She took it, snapped her paper, and smoothed it down on the book, steadying. The corners of her mouth worked feverishly as she dated the top of the page and printed her salutation, then studied on the words. Again and again, she paused and looked up at me, scowling, tempted to rip up the page.
I coaxed her along, correcting a few misspelled words, but mostly she was determined to write it herself.
“Let’s add a silentEto the end here.” I pointed at her page. “It’s spelled P-L-E-A-S-E. And bury has aU—”
She snatched the page away.
I pressed my lips together, hoping she wouldn’t tear it up.
When Sassyann finished almost an hour later, she handed it to me, a measure of peace umbrellaing her wearisome frame.
June ’53
DeerSunsSons,
Its yur Ma Sassyann Sipes. I lernt to read an writ so I culd writ you. I miss you. Sum days I gitreelskeered I wont ever see my boys agin. Please come see me. I love you. If I don’t see you aginbarybury me in Pap Tates simatary next to Momma Delthea an Sister an Bruther.
Yur lovin Ma Sassyann Sipes
nmate 22407
Ky State WominsPrisunPrison
Pewe Vally Ky
Looking up, I opened my mouth to suggest corrections butclamped it shut when I met her prideful, shiny eyes.
Fifteen
Moods shifted when, in late June, the sun finally broke through.
Standing in front of the warden, I waited for her to address me.
“Warden Alton has asked for your library services again. I don’t like piling more on my best workers. We have so few as it stands…but I hope you’re up for the task.”
I could hardly believe my good fortune—another chance to see Jackson—and I squawked out ayes.
“I also need his men to replace some leaky pipes. There’s your library as well.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’m hoping it will be painted soon. It’s been a mess since they delivered the painting supplies.”
“That’s my fault, unfortunately. The damn boiler broke down again. I had to pull them from the library and send them downstairs to repair it. But now we have the director over Corrections visiting soon. I must have everything in order.”
When I arrived back to my wing, I found Regina bent over my wooden locker, snooping around my cot.
“You’ll not find cigarettes or any hooch here. Waldeen keeps everything locked up.” I checked over my belongings, straightened the coverlet on my bed where she’d raised the mat. “And the only thing you’ll get from me is books, Regina.”
“Go to hell,” she snipped.
“Stay away,” I warned, bumping her aside as I knelt and inspected the lock.
She cursed and scurried off.
Again, I suffered a long, restless night, working myself into a tizzy, spending most of my time in the washroom with a cool rag to my face.
Waldeen poked her head inside and marched back out into the dorm. When she came back, she shoved a pint of whiskey into my hand. “Ya ain’t gonna be in no shape to see your man ifya don’t calm yourself down. The guards see ya like this, they’ll send ya up to the infirmary. Your blue’s done climbed out of its shadow and tipped into an iron gray.”
I grabbed the bottle and took a big gulp. It hit my scratchy throat and scorched sliding down. My belly gurgled, and I clamped a hand over my mouth.
