin' out for Masta Marshall."

Mr. Waters saw Ben move closer and pulled Marshall with him when he turned quickly toward the house. Ben moved to follow, but Papa grasped his son's arm and whispered urgently, "Ben! Wait!"

I stared, unable to take my eyes off Ben as he watched the tutor disappear into the big house. Fury had changed the gentle man I knew. Ben's neck bulged. He spoke through clamped teeth and I did not recognize his voice. "Let me go, Daddy! I gon' set this right," said Ben.

"No, Ben. He waitin' for that. Next thing you know, he get Rankin up here. Rankin kill you or sell you, then tell some story to the cap'n. Miss Martha havin' that baby any day now, and the cap'n say he be here for that. Till then we wait and watch the best we can."

When Papa got Ben turned back toward the barns, I ran for the safety of the kitchen, where I found Belle. I flung myself around her waist and clung to her. Once again that night, everything terrified me. I lay awake in the dark next to Belle, trying to understand what had happened. I had no words to describe my fear, and I felt a terrible sense of foreboding. terrified me. I lay awake in the dark next to Belle, trying to understand what had happened. I had no words to describe my fear, and I felt a terrible sense of foreboding.

I WAS HAPPILY DISTRACTED WHEN, WAS HAPPILY DISTRACTED WHEN, in late September, Dory delivered a baby girl. For the next few weeks, she was given the luxury of spending work time in the kitchen, and I was allowed to help care for her newborn. in late September, Dory delivered a baby girl. For the next few weeks, she was given the luxury of spending work time in the kitchen, and I was allowed to help care for her newborn.

She was named Sukey and was completely unlike the screaming baby Henry. This dark, round-faced child was like a doll to me, and I delighted in her. Mama took over for Dory in the big house and reported daily of dealing with the frustration of the bedridden Miss Martha.

"A couple more weeks and the baby will be here," Belle reminded Mama.

"And thank the Lawd the cap'n promise Miss Martha he home before that day," Mama said.

By now f.a.n.n.y had almost exclusive responsibility for Miss Sally. Most afternoons she brought her to the kitchen area, where we three girls entertained her with play. The little girl had fallen in love with Dory's new baby and was thrilled when she was allowed to hold it. One morning she surprised all of us by appearing in the kitchen yard with Marshall in tow. As she pulled him forward, I saw her bracelet catch the sun. f.a.n.n.y stood awkwardly behind them.

Ben, up from the barns, was behind the kitchen house, chopping wood for Belle's outdoor fire. Beattie and I were again his eager helpers, carrying the wood over for Belle's use as she stirred and cooked the first apple b.u.t.ter of the season.

"Can Marshall see the baby?" Sally asked Belle.

"You go ahead," Belle directed her. "Dory's in the kitchen house."

Marshall looked embarra.s.sed but showed interest when Dory brought the baby to the door of the kitchen house for him to view. "It's nice," he said, sounding genuine.

"Thank you, Masta Marshall," Dory answered.

"Will our baby be like this?" Sally asked Marshall.

After a silence, Marshall shook his head. "No," he said.

"Why not?" asked Sally, surprised.

"It just won't," he mumbled as he turned pink.

"But I want a baby just like this one."

"Well, you can't have one," Marshall said, short with her now.

Sally began to wail. "I want a baby like this one."

Belle set aside the stirring paddle and came to hunch down by Sally. "Where'd you get this pretty thing you have on your arm?" she asked in an effort to distract the child. It worked.

"My daddy gave it to me for Christmas. Look," Sally said, "it's a picture of him." She turned the painted miniature so Belle could have a better look. The charm was edged in gold and tied to her wrist with a pink velvet ribbon.

"This is so pretty," Belle said quietly.

"Come on, Sally, let's go." Marshall was impatient, tugging at her arm.

The little girl remembered the baby and pushed back at her brother. "Belle, can I have a baby like this one?" she said.

Belle rea.s.sured her, "Your mama's gonna have a pretty baby, nice as this one."

"Will she, Belle?" Sally asked.

Belle nodded. "Yes, she do."

"See," Sally said. "See. Belle said it will be just like this one."

Marshall glared at Belle, then walked away. His little sister, alert to her brother's unhappiness, ran after him. f.a.n.n.y followed, but Beattie and I stayed back at the woodpile with Ben, watching them go up toward the big house. Sally reached the oak tree and scrambled onto her swing. "Marshall! Push me," she called, kicking out her feet. Marshall ignored her and continued on toward the house.

f.a.n.n.y went to her, but the child insisted that she wanted her brother. "Marshall! Come! Push me on the swing," she called to him.

He disregarded her appeals. Then the little girl caught sight of the tutor, standing at the back door of the big house, and she changed tactic. of the tutor, standing at the back door of the big house, and she changed tactic.

"Mr. Waters, Mr. Waters," she called, "tell Marshall to push me on the swing."

Marshall stopped and looked up. He saw the tutor taking steps and quickly turned back toward Sally. When he reached the swing, Marshall grabbed hold of the seat and pushed fiercely, almost unseating the child.

"Marshall," the little girl called, "not so hard."

He pushed her again, harder still. Frightened, Sally kicked at him and called for him to stop, but he shoved again, as if fueled by his sister's cry. When Sally let out a shrill scream, Belle came running up the hill. Ben came, too, sprinting behind her. Belle called out for Marshall to stop, stop! f.a.n.n.y ran at him and used the force of her body to throw him to the ground, but not before he was successful in a last hard shove. The swing flew and reached a pivotal height, then jerked before its descent.

No one was sure whether the child fell or jumped. When she landed, there was an audible snap; she lay still, her head pitched back from her body and her little arms stretched open as though to welcome the heavens.

Even the birds stopped singing.

CHAPTER EIGHT

Belle

THE FIRST TIME I I SEE SEE that little Sally, I don't like her just for being who she is. She's my sister, but I can't tell her that. And just because she's all white, she's never gonna be moved to the kitchen house like me. But this summer, after I come to know the child, I see she got the same ways as Beattie, smiling and happy to give what she has. After a time I come to like her and think, Maybe when she gets older, I'll tell her myself that we're sisters. But then, just like that, she's gone. After she dies, before the doctor gets here, Mama tells me to wash Sally and put on her best dress. that little Sally, I don't like her just for being who she is. She's my sister, but I can't tell her that. And just because she's all white, she's never gonna be moved to the kitchen house like me. But this summer, after I come to know the child, I see she got the same ways as Beattie, smiling and happy to give what she has. After a time I come to like her and think, Maybe when she gets older, I'll tell her myself that we're sisters. But then, just like that, she's gone. After she dies, before the doctor gets here, Mama tells me to wash Sally and put on her best dress.

I say, "No, please, Mama, let Dory," but Mama Mae says, "Belle, you know how much Dory love that chil'. Besides, she nursin', and that maybe stop her milk." Then Mama looks at me real good before she says, "But you still want Dory to do it. I get her up here."

"No, Mama, you're right. I just don't like to touch something that don't have life in it."

"n.o.body do," says Mama.

When I was washing that child, she feels soft like a baby bird. It don't seem right that she's going in the ground. When I clean her little arm, I take off the bracelet that has a likeness of the cap'n. I put it in my pocket, thinking it's mine now, but I start to cry and take it out again, because I know that thing was never mine, just like living in the big house is never gonna be mine. When Uncle comes, I'm crying so hard I jump when he touches my shoulder.

"Come, Belle," he says, "everybody die sometime or 'nother."

But his own eyes was wet by the time we finish. "She a good lil girl," he says over and over. When we get done, I give him the bracelet. He looks at it, then he looks at me. He shakes his head real sad, like he knows everything I'm thinking, before he puts it in his pocket. But his own eyes was wet by the time we finish. "She a good lil girl," he says over and over. When we get done, I give him the bracelet. He looks at it, then he looks at me. He shakes his head real sad, like he knows everything I'm thinking, before he puts it in his pocket.

CHAPTER NINE

Lavinia