Granny - Dublin, Georgia 1903
“Georgia, you sure are the prettiest gal I ever did see.”
“Stop yo’ nonsense, Master Thomas,” Georgia said. “Yo mama be whuppin’ us both she see you up on me.”
“My mama can’t see us out here in the field, Georgia gal,” Thomas said, sliding closer to Georgia.
“Master Thomas, you best be getting back up to the house so I can work. I ain’t got time for no games. We ain’t children no more. Things is different now.”
“You sure got that right, Georgia gal,” Thomas said, grabbing hold of her and pulling her body flush with his. “You sure nuf ain’t no child.” His right hand grasped her full, firm 17-year-old breast.
“Master Thomas! My mama done warned me ’bout menfolk. Please don’t,” she said, though not giving much effort to pull away.
“Don’t fight it, Georgia gal. I been wantin’ you feels like all my life,” Thomas said, kissing her neck, hands slowly turning her to face him.
“But it ain’t right. You be takin’ what you want and leavin’ me with my heart broke, no man wantin’ what you already done had and maybe wit’ some baby I can’t feed.”
“Ain’t got to be that way, Georgia gal,” Thomas said, softly against her lips.
“What you mean? Ain’t like you be marryin’ some negro gal that work yo daddy’s fields. I wants me a man who gonna stand by me and take care of me and my chilluns. You ain’t that man, Master Thomas,” Georgia said, trying to pull away.
“I loves you, Georgia gal. I gots to have you,” he said, pulling her to him, pressing his open lips to hers.
“Oh, Tommy boy,” she moaned. And was lost.
***
“Georgia, you have something you wanna tell me?” Mother Sheffield asked.
“No, Mama,” Georgia replied.
“Child, I know you better than you know yourself. Who you been lyin’ with? Yo’ baby gonna be needin’ a daddy.”
Georgia stopped sweeping and looked at her mother. “What baby, Mama?”
“Georgia, you ain’t had your monthly in three months.”
“Oh, Mama, no,” Georgia said, dropping the broom and covering her face. “There ain’t no daddy.”
“Ain’t no woman since Mary had no baby without some man puttin’ it in her. Who is it? I don’t see you favoring nobody. Richard? Samuel?”
“No, ma’am. I ain’t lyin’. I ain’t layin’ with no man.” She paused. “Master Thomas was just lovin’ on me. He said he was gonna take care of me. That he could. That I would be his woman. ’Cause this was his land and no one was gonna tell him he couldn’t.”
“Oh, Georgia,” Mother Sheffield sighed, sitting down hard in a chair by the fire.
“But his mama sent him away when he told her he wanted to have me in the house. He said he would take me wit’ him. But he left without me. Talk is he gonna marry some chit with land in Carolina.
“So there ain’t no daddy, Mama. Just me.”