Part 37 (2/2)
”What did-”
”Huldie, she do what she can, and I helps her. Finally, 'bout midnight, we gets the baby--the biggest baby I ever see'd! But, he was stillborn. Poor Miss Addie Mae was in terrible shape. Then Huldie see'd de blood keep a-comin'! She yells, 'Lawd G.o.d, Mister Wes! Fetch the doctor! Fetch the doctor! This girl's dyin'!”
”At that, he tear out for the doctor! Doctor Elton, he rush over and make her swallow somethin' he call 'Ergot.' Then he tell me to hold tight 'gainst Miss Addie Mae's bottom stomach with both my fists. That help. Miss Addie Mae dozed off to sleep. We stays there with her all night. Just 'fore daylight, the doctor say she gwine t' live.”
”Did Doctor Elton see the baby?”
”Yes'm. Huldie, she done cover the baby with her cook ap.r.o.n.
The doctor, he uncovers. .h.i.t hisself. He say, 'G.o.d d.a.m.n! Ward Lawson's!' He puts the ap.r.o.n back and walks out the front door!”
”I declare to my soul!”
Doanie and Mama stopped talking. At first I thought it was because they didn't have anything else to say, but it wasn't that. They came hurrying into the room where I was to look out the front window 'cause both of them had heard a horse galloping up our road.
”That's Mister Jodie comin' yonder!”
”Goodness, I wonder what's the matter! He hasn't been gone an hour!”
Mama ran to open the door.
It was Papa, all right.
”Nannie! Nannie!” He started calling her before he even got off his horse.
”What's wrong, Jodie?”
”He's dead! They just found him!”
”Who?”
”Ward! Ward Lawson's dead!”
”Oh, the Lawd have mercy!” Doanie screamed. She threw up her hands and ran for the back door.
”Doanie! Papa called her back.
Doanie let the door slam and came running back inside.
”Is Sun Boy at home?”
”Yes, suh. He home.”
”Tell him to come up here quick.”
”Yes, suh.”
”I've got to go over to the Lawson place. Miss Nannie will have to go too. You tell Sun Boy to hitch up the buggy for Miss Nannie, and y'all help her load up some vittles and stuff to take.”
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