Julia 05 - Miss Julia Meets Her Match by Ross Ann B

Author:Ross, Ann B [Ross, Ann B]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Retail
ISBN: 9780143034858
Google: wTZpsN9xB10C
Amazon: 0792732332
Goodreads: 614727
Publisher: Penguin
Published: 2004-01-01T05:00:00+00:00

=Chapter 21’

When I got home I found Little Lloyd and Latisha sitting on the floor in the living room, playing Old Maid. The game wasn’t going so well, since, with only two players, they were defeating the purpose. It didn’t help, either, that Latisha fell over backward, laughing, when Little Lloyd drew the Old Maid from her hand.

“You got her!” Latisha cried. “You got her, an’ you better keep her, ’cause I’m not gonna be no old maid.”

“You’re not supposed to tell,” Little Lloyd said as he rearranged his cards. “It’s no fun, if you tell.”

“Well,” Latisha came back at him, “it’s only me an’ you, an’ if she’s not in my hand, I know good an’ well she gotta be in yours.”

Little Lloyd smiled as he glanced up at me and said, “I can’t fool Latisha. She catches me every time.”

“Yeah,” Latisha chimed in, “an’ I’m gonna keep on a-doin’ it, too.” She moved over to make room and said, “Come play with us, ma’am. We’ll let you be the Old Maid, ’cause that’s what Great-Granny said you’d be if you don’t marry that ole white-headed man what come courtin’ you.”

Little Lloyd hid his face behind his cards, trying not to laugh. For myself, I was so surprised that I hardly knew how to form an answer.

“I’m a widow, Latisha,” I finally said, “so I can hardly be an old maid.” Then thinking I’d been too short with her, but wanting to get her mind off that subject, I went on. “How’re you liking kindergarten?”

“Well, it’s all right, but that ole teacher don’t do nothin’ but make me color and color and color. I’m gettin’ tired of it. I want to get my hands on that Play-Doh an’ make me something.”

Little Lloyd suppressed a grin and said, “Tell Miss Julia what you’re going to do this summer.”

“Oh, yeah,” Latisha said, her eyes shining with anticipation. “My mama say she gonna take me to the beach, an’ when I get there I’m gonna wear my new zucchini.”

That stopped me. “Your new what?”

Little Lloyd doubled over, laughing, but he managed to get out, “Her new bikini! Latisha, it’s a bikini, not a zucchini.”

“I don’t care what it is,” she said, not at all abashed, “I’m gonna wear that thing, come hell or high water.”

I threw up my hands and scurried up the stairs, having no desire to take on the rearing of another child. I could hear Little Lloyd’s admonitions, which would make a bigger impression than anything I could say, anyway.

When I reached the peace and quiet of my own room, I closed the door and tried to soothe my edgy nerves. My worries always came flooding back when I took myself out of Sam’s calming presence. When I was around him, the worst of my concerns just seemed to smooth out and stop agitating me. Sometimes, though, I could shake him because he was often too calming, always urging caution, saying “Let’s wait a while.” Wait, wait, wait and see what’ll happen.

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