Free The Book of Night Women by Marlon James

always did sickly. Massa Jack take the death hard. He wicked like the devil after that.
    Lilith still wondering why is it that Homer helping her so. Maybe she feel sorry over that matter with Circe but that was a long time ago. Homer come in the dark to teach her to read but she look at her too long. And she keep wiping things off Lilith face, even sweat. And touching her face and giving her extra osnaburg cloth for monthly blood and tea for when them days get heavy. And talking to her ’bout how she must take care of herself because she busting out of her dress. And talking to her like she be a young’un. Lilith start to wonder what Homer desire.
    One day right before evening start creep up, Lilith in the open kitchen stirring the pumpkin soup. Every house negro in the kitchen, ’cause the mother still have little sense about her and she begin to send out invitation to the Montpelier Estate New Year’s Eve ball. The mother head not so bad when she have something to do. Is when she idle that the devil fly up in her. Two day before, she and Homer gone to Kingston to buy pretty things to string up in the ballroom. Plenty green ribbon and bow string up on the ceiling and hang down so low that they brush the head. On the walls more candle alight and plenty angel that make out of paper hang up in between the paintings of dead people. The mother excited.
    So everybody in the kitchen wondering what they goin’ be called to do when Homer rush in.
    —Lilith, go downstairs, she say.
    —To go do what? Everybody else up here cooking.
    —Me say to go downstairs. We need more potato.
    —One whole sack full right there in the corner.
    —Don’t backtalk me, negro girl.
    —Me will backtalk and front talk you, negro. Every minute you send me go downstairs, what me look like, house rat?
    —With them eye, more like a house puss, say one of the man.
    —Must be combolo you be looking, pussyhole, Lilith said.
    —Lilith! Go downstairs! Now!
    —No.
    —Me say—
    —And me say no. What part of no you not be understanding, the n or the o?
    —Jesus Christ, negro girl!
    —Is what you talking ’bout, pussy-eye, what is En and what is Oh?
    —Everybody shut up you goddamn mouth! say Homer.—Lilith, don’t make me tell you again.
    Homer push Lilith and she nearly stumble down the stairs. Lilith stay on the third step and look out. The mistress come in the kitchen before anybody could say anything. Her wig didn’t fix right.
    —Homer, I’m sure you’re aware what season it is. Why have I not seen your sorry lot? There are fittings to be done, surely, the way I’ve been fattening the lot of you.
    Homer look at the niggers in the kitchen and shout, Stand up, stand up, make the mistress see you! Everybody stand up and line up in front of the mistress, who walk from first to last and back again. The scowl never leave her face.
    —I don’t like the look of any, I’ll tell you that much. The women in particular get lankier by the year. Good-bye to good china, I’ll be saying after this. Homer, I could have sworn you had a new girl in the cellar these past months.
    —A new girl, mistress?
    —Yes, Homer. Contrary to popular belief, I do know all that goes on in my own house, I daresay this entire plantation. You’ve made this mistake before, Homer, do you recall?
    —Me recall it plenty fine, ma’am.
    —Wonderful. I’m sure your back recalls it quite vividly. Now, where is this new girl?
    Lilith leap in front of the two womens with no help from Homer. —Why, yes. Yes. She’ll have to do, the mistress say without looking at her.
    —She clumsy, mistress. She goin’ break the china.
    —Me not clumsy. Me young.
    —And spirited. Perhaps too spirited. Homer, make sure she is cleaned up. I’ll have none of those horrid niggerwoman stenches. I want her hair combed, her back scrubbed, her fingernails cleaned and her uniform fitted. Any hint of lice and I’ll have both of you flogged within inches of your lives.
    —Yes, mistress. I