Free A Piece of Mine by J. California Cooper Page A

she was always talking bout having a baby and Smitty was always trying to make one. Also, her special cake for Smitty had burned while she was trying to untangle something in the washing machine wringer and when she put the cake on the sink, she burnt her hand and in flinging her arm out she hit the filled dish drainer rack. It fell to the floor and dishes and glass flew everywhere! She was barefoot and cut her foot tipping across the floor. She burst into loud, dreadful tears and ran into the hall past the sign that read, “God Bless This Home” through the pink door she had painted because pink made her feel like a woman going into a romantic bedroom. She flung herself across the bed onto the spread she had crocheted painstakingly to laugh and love on. She cried herself to sleep.
    When Smitty came home, he did his lion’s roar at the door and receiving no answer he went through the house and found Della asleep and … he got mad! He started stomping around and shouting at her about the dirt (there was no dirt). The filthy kitchen (just broken dishes, that’s all). No dinner (well, there was none, but my lord!) The messed up favorite cake (as if it was on purpose) and anything else his little mind could come up with! He never did ask her what was wrong. He kept shouting, “A man this and a man that.”
    Della swung her legs around and sat on the edge of the bed and tried to smile and explain. She was still trying to smile and explain when Smitty came rushing up and slapped her twice! One way and then back the other! Her arm must have shot out instinctively in reaction and she caught himsolid and he flew all way cross the room, through the door and hit the wall in the hall and blacked out! Now, that alone was bad enough but Della went and picked him up and placed him in bed! That Della was strong! So when he woke up, an hour or so later, he looked around him and … cried. Now he really was a man, ain’t no question, but he cried … him!… Smitty!
    Della came rushing into the room at the sound of the crying and when she saw him she started crying too. “What’s wrong? Are you hurt daddy? What’s the matter, baby?” But he pushed her away, snot and spit flying, then he snarled at her from his pain … an ego can be a dangerous, painful thing. “Get away from me! Get away! I hate you, you big, fat, ugly bear! You a ape! A gorilla! You ain’t no woman!”
    “But, Smitty,” she began to whine and try to ease him but he wouldn’t have any of that! He got up trying to move without showing his pain and got the little raggedy suitcase (they didn’t never go anywhere so they didn’t need no new ones) and began to throw things in it. Della’s eyes were big and red and swollen, she kept trying to grab his shirts and underwear from him, but he done stopped crying now and was really talking mean to her, calling her all kinds of names, sloppy fat bitches and things like that! It was untrue and it hurt her. You could almost see her drawing up, shrinking, every time a word struck her. Seemed like the words were razor blades cutting her to ribbons. This was her Smitty talking to her!
    As Smitty got to the door he turned, “I can’t never live with you no more! You always gonna think you bettern me! That’s what you want … to be the man! Well, I ain’t staying nowhere I can’t be the man! You get yourself and your stuff together and get out of my house as soon as you get you some money! I’m takin all we got now cause I done made it all while you sat chere on your ass! You the man now, you can get you some more!” Della reached for him, “Please daddy, baby, please daddy, don’t go! Don’t leave me! I’m SORRY (she screamed that). I didn’t mean to hit you! Please don’t go! I’m begging you! Daddy, I’m begging you!” She grabbed his arm and such a hate in his face went down to his arm and he struck her so hard she just let go and stood there with her arms hanging, and her tears pouring, down.