The Fighting

Just when I was about to call out that I was coming in the yard, I heard something crashed. I opened the door cautious, thinking bout robbers and murderers. Horsethieves and hants. But it Sofia and Harpo. They fighting like two mens. Every piece of furniture they got turned over. Every plate look like it broke. The bed look like the stuffing pulled out. They don't notice they continue to fight. he tried to slap her and she reached down and grabbed a piece of stove wood and whacked him across the eyes. He punch her stomach, she double over groaning but come up with both hands locked right under his privates. I don't know how long this been going on. I don't know when they spect to conclude. I ease back out, wave to the children by the creek, walk back on up home. Saturday morning early, us hear a wagon. Harpo, Sofia, the two babies be going off the week-end, to visit Sofia sister.


For over a month I have trouble sleeping. I stay up late as I can before Mr._____ start complaining about the price of kerosene, then I soak myself in a warm bath with milk and epsom salts, then sprinkle little witch hazel on my pilliow and curtain out all the moonlight. Then just when it look like it ought to be getting good, I wake up. At first I'd get up quick and drink some milk. Then I'd think about counting fence post. Then I'd think about reading the Bible. A little voice say, Something you done wrong. Somebody spirit you sin against. Maybe. Way late one night it come to me. Sofia. I sin against Sofia spirit. I pray she don't find out, but she do Harpo told. You told Harpo to beat me, she said. No I didn't, I said. Don't lie, she said. I didn't mean it, I said. Then what you say it for, she asked. I say it cause I'm a fool, I say. I say it cause I'm jealous of you. I say it cause you do what I can't. What that? she say. Fight. I say. She said all my life I had to fight. I had to fight my daddy. I had to fight my brothers. I had to fight my cousins and uncles. A girl child ain't safe in a family of men. But I never thought I had to fight in my own house. She let out her breath.I loves Harpo, she said . God knows I do. But I'll kill him dead before I let him beat me. Now if you want a dead son-in-law you just keep on advising him like you doing. I asked Sofia if she feel sorry for me and she said that she does. She said I reminded her of her mother. She was always under her daddy's foot. He hated children and he hate where they come from. Tho from all the children he got, you'd never know it. How many he got? Twelve. Whew I say. Bible say, Honor father and mother no matter what. Sofia said that I ought to bash Mr._____ head open adn think about heaven later. I laugh. she laugh. Then us both laughs so hard us flop down on the step. Let's make quilt pieces out of these messed up curtains, she said. And I run git my pattern book. I sleeps like a baby now.