Storying for Monday, August 11, 2008

Sophi put her hands on her hips and heave a sigh that get her breasts to bouncing. “You never think ‘bout leavin’ here Ida?” She lookin’ out at the water different now, lookin’ as though she hear someone callin’ her name out there. I’m familiar with that look, I hear people tell me I wear it on my face all the time since Franklin left, but that expression don’t look right on Sophie delicate features. “You ain’t from here Ida. You still got your people in Freeport. Why you don’t get yourself back... Sign in to see full entry.

“Hey Sophi, where you get dem conch?” She smile’ at me; her round cheeks dimpling and her long-lashed eyes flashing like she a schoolgirl with a secret. She walk strong, striding like the talcum soft, white sand under feet ain’ no different than the tar road running though the middle of the settlement, and reach my house quick. “Junior’s two boys took the small boat out this mornin’.” She tell me, hauling herself up the steps to join me in the shade. “Come back with half a boat full.” “Dem boys... Sign in to see full entry.

II I wring out and hang up the laundry I left to soak once I get back to the house me and Franklin built right out on the water. Every day we get a strong breeze off the sea, even when the weather turn cool it never take long to dry the clothes. I sweep out, run the mop over the floorboards, check on my crabs in the pen and take a little bit of fish out the freezer to thaw while I wait for the clothes to dry. Once they picked in, I get ‘em folded quick, then sit down on my porch and look out... Sign in to see full entry.

Darrel slide his fat self over to me, thumbs in his belt. “Corn lookin’ fine I must say, comin’ along good?” “Umhum.” I say. Put my hands on my hips and stretch out my back, where it’s tight from bending low all morning. Bastard most pop his eyes out they sockets looking at my breasts rise. Me and Franklin never had any children, never had a reason to lose the shape I brought to the island, the shape he admired so much that first day. “Lord knows you women work hard enough. Guess we ga’ have a... Sign in to see full entry.

I Sun come down strong ‘bout ten. Toilin’ in the tall corn in my rocky field, where the treacherous ground looking to twist my swollen ankles and throw me down, bust up my heavy lips and broad nose with brittle, sharp honeycomb rocks. Heat beat down, hour ’pon hour, till nothing can stand straight no more, except the stalks. Bugs out here too, buzzing and fussing, busy with molesting us. Mosquitoes, horseflies, sand fleas, other bitin’ bugs I don’t even know the name of, waiting on us. Waiting... Sign in to see full entry.