CHAPTER 14
It was 16 years ago that Bernice, then three years old, was first taken into the full-time care of Mary Ashworth. Weeks prior, Bernice’s mother, Martha, had been involved in a horrible truck accident on Memphis Highway where she perished almost instantly. Everyone in the Leesville area knew Martha. She’d been a longtime member of that community early on, having lived there with her sister, Mary, for several years. Then she moved to Memphis with her new husband and eventually gave birth to Bernice. Life had been wonderful for Martha, her husband and their only child, Bernice, until that tragic day.
However, thanks to Mary, who was widowed and had lost her only child early on, Bernice would be cared for just as Martha would’ve wanted. The two sisters had been the best of friends and no one was surprised when Mary brought little Bernice home two weeks after the loss of her sister, Martha.
“Don’t you worry now, babe. Yo auntie take care of you real good now. I promise yo momma and I don’t break no promise,” Mary whispered into Bernice’s tiny ear as she carried her through the front door of her home that day, bundled against the cold January winds. “Lord, I lost my sister but you gave her back to me wit’ Bernice. I thank you for that, Lord,” Mary said aloud as she removed the winter wrappings from Bernice and sat her on the couch. “I know it ain’t goin’ be easy, Lord, but please gimme strength. That’s all I ask, Lord.”
From that point forward, Mary spent every waking moment caring for and loving little Bernice as if she’d given birth to her. And not once did anyone ever hear her complain about her new role as a mother.
And now Mary was faced with another big decision in her life. It was 6:05 a.m. when she finally headed down the dusty road toward the Leigh’ home; she sang with every step she took: “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me. I once was lost, but now I’m found, was blind, but now I see!” until she reached the front yard. Fred’s old Ford was still parked in the yard, much to her dismay; she’d hoped that he would be gone so that she could be alone with the children; she wanted to see what her first mind would tell her. She believed that “yo first mind is the Lord talkin’ to ya.”
Somewhat disappointed to see Fred was still home, Mary slowed her pace to the house.
When she reached the front porch, she walked up the four steps to the opened screen door and peered inside. She saw the children sitting around the living room, much too quiet for children.
“Mornin’, Miz Mayree!” blurted Fred as he rushed from behind the house and up the porch steps, startling Mary.
“Oh, Mr. Leigh! Didn’t see ya comin’ up...” Mary whirled around sheepishly to face Fred, unable to hide her nervousness. “I jus’ thought I’d come see how ya doin’, you and the child’n. That’s all.”
Fred looked at Mary with pride and appreciation all wrapped into one emotion. “Well Miz Mayree, it ain’t easy but I just keep on prayin’ to the Lord.”
“That right, Mr. Leigh. All we can do is pray. Gert was a sweet soul. We all goin’ miss her.”
“Yessum, we goin’ miss her. Sho is. Yessum,” Fred said as he reached around Mary and opened the screened door, where the children had gathered from the other side to watch the exchange. “Come in, Miz Mayree an’ have a seat. Res’ yourself. An’ yall child’n sit down an’ be quiet!” he said with a rushed but stern tone. The children scampered to the couch, stumbling over each other as they went, giggling quietly.
Fred dashed through the living room and into the kitchen, leaving Mary standing mid-floor and glancing at the children, smiling nervously as they glanced back at her.
“Miz Mayree, have a seat,” said Fred as he re-entered the living room carrying a chair from the kitchen table. He sat the chair just inside the living room, and then he led Mary to Gert’s favorite red and black rocker before sitting down in the chair that he brought in for himself.
“Thank ya, Mr. Leigh,” said Mary, lowering herself into the rocker, sighing softly. “Did yall child’n speak ta Miz Mayree?” Fred asked.
“How yall child’n doin’ this mornin’?” asked Mary, looking at the twins’ faces huddled securely against their big brother’s young frame. “Yall ready for school?”
“Yessum!” The twins sang in unison, pushing against each other shyly before falling into silence.
“Junior ain’t goin’ ta school. He got to watch Derek,” blurted Mary Jane, as if revealing some top secret.
“I see,” said Mary as she glanced at Junior.
“Yeah, I gotta keep the house while daddy gone,” Junior said with more pride than Mary expected from someone who loved school as much as he did.
“Miz Mayree, how’s thangs fairin’ down there at yo house? Yall doin’ alright?”
Fred interrupted.
“Yessah, thangs fairly well wit’ us. Yessah, fairly well. Bernice in college, you know.
She ain’t git married yet.” she chuckled.
Fred chuckled in reply. “That good. She a smart girl. She goin’ be somebody one day,” replied Fred, nodding slowly. A silence fell over the room. Then Fred spoke. “Miz Mayree, I ’preciate the comp’ny but I got to git ta work in a few minutes. You can stay long as ya want. Make yo’self at home.”