A Thread Unbroken by Bratt Kay

Author:Bratt, Kay [Bratt, Kay]
Language: eng
Format: epub, azw3
Publisher: AmazonEncore
Published: 2012-11-26T23:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“Would you like to watch some television?” Chai had just finished giving Mother a sponge bath. The bedroom contained the only television in the house, though the homemade antenna on the roof only brought one fuzzy channel to the tiny box.

“No, it’s not allowed. Neither is reading, so don’t offer.”

“Well, these after-childbirth rules are downright crazy, if you ask me,” Chai responded, rolling her eyes. “And your midwife has ordered us to make zhu jiao jiang tonight!”

Mother managed a small smile. “Pigs’ feet with ginger and vinegar sounds delicious to me. Chai, I’ve missed your spunk in the last few days. You might be a thorn in my side, but you’re also an unexpected breath of relief from the constant boredom of this fishing life.”

Chai grinned and continued to neaten the bed around the woman. The truth be told, she found the childbirth traditions fascinating. In their village, it was such a sacred yet secretive time after the mothers gave birth that Chai really never knew what went on during their forced seclusion. At least now her curiosity was being appeased.

She turned to see Mother’s eyes scan the room and watched as her smile disappeared, making the woman look somber again.

“Where is she?”

“Who? Josi?” Chai asked her.

“No. You know who I mean.”

Then Chai understood. The woman couldn’t even bear to call the infant her child. “Josi has her; she’s taking a bottle.” The girls took turns feeding her, both of them loving the interaction with the sweet-natured infant.

“You mean she can eat?” Mother asked weakly.

“Yes. It takes some extra time and patience, but she has a healthy appetite. She eats like a greedy little piglet. We got her some soy milk from the mainland, and a bottle. And we named her, too.”

“Don’t tell me.” The woman gave a long and tortured sigh. “Can you bring her to me?”

Chai got up and crossed the room, opened the door, and went into the living room. Josi was the picture of motherhood with the baby in her arms and the little boys gathered at her feet playing with their toys. Zee was looking around, content to be held and unaware that, so far, her own parents had not claimed her. Chai stopped in front of them.

“She wants her.”

Josi’s eyes opened wide with surprise. “She wants her?”

“Well, for the moment. Here, let me take her.” She took her from Josi’s arms and carried her into the bedroom, kicking the door shut with her foot. She brought the baby to the bed and laid her in the crook of her mother’s arms, wary but relieved that perhaps the woman had found a change of heart.

Mother stared down at the baby girl, her eyes filling with tears. “Why did she have to be born like this? He might have let me keep this one.” She traced the baby’s jawline, then her eyebrows. When Zee locked eyes with her and turned the corner of her mouth up, Mother smiled back and then reached over and took Chai’s hand.

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