I would have known right off, but Paul D distracted me. Otherwise I would have seen myfingernail prints right there on your forehead for all the world to see. From when I held your headup, out in the shed. And later on, when you asked me about the earrings I used to dangle for you toplay with, I would have recognized you right off, except for Paul D. Seems to me he wanted youout from the beginning, but I wouldn't let him. What you think? And look how he ran when hefound out about me and you in the shed. Too rough for him to listen to. Too thick, he said. My lovewas too thick. What he know about it? Who in the world is he willing to die for? Would he givehis privates to a stranger in return for a carving? Some other way, he said. There must have beensome other way. Let schoolteacher haul us away, I guess, to measure your behind before he tore itup? I have felt what it felt like and nobody walking or stretched out is going to make you feel ittoo. Not you, not none of mine, and when I tell you you mine, I also mean I'm yours I wouldn'tdraw breath without my children. I told Baby Suggs that and she got down on her knees to begGod's pardon for me. Still, it's so. My plan was to take us all to the other side where my ownma'am is. They stopped me from getting us there, but they didn't stop you from getting here. Ha ha.

　　You came right on back like a good girl, like a daughter which is what I wanted to be and wouldhave been if my ma'am had been able to get out of the rice long enough before they hanged her andlet me be one. You know what? She'd had the bit so many times she smiled. When she wasn'tsmiling she smiled, and I never saw her own smile. I wonder what they was doing when they wascaught. Running, you think? No. Not that. Because she was my ma'am and nobody's ma'am wouldrun off and leave her daughter, would she? Would she, now? Leave her in the yard with a one-armed woman? Even if she hadn't ............