Free The Woods at Barlow Bend by Jodie Cain Smith

in it. I also had no idea how much Daddy’s bail would cost. I hoped the $46.25 would be enough.
    The next morning, I awoke in a foggy haze. My muscles ached, and I immediately panicked over Daddy being arrested. When I opened my eyes, I couldn’t believe what I saw. Momma was sitting at the end of my bed, staring at me.
    “Wake up, Hattie. We gotta get to church.”
    I sprang up and was about to wrap my arms around her neck, sure that the nightmare of the last nine months was over. However, as my eyes cleared, I realized that I wasn’t looking at my mother’s, but rather her twin’s, face.
    “Aunt Mittie, what are you doing here?” I whispered as I glanced at Meg’s bed.
    “I already sent Meg downstairs with the boys for some breakfast,” Mittie answered, “I figured we needed to have ourselves a little talk, just us ladies.”
    I couldn’t believe how much Mittie looked like Momma , even if she did look a bit older. Momma’s skin was always so smooth, but Mittie had the beginnings of lines around her eyes and more of a tan than Momma ever let herself get. “A wide brim hat is a ladies best friend,” Momma would say every time we headed to the garden to dig around in the dirt. Still, Mittie had my mother’s eyes, cobalt blue, with the power to convince anyone of anything. I hadn’t looked into those eyes for months.
    “So, I guess you heard about Daddy?” I asked.
    “Yes, Honey. Melvin and I heard last night. You should have sent word. We’re your family.”
    “Aunt Mittie, I haven’t seen you since before Momma…”
    “I know. I’m sorry. I just couldn’t…but you need me now more than ever. Now, have you heard anything? About your Daddy?”
    “ All I know is that he’s been arrested for killin’ Momma. His arraignment is on Monday. I’m going.”
    “Oh.”
    “Yes, and nobody else knows yet, and I think that’s best. I thought about tellin’ Meg, but decided not to. I’ll go on Monday and get this all straightened out. He’ll come home, and there won’t be nothin’ more to talk about.”
    With that , I hopped out of bed and went to my wardrobe. I chose my blue floral dress and cream slip. From the top shelf, I pulled down my straw hat with a lily-of-the-valley detail on the side that I thought complimented the little flowers on the dress. I also pulled out my cream gloves that matched the hat.
    “That’s a pretty dress,” Mittie said.
    “Thanks, Daddy gave it to me for my birthday,” I said. I may have emphasized the word Daddy too hard. I saw Mittie flinch in the reflection of the little mirror on my vanity.
    “Hattie, Honey, we don’t know what’s gonna happen with your daddy. I know you want him to come home, but just in case…”
    “You don’t want him to come home?” I snapped back at her.
    “Hattie, I didn’t say that. What I meant is that we have to have a plan. You kids cannot stay here by yourselves if Hubbard doesn’t get out.”
    “I’m not a kid. I did just fine yesterday. And we’re not by ourselves. Henrietta and Ruthie are here to help out.”
    “You ’re barely fourteen years old. Working to the bone in a café is no place for a young lady. You’ll be old and withered before you know it! And who do you think is going to take care of Meg and the boys?” Mittie’s refined façade started to crack.
    “I will! I have been doin’ this for months and will keep doin’ it!”
    I stopped myself from saying that I was taking care of this family long before Daddy went to jail. By the look on Mittie’s face, I could tell she had her reservations regarding Daddy. I slipped my dress over my head and turned to the little mirror. I looked tired. My hair desperately needed to be washed. My dress was much looser than it was a month ago. Nine months ago, my face was full, and my cheeks had a rosy tint. Sure, I was a little plump then, but I was pretty. Now, my face was a sallow mess. Maybe Aunt Mittie was right; maybe I did need some help.
    Mittie stood up and