The Color Of The Soul (The Penbrook Diaries) Read Online Free PDF Page A

her brow. “I tole
you she gets addled. The past always upsets her.” She brushed past him, an
accusing glare flashing in her eyes. As though it was his fault the old lady
had lost her marbles.  
    She sat on the edge of the bed and took
the weeping woman into her arms. “Shhh. It’s okay, Miz Penbrook. Delta’s here.”
    “I’m sorry. I don’t want the doll, really. She can have
it.”
    “Shh,” Delta soothed. “Don’t go blamin’
yourself, child. God needed that little baby in heaven. It weren’t your fault.”
    Within moments, Miss Penbrook’s sobs
subsided, and her breathing slowed to a rhythmic rise and fall of her chest.
Delta laid her gently back on her pillow. She arranged the comforter over her
shoulders, then tiptoed toward the door, motioning for
Andy to follow.
    “She can’t talk no more
today. You got a room where I can call you when she’s ready to go on?”
    Andy shook his head. “I came straight
here.”
    “It would be better for her to let it go.
You see how guilty she gets to feelin’ about her childhood.” Delta shook her
head and gave a low cluck of her tongue.
    Disappointment swept through Andy. He had
hoped to do the interview in one sitting and then go home, write his story, and
claim the glory for a job well done. At the rate this woman was able to discuss
her life, he would have to make multiple trips to Oak Junction to get the whole
story. One hundred years was a lot of life to cover. It could take a year of
traveling down to Georgia between other assignments to get enough information
for a whole story about Miss Penbrook’s life. And who knew how much longer the
old lady would live?
    “Delta, how long does her mind remain cloudy after one of
these episodes?”
    A shrug lifted the ample shoulders.
“She’ll probably wake up spry and clear-headed in the mornin’ and be a-wonderin’
how come you left in such an all-fired hurry.” Her thick lips curved into a
hint of an indulgent smile.
    Andy rubbed his chin, drawing the inside
of his cheek between his teeth. “Where’s the nearest hotel?”
    She gave him a quick once- over, amusement sparking her faded brown eyes. “Honey, if
you go struttin’ around town actin’ like you’s from the North, you gonna get
yourself hurt. Where’s the nearest hotel?” she mimicked. “What you should be
askin’ is where can a colored fella stay for the night without gettin’ hisself
lynched.”
    Andy frowned at the aging housekeeper, then nodded. “Of course.”
    She gave him a quick pat on his arm, then moved to a small desk. In a moment she handed him a sheet
of paper with a name and address scribbled on it. “That’s my nephew Buck’s
place. It’s a roomin’ house, not a hotel, but you just tell him Delta sent you
and he’ll get you all fixed up.”
    “Thank you, Miss Delta. You will get in
touch with me when Miss Penbrook is able to see me again?”
    She nodded and showed him to the door. “I
still think it’s a bad idea. But you cain’t talk her
outta something she gets into that head of hers. For some
reason she thinks she needs to tell her story. And she won’t tell it to
no one but you.”
      “I wondered about that. Why do you think
she wanted me?” Andy snatched his suitcase from the foyer floor. “Has she read
my work in the paper, or do you think she remembers me?”
    “She remembers you. Still talks about the
smart little boy who used to get cookie crumbs all over her kitchen floor.”
Delta’s stern gaze captured his. “But if you really want to know why she asked
for you, you gonna have to ask Miz Penbrook yourself.”
    Andy flashed her a grin and moved toward
the door. “I just might. Thanks for the address.” He stepped aside and allowed
Delta to open the door.
    The same old timer who had brought him to Penbrook and likely saved him from the carload of white
boys, sat in his wagon just beyond the step. Relief shifted through Andy.
    “Looks like ole Jeb’s waitin’ to take you
to town. Jus’