Somewhat Saved Read Online Free PDF

teeth in her hands, had reached down and used them to nip Sasha’s boney shoulder.
    â€œGot a Bible verse for that?” Bea taunted, pointing toward Sasha’s bitten shoulder. “How about Psalms one twenty-nine, verse four? Do you know that one?” She laid a finger to her lips to silence the others in case they wanted to butt in. “Let me quote it for you.” She lifted her head toward the church ceiling and proceeded. “ ‘The Lord is righteous: He hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.’ ” Bea looked down and pointed toward Sasha. “And that’s where you come in. You are that wicked heifer in the book of Psalms.”
    The reverend took advantage of the face-off between the two mothers and beckoned two of the ushers, Sister Judah and Sister Israel, to his aid. “Why didn’t you two come and help me while I was being attacked?” he whispered angrily when they arrived.
    â€œI was waiting for Sister Judah to move. She was closer to you,” Sister Israel replied. She was still grasping the collection plate and felt secure that the reverend wouldn’t want her to drop it to save his hide.
    â€œI don’t know what she’s talking about,” Sister Judah said in a huff. “I don’t understand what the big deal is,” she added while pointing toward Sasha. “She’s just an old lady talking about a sunder. I don’t even know what a sunder is or what it looks like.”
    â€œWell, let me explain it so you and Sister Israel understand—” The reverend gripped the table for more support. “Zechariah. The eleventh chapter and the fourteenth verse says, ‘Then I cut asunder mine other staff.’” He nodded towards them. “That’s you two,” he said as he continued quoting. “ ‘Even Bands, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel.’” The reverend stopped abruptly and through clenched teeth, said, “Now in your case, it will be sisterhood.”
    Sasha interrupted the discourse, barking, “Can we possibly get back to giving me my money?”
    â€œIt’s not yours. It’s my money. You’re always trying to take what’s mine,” Bea snapped.
    Mother Sasha became so mad her bun appeared to be twisting like a helicopter propeller. “When we were younger and she was much uglier than she is now, if that’s possible, Bea Blister kissed my boyfriend, Jasper, behind the bleachers at the homecoming game.”
    â€œShe’s a liar!” Bea screamed, spittle flying from the corners of her turned-down mouth. “She’s just jealous. She’s always been jealous.”
    No one said a word, as they waited for the rest of the sordid tale to come out.
    They didn’t have to wait long because Bea was just getting started. “It was her ugly butt that kissed my boyfriend, Jas, at the tennis match when we were living in Williamston, South Carolina.”
    Old Buck knew that they were both wrong. As hazy as his memory was at times, he’d never forget that debacle. It had started at a home-going service of one of their high school teachers. Her name was Miss Lizzie Crow. It was immediately after the service and folks had gathered to eat in the field behind the church and chat about the service.
    Buck, at that time an award-winning sprinter, had dashed across the field to use the outhouse. When he came out, he saw Sasha’s own sister, Areal Hellraiser, displaying her curves against an old juniper tree. She was using her pink tongue, letting it dart in and out, as she licked a young man’s willing face, almost devouring his mouth. And, because Buck, even back then, had been a lurker, he’d watched with fascination.
    Old Buck couldn’t remember what Areal wore, only what she’d done. But he did remember that the fellow wasn’t Sasha’s boyfriend. It was just some guy that she and a whole bunch of