Rootwork by Tracy Cross

Author:Tracy Cross
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Dark Matter Magazine
Published: 2022-10-24T20:25:36+00:00

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Pee Wee and Ann stood in the doorway, watching them work on the body.

Pee Wee stared straight ahead at what seemed to be Pa, but maybe was nothing.

Skeet noticed her staring, guided her over to a chair, and helped her sit down. “Gonna be all right, Pee Wee,” she whispered.

Pee Wee didn’t speak.

The bullet had rolled out of his chest when they were working on him. All the moving, twisting, and fixing, only to hear Pa heave one huge sigh… and then to watch the bullet roll off the table and onto the floor.

Louise looked at Ma. “I’m sorry I didn’t see it. If I knew…you know I woulda…”

“Louise, you did your best, and that’s all I can ask.” Ma walked over and put her hand on Louise’s blood-covered hand. “He was probably hidin’ it anyway. You know how Robert was with stuff, keepin’ the best for later.”

“I’m really sorry. I tried.” Louise looked down at Pa’s body.

“Let’s get him stitched up and onto the bed. I gotta clean all this up.” Ma stared at her hands. “Let me clean this up.”

A few of the women at the table helped Louise finish cleaning up Robert’s body. Everyone worked around Ma, who cleaned the floor with a vacant stare in her eyes. Betty walked over and helped her.

Teddy bundled some of the wraps and cotton balls they had used to work on Pa and put them in a bucket to go outside. Then she walked Ma to her bedroom. “Let’s get you cleaned up, and I’ll get started on doing what I need to do.”

Ma looked at Teddy. “You gonna take care of him?”

“I’ll take care of everythin’. I’ll do the washin’ and dressin’. I have to run home and get some stuff, but I’ll be right back.”

Teddy closed the door behind them. Once it was shut tight, Ma wailed and cried. She sat in a chair at the foot of the bed where Pa was “resting.” The window in the bedroom was wide open, allowing a slight summery breeze to sneak inside and wrap itself around Ma, like nature itself was trying to comfort her pain.

No one spoke over the sounds of Ma’s mourning. The entire village was filled with quiet. It seemed as though the birds stopped chirping and the rivers stopped flowing.

Betty returned in tears, picked up the bloody towels, and threw them in a bucket. Ann moved around the room, picking things up and blindly making herself busy.

Pee Wee sat in the chair and stared off into space.

The room was silent save for the sound of scrubbing on the floor and the rinsing of towels in buckets.

Eventually, Ma’s crying quieted enough for Teddy to step out of the room.

“I’m going home to get some things and change clothes. I’ll take care of everything, girls.” As she slid out the front door, she paused and looked back. “Pee Wee, come with me. You shouldn’t be round here for all this.”

Pee Wee looked up, her face devoid of emotion. “I’ll be fine as long as Pa keeps standing by the door to keep them other people out.

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