Conjure
Woman
Mama
made a leaf man the year Daddy ran off. She said a leaf man wouldn't
hold up well, but he'd last long enough. I didn't want her to send
anything after Daddy. Even though I was glad he was gone, and not
just because Tom and I could get real private in his workshop. Mama
didn't know about what Daddy did, and she would have been real mad.
Madder than she was.
Mama
was particular about the leaves. Oak for strength, willow for
passion, cane for flexibility, pecan for the mind. It's important,
she said, to get the right mix. Otherwise, leaf men won't mind
hardly at all. No more than real-life ones.
She
didn't let me watch, said I didn't have the conjure spirit. She was
right. I could never do some of that stuff you had to do. Hard
enough to do what Tom wanted when we were alone together.
When
it was done she led the leaf man to Daddy's workshop. The creature
wasn't big. It was late in the year and I'd had trouble finding
enough good leaves. If you use spoiled leaves the leaf man will be
spoiled, she said. He was shaggy, leaves sticking out everyplace,
but he moved like he had a purpose and meant to get to it.
Mama
whispered in his ear. He leaned to the door like he was getting a
scent, then made off down the road. That's when I thought I should
say something, even though Mama would find out about Tom and me. It
was too late: the leaf man was gone, and I kept quiet.
When
the Sheriff told us, I knew he suspected Mama, but he never charged
her. I didn't tell, just like I didn't tell Mama about Tom. The way
I screamed when the Sheriff told how Tom was found, and the look she
gave me...she knew. Had sent her creation after Tom apurpose, never
after Daddy. I hated her then, left home soon after. I had
nightmares for years about how it must've been like, choking on
leaves and them keeping on coming as the thing crawled down his
throat. Tom pulling them out and out, but never fast enough.
Now
she needs me; can't talk or hardly move since the stroke. I sit by
the bed, and the look she gives me now, I think we're both wondering:
do I _still_ hate her?
Publ. 2009, www.dailycabal.com
No comments:
Post a Comment