Color Me Butterfly by L. Y. Marlow

Author:L. Y. Marlow [Marlow, L. Y.]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 978-0-307-71936-2
Publisher: Crown
Published: 2010-08-03T00:00:00+00:00

27

Mattie stood at the sink in her housecoat and slippers, cleaning collard greens. The midmorning sun glared through the kitchen window, lighting up her face like honeydew. The last few years had been heavy on her. After the Youngstons incident, and Roy Jr. had gotten a taste of earning some fast money, he decided to try and become another Junior. That choice had landed him in jail overnight and later brought him into court. The judge reduced the charges to a misdemeanor after Mattie showed up and pleaded with the judge. Later, Anthony’s grades at Southwalk started to slip after he took off his bifocals and discovered girls. Then, Eileen got pregnant again soon after her high school graduation, but fortunately she and Derrick decided to marry and they moved into a small apartment. On top of it all, Mattie had been back and forth at the hospital with Lydia, who had begun having problems after she got her period. And then they found out that Lydia wouldn’t be able to bear any children at all. And finally, Mattie felt helpless as she watched Angie’s behavior turn from odd to very strange. She was deeply concerned. She took Angie to many doctors searching for an answer, but the things they told her just didn’t add up.

Aside from all the family crises, it was mornings like this, with the smells rising from the stove and Shirley Ceasar’s sultry voice simmering in the air, that Mattie felt at peace—a kind of peace that helped her put all of her troubles on hold. She thought about John, who had been her rock, the last ounce of strength when she had no strength to give. He’d been with her through it all, oftentimes carrying the weight when she was too overwhelmed, or sad, or just plain tired.

John had gotten into the habit of handing over his paycheck to Mattie and saying: “Get the kids their school clothes,” or “Here’s a little something to put down on a new living room set,” or “Here’s this month’s rent or money to buy food.” His contribution to the family was significant, and Mattie loved him and often wondered what her life would be like without him.

A sudden ringing of the phone interrupted Mattie’s thoughts. Eileen was on the other end.

“Ma, guess what?”

“What?” Mattie asked, hoping it wasn’t yet another emergency.

“I’m at the hospital. We’re about to have the baby.”

Mattie darted over to the large calendar that she kept on the refrigerator. She searched for Eileen’s due date, which she’d circled. “Ain’t you about two or three weeks early?” she asked.

“Yes, but my water broke this morning, and I’ve been in labor for a few hours now.”

“All right, then,” Mattie said, drying her hands. “I’m gonna get John to bring me to the hospital. I should be there soon.”

“Okay, Ma.”

Mattie quickly turned off the knobs on the stove and rushed upstairs. She couldn’t wait to tell John the news.

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