How to Knock a Bravebird from Her Perch : The First Novel in the Morrow Girls Series (9780985751616) by D. Bryant Simmons Page A

searching for my slippers. Natalie had already drifted off but the others were determined to win whatever hushed debate they were having. The three of them whispered back and forth then threw a few looks my way. “I’m tired. Come on, Jackie. Say goodnight.” I swayed side to side to be sure to keep Nat asleep. “Come on now.” She was big enough that the only time I needed to carry her was when she was asleep.
    “Mama...” Jackie hopped down from the twin-sized bed and took a few steps to meet me at the door.  
    I should’ve known from the look on her face that whatever it was that was perplexing her was bad. I should’ve just told her to go to bed and not ask me no questions but I didn’t. I said, “What?”
    “Can Heziah be our daddy too?”
    I couldn’t believe it. Couldn’t think, couldn’t speak. I just stared at my chile. The older ones knew better and I knew they must have put Jackie up to it. She was just a baby. A seven-year-old baby, but still a baby. She ain’t know what she was saying.  
    “Um...”
    “You like him, don’t you, Mama?”
    Nikki and Mya looked at each other then back at me. “Go to bed. All...All of y’all gone get it in the morning! Now get!”
    I ain’t mean it but I suspect they all knew that. I hadn’t seen it coming at all. Was just happy for the happiness they were having with Heziah. I ain’t think it might lead to our lives changing beyond those Saturdays. The girls slipped into each of their beds real easy and I kissed them goodnight and put it all out my head.  
    Wasn’t any point to even thinking Heziah’s name when Ricky was around. He was like a vacuum that sucked up all things good. A snoring grumbling vacuum. Usually, he’d drift off right after supper but lately he was waiting a spell. Waiting for me to get into bed with him. Waiting...naked because he was determined to get a son outta me. Wasn’t like we talked about it.
      I just knew. I’d watched it build up inside of him ever since Jackie was born. He was about ready to bust. Heaving and growling up in my ear, saying all sorts a things but mostly that I was gone give him a boy. A boy that was just like him. It wasn’t gone happen but I let him think it was possible. I had my pills tucked away in my secret place and every month got a whole new set. Wasn’t no need for Ricky to know. Was easier that way. He climbed on to do his thing and when he was done I’d get to sleep, least that was how it usually went.
    “Pecan...” Ricky’s sweaty body whispered in my ear. He’d finished about five minutes ago but he was still on top of me.
    “Yeah—Ricky, I can’t breathe.”
    “How come you ain’t telling me you love me?”
    “Ricky...” He was everywhere. Couldn’t roll nowhere, couldn’t sit up without his say so. I was gasping for air but he was blocking it all. “I can’t breathe!” Then as if by magic, I had all the air I could take. And I took it all like a fat greedy little chile.  
    Ricky was standing over me. His bulging arms crossed over his hard chest and his thing hanging right in front of my face. “You acting different.”
    “No, I ain’t.”
    “Yes you is. Now I don’t know what it is and I let it go on for long enough but now I want it to stop. You hear me?” I nodded and waited for him to walk around to his side of the bed. But he just stood there, looking down at me. “You love me, Pecan?”
    He was watching me so hard I wanted to crawl up in the covers and hide but wasn’t no time. Wasn’t a question that I was supposed to even think about. Was just supposed to answer, so I did. “I’m your wife. Course I do.”
    “Yeah?”  
    I nodded again and brought the sheets up to cover my chest. “You coming back to bed?”
    Ricky knelt on the floor and raised one hand to brush my hair up off my face. Don’t know what made him do it. Wasn’t really Ricky’s style. His idea of affection was sweating on top of me. But then I got a clue.
    “You still my girl. My