Saving Ceecee Honeycutt (2010) by Hoffman Beth

Author:Hoffman, Beth [Beth, Hoffman,]
Format: epub
Publisher: Viking Adult
Published: 2011-01-14T19:14:43.453000+00:00

Sixteen

The day following the attack at Tybee Island left me raw with fear. I wouldn't even go out on the porch in broad daylight unless Oletta was with me. No matter what she was doing, I'd hover close, but she didn't seem to mind. Even when I got underfoot, she'd give me a squeeze and tell me everything was all right.

After we did laundry, I helped Oletta make a cherry pie. When she pulled it from the oven and turned to set it on the counter, she nearly fell over me. The bubbling hot juice splashed over the edge of the pot holders and burned her fingers. Though she didn't scold me, she sat me down at the kitchen table for a long talk.

"I know you're scared," she said, smoothing an ice cube over her blistering fingers, "but you gotta grab hold of yourself. Every time you give in to your fears, you're lettin' that man win. And every time you do that, he gets stronger while you get weaker. Givin' in to your fears will rob you blind. You'll end up a prisoner to that man for the rest of your life."

I sat quietly and listened to all she said. Deep down I had the feeling that Oletta most likely knew all that was worth knowing, not in book-learning ways, but in the ways that really mattered, ways that let you hum songs during the day and sleep peacefully at night. I knew she was right about me needing to take hold of myself, but I was at a loss as to how to go about it. No sooner did I wonder about that than Oletta rose from the chair. "C'mon, today's the day--you've got to reclaim your power."

She took Aunt Tootie's floral snips and wicker basket from the shelf in the hall, handed them to me, and opened the back door. When we stepped onto the porch, she said, "Now I want you to go on over to the garden and cut me a nice bouquet. Keep the stems long enough to put in water. I'm gonna stand right here and watch. Nothing bad is gonna happen to you."

The thought of being so far from Oletta was unbearable, but I took a deep breath and did as I was told, the whole time chewing the inside of my lip. When I reached the far edge of the garden, I spun around and was relieved to see her standing in a shaft of sunlight, watching me.

"Okay, now go ahead and cut me some flowers," she called out.

After I cut enough for a good-size bouquet, Oletta said, "Now take the basket and go over to the side of the house. Cut me some roses."

Going to the rose garden meant Oletta would be out of my sight. "But . . . but, will you go with me?"

"It's all right, child," she called out. "Go on now, cut me some pretty roses. I like the red ones with the pink centers. I'll be waitin' right here.

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