For awhile, Kayse kept it to herself knowing she was being talked about, but one day it all came out. It was a wash day morning, she and Creepy were both busy doing their usual duties. Kayse was at the wash pot punching the dirty clothes down. They both saw Master John Walker walking towards the barn. He was hitching the mule up to his green wagon, the one he used when going to town.
Creepy spoke real quite-like, not intending anyone to hear except Kayse. Master John will be riding past us in a few minutes. Better shake your rump good girl, make sure he sees you wiggling around.
Kayse jerked the paddle from the pot and before old Creepy could move away, she hit her. She drew the paddle back again, but old Creepy started hollering like the death threat had come upon her.
Kayse rushed back to the wash pot and began furiously beating at the dirty clothes. As she punched, she tried to look innocent, hoping Master John Walker had been too busy to take notice. If hed heard, hed be sure to come and side with old Creepy.
But Master John Walker had heard and was now standing beside old Creepy asking her what was wrong. Kayse shot a look at old Creepy and fear swelled her head enough to burst.
Nothing Master. Just this quick catch I get in my back sometimes when Im bending over. Creepy answered.
Kayse, you need to help Creepy more. Remember, shes getting on in age. John Walker wasnt exactly scolding Kayse, but he meant what he was saying.
Like a cat cornered with fear, Creepy said, Naw sir, Master John, that gal dont know nothing about washing clothes to get them clean.
Then teach her. You never know when you might be stove up and shell have it all to do by herself.
Yes sir, Master. Old Creepy mumbled humbly. But in her mind she had no intention of giving up her faithful duties. House work was better than working in the fields like Maggie, Zora, and Purlie had to do. This little witch Master John Walker was so fond of wasnt going to push her aside. No sir. Creepy knew well how to take care of this problem.
As Master John Walker rode away, neither women spoke a word until he was well out of sight. Then old Creepy gave Kayse a mean and hateful look. You just wait. When I finish this wash, Ill give you one of the worst floggings youve ever had. You wont ever hit on me again.
Before she could say more, Kayse was gripping the paddle firmly in both hands and standing beside old Creepy, glaring directly into her face. Let me tell you something old woman, youll stop telling lies on me behind my back or Ill kill you.
Creepys eyes blazed with fire. Kill me. Now you threaten me. Ill tell you this one time gal, you raise that paddle to me again and its me thatll do the killing. Im gonna tell Master John Walker youre a witch. Ill tell him I aint working another day around you neither. When I get through, hell be glad to get shed of you. I been here longer than you. Hell believe anything I tell him. He knows I dont lie.
You been telling lies on me old woman and you lied to Master John Walker just now. Hes never set foot in my room since Ive been staying here and if he do be admiring me, well I reckon thats his business.
You dont fool me gal. I done seen the way you roll them big cat eyes of yours when you know hes watching. You ready all right and you wanting him bad as he be wanting you. Words wailed up in Old Creepy throat, but quickly catching her breath, she finished. You think you a white girl, dont you? She hissed. Wearing your hair hanging down your back like young white girls do. Let me tell you something gal, he bought and paid for you jest like me. Being a brass ankle dont make you no different. You still a slave girl and not one pennys worth better than me, or none of the others. We all know old Purlie aint got a lick of sense and you aint one ounce smarter than she is either.
Kayse released the grip on the paddle and smiled, but it was a wicked smile. Old woman, you think Im a witch. Well let me tell you something and you listen good cause I aint gonna waste my breath repeating it. If you so much as breath a bad word against my good name again, late one night Im gonna build me a big fire around both them old wash pots over there. When the water starts boiling and gets good and hot, Ill dump a sack of lye in each one of them. We both know what lye does to hog bones dont we?
Ill make sure youre good and asleep before I come to your cabin. Ill tie you to the bed and then Ill stuff a rag in that big mouth of yours. When Im done using that double bladed ax on you, I dump all of you into that boiling lye water one chunk at a time. By morning Ill have me two pots full of lye soap, cold and ready to be cut into bars.
Theyll all believe me when I tell them you done run off to go up north. They know you think youre better than them, but you aint. And every time I wash filthy clothes with your old soap, Ill sing the prettiest song Master John Walker ever heard.
Im sure Master John Walker will feel duty bound to put out a watch for you, but aint nobody gonna know whats happened to you, but me. You hear me good old woman, I gonna stay right here till I die. I gonna do whatever Master John Walker wants me to do. Whether you like me or not, dont make a bit of difference to me. If you want to live, youd better not give me even a hateful look no more. Im good and tired of the way you been treating me. Youve tried to make me ashamed of how I look. Well let me tell you right now, I aint like you. I was born three-quarters white. That makes me more white than black. You black as that old wash pot and your wicked hearts even blacker. Old woman, have you been listening? Youd best listen to every word Ive just said, cause I mean it.
Old Creepy nervously nodded. In all her life shed never heard anyone speak in such a tone of voice. It was like Kayse was talking outside her own head.
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