Free The Girl on the Outside by Mildred Pitts; Walter

sister’s here. I can smell it.” His laughter mixed with their mother’s made Eva rush to the front of the house.
    â€œYou’ll clean up now, I bet. Mama’s home,” she shouted to Tanya.
    â€œHere, Eva,” her mother said, unloading packages in Eva’s arms.
    â€œWhat’s all this?” Eva asked.
    â€œUnwrap ’em and see.” Her mother sat and kicked off her shoes.
    â€œWhat’s for me, Mama?” Tanya asked.
    â€œMy open arms. Come in ’em.” Her mother hugged Tanya close. “I missed my baby.”
    Eva unwrapped the packages. “Oh, Mama,” she cried. “Aunt Shirley! Come see … saddle oxfords, black and white ones.”
    â€œJust what y’ need with that dress. She’ll knock ’em dead in that outfit, t’morrow,” her aunt said and winked her eye at Eva’s mother.
    â€œWhy you lookin’ so sad, Tanya?” their daddy asked.
    â€œI don’t get jealous when Mama buys you things,” Eva said.
    â€œAw, shut up,” Tanya said.
    â€œRejoice all of y’,” Aunt Shirley said. “I done cooked filed chicken, green beans, made rolls, potato salad, and for my brother, a lemon pie.”
    â€œI’ll say rejoice plus let’s eat,” Eva said, forgetting that she wanted to rest.
    Trying to keep cool, they all gathered on the back porch for supper.
    â€œAin’t many sister-’n-laws like my sister-’n-law,” Eva’s mother said as she went for seconds.
    â€œYeah, it’s a good thing Aunt Shirley came by, or I’d never have finished my dress. Mama, how come you left me sleeping this morning?”
    â€œâ€™Cause I told ’er to. After last night, y’ needed that sleep,” her father said.
    â€œY’ shoulda seen y’ brother this mornin’, Shirley. Sittin’ b’hind the door, nodding with the gun in his lap. I woke up and he hadn’t been in bed. When I saw that gun, scared me nearly t’ death.”
    â€œWhich way was the gun pointin’, Audrey?”
    â€œToward the door I was comin’ through. I didn’t know what t’ do. I didn’t want ’im shootin’ me. So I tipped around in back of ’im and said very sweetly, ‘Roger, Roger, wake up.’”
    â€œY’ was ready, eh, Bro?” Shirley said as they all laughed.
    â€œI guess I musta looked a bit funny sittin’ there in broad daylight. But I’m about protectin’ my family,” her father said.
    â€œAnd Mama slept through it all. It wasn’t funny last night,” Eva said.
    â€œDaddy, how come y’ had the gun?” Tanya asked.
    â€œThat’s grown folks talk,” Eva said. “You come with me and clean up that room.”
    â€œI don’t have t’,” Tanya said.
    â€œOh, Eva, I forgot, Mis’ Floyd wants you guys that’s goin’ t’ Chatman at her house ’fore the party. ’Round six-thirty, she said.”
    â€œThat leaves me little time to get way over there. Come on, Tanya.”
    â€œNo.”
    â€œMama, tell her, please.”
    â€œGo on, help your sister, baby.”
    â€œWhy do you take everything out and put nothing back?” Eva asked as she busied herself about the room. “I can’t stand all this clutter, you know that.”
    â€œI guess y’ want me t’ stay with Aunt Shirley, eh?”
    Eva felt a pang of guilt, but she was still angry. “I want you to stop being so messy.” She looked at Tanya standing with the big, long skirt pinned around her small body. She thought of why Tanya had gone to their aunt’s in the first place. She softened. “I told you I was glad t’ see you home, didn’t I?”
    Tanya looked up at Eva and remained silent.
    â€œDidn’t I?” Eva asked, feeling even more guilty.
    â€œYeah, but y’ didn’t mean it.” Tanya lowered her head.
    Eva