Free Trouble's Child by Mildred Pitts; Walter Page B

way of midwifery and felt a sense of alarm.
    That night, Titay and Martha shared a light supper and cleared the dishes with almost no talk. Martha wanted to ask about Ocie’s pregnancy. When had Ocie become den-thick with Cora? Surely Ocie knew that Cora was not a true midwife and that to waste time was a great risk.… There were other questions she wanted to ask, but she recalled the women’s words about her quilting and decided she had better not risk getting Titay onto that subject. She excused herself and went to her room.
    The wind came in sweeps and gusts. Dark clouds raced in the sky, playing hide-and-seek with a full moon. Before beginning her assignments Martha stood in her window watching shadows come and go as the moon peeped through darting clouds. Low laughter mingled with voices of people passing, some stopping briefly to talk to Titay in the front of the house.
    Finally she settled to her work, wondering if the reward would be worth the labor. She thought of her teacher, so different from her grandmother. If only there was some way to be proud and happy in Titay’s way. But there were other things that she must know, see and do. She wanted to know how Titay’s herbs worked and why. Titay only knew they worked and that was enough for Titay.
    Why couldn’t that be enough for her? She fell upon her bed, her head buried in her folded arms, fighting the rising frustration.
    â€œMiss Titay, anybody home?”
    Martha jumped from her bed, her heart pounding at the recognition of Hal’s voice. She couldn’t understand the feeling of excitement that Hal’s presence always brought since that day in the commissary when he had looked at her. The warmth that had spread through her then often came at the sound of his voice. But she didn’t want anyone to know that, especially Hal. Why had he come?
    He had been coming by more frequently, staying longer just to talk. Martha was always surprised at how much Titay had to say to him. Titay was known as the great listener, but with Hal her words overflowed.
    â€œWhere do you hide your list of all the herbs you use?” Hal asked.
    â€œWhat yuh mean, lis?” her grandmother answered.
    â€œI name and label all the things I find here and keep a record in a book too, so I’ll know what I have.”
    â€œI ain’t got nothin like that, no,” Titay said, and laughed.
    â€œBut how do you know what you have and how to use it?” Hal seemed truly surprised.
    Titay laughed again. “So t’ write make it true, ahn? I got it heah in m’ head. I know how t’ use it from m’ heart.
    â€œI learnt m’ trade heah but I thought I need know mo. So I went out there. I learnt a lot. But I seen plenty meanness and sufferin in lean-tos fuh my people near them main hospitals. The peoples woulda been better off at home. That’s when I cided t’ come on back heah and take care folks in they own houses.”
    Titay, quiet for a moment, sighed and said, “I jus wish Mat’d unerstand that I can teach her all she need know right heah. Cause I done learnt a lot heah too. Nuff t’ know ain’t nothin new uner the sun.”
    Martha listened and felt pride and shame simultaneously. Her grandmother had great wisdom; but could she teach Martha all that Martha needed to know? Some of the things Titay believed Martha could not understand: bad luck mirrors, snapping turtles—children born to trouble in storms. She longed to go into the front of the house and join the talk, but a young woman could not join in conversation with her parent and a young man unless called to do so.
    â€œHow bout a lil tea?” Titay asked.
    â€œI’d like that very much.”
    â€œMat, Mat,” Titay called.
    Martha felt a shiver of excitement.
    â€œMat, you sleep in there? We got compny. Put water on.”
    Martha hurried from her room and quickly prepared hot tea. Small thin tea cakes for occasions