A Long Day in November Read Online Free PDF Page B

says.
    â€œHi, Sonny,” Mr. Freddie Jackson says.
    I look at him standing there, but I don’t speak to him. I take the note out of my pocket and hand it to my mama.
    â€œWhat’s this?” Mama says.
    â€œMiss Hebert sent it.”
    Mama unfolds the note and take it to the fireplace to read it. I can see her mouth working. When she gets through reading, she folds the note up again.
    â€œShe want see me or Eddie sometime when we free,” Mama says. “Sonny been doing pretty bad in his class.”

    â€œI can just see that nigger husband of yours in a schoolhouse,” Gran’mon says. “I doubt if he ever went to one.”
    â€œMama, please,” Mama says.
    Mama helps me off with my coat and I go to the fireplace and stand ’side Uncle Al. Uncle Al pulls me between his legs and he holds my hand out to the fire.
    â€œWell?” I hear Gran’mon saying.
    â€œYou know how I feel ’bout her,” Mr. Freddie Jackson says. “My house opened to her and Sonny any time she want come there.”
    â€œWell?” Gran’mon says.
    â€œMama, I’m still married to Eddie,” Mama says.
    â€œYou mean you still love that yellow thing,” Gran’mon says. “That’s what you mean, ain’t it?”
    â€œI didn’t say that,” Mama says. “What would people say, out one house and in another one the same day?”
    â€œWho care what people say?” Gran’mon says. “Let people say what they big enough to say. You looking out for yourself, not what people say.”
    â€œYou understand, don’t you, Freddie?” Mama says.
    â€œI think I do,” he says. “But like I say, Amy, any time—you know that.”
    â€œAnd there ain’t no time like right now,” Gran’mon says. “You can take that bundle of clothes down there for her.”
    â€œLet her make up her own mind, Rachel,” Uncle Al says. “She can make up her own mind.”
    â€œIf you know what’s good for you you better keep out of
this,” Gran’mon says. “She my daughter and if she ain’t got sense enough to look out for herself, I have. What you want to do, go out in that field cutting cane in the morning?”
    â€œI don’t mind it,” Mama says.
    â€œYou done forgot how hard cutting cane is?” Gran’mon says. “You must be done forgot.”
    â€œI ain’t forgot,” Mama says. “But if the other women can do it, I suppose I can do it, too.”
    â€œNow you talking back,” Gran’mon says.
    â€œI’m not talking back, Mama,” Mama says. “I just feel it ain’t right to leave one house and go to another house the same day. That ain’t right in nobody’s book.”
    â€œMaybe she’s right, Mrs. Rachel,” Mr. Freddie Jackson says.
    â€œTrouble with her, she still in love with that yellow thing,” Gran’mon says. “That’s your trouble. You ain’t satisfied ’less he got you doing all the work while he rip and run up and down the road with his other nigger friends. No, you ain’t satisfied.”
    Gran’mon goes back in the kitchen fussing. After she leaves the fire, everything gets quiet. Everything stays quiet a minute, and then Gran’mon starts singing back in the kitchen.
    â€œWhy did you bring your book home?” Mama says.
    â€œMiss Hebert say I can stay home if I want,” I say. “We had us lesson already.”
    â€œYou sure she said that?” Mama says.

    â€œUh-huh.”
    â€œI’m go’n ask her, you know.”
    â€œShe said it,” I say.
    Mama don’t say no more, but I know she still looking at me, but I don’t look at her. Then Spot starts barking outside and everybody look that way. But nobody don’t move. Spot keeps on barking, and I go to the door to see what he’s barking at. I see Daddy coming up the walk. I pull