I met somebody knew today. There's a boy in the church, his name is Clayton. He works with Godmother Beulah in the bathtubs. "So, what do you do all day?" I ask Clayton. "We fill it up with the juice. That's how Corrie came back." he explains. "Just so you know, the Juice isn't like on the plantation."
"What's the difference?"
"Drugs." Clayton wears a pair of white pants and a white shirt that's too big for him. Godmother Beulah is about five feet seven with a big afro. Her gown is a pale yellow, I asked Clayton if Beulah was his mom. "No… my mama drowned."
"Ok… Cedrica." I look up to Beulah calling me. "The bath is ready. Come get healed." I go over to the bath and look inside. It's deep colored liquid like an orange dye. "You might feel tingly. Beulah had a bath." says Clayton beside me. "She got shot at the plant."
"What's this plantation everyone talks about?" I ask.
"Get undressed. Clay, stand over there." I take my pants off and my lung lose air again. I see dark red blood in my underwear and look at Beulah with fright. "It's ok… with your bloodline you'll see illusions. Mable did…"
I tremble. "But…"
"I promise. I can see, nothing is there. Don't worry about having dirty underwear. We don't take baths."
Well, that was a confidence booster. I take off the rest of my clothes and she helps me in the bath. "Dip your leg in." As my leg hits the liquid a felt a spike. I lift it out of the bath. "It's gonna hurt for a while. It's probably these stitches." Beulah takes out the string with one hand. My leg is gone, completely. "This is weird…"
"I know, I've had it." she helps me settle in the bathtub. "You want some chips?" she asks. I smile thinking it's a joke. "No thank you." I say. "Alright, just like Corrie, I'm using some magic to put you to sleep. I'll come back and get you."
"Like she's actually coming back!" Beulah slaps her hand over Clayton's eyes. "I will. Now let your head fall under slowly." she turns her attention on Clayton. "Go stand in the corner."
.
.
.
I could still feel.
It's constantly warm, there are no cool spots. I'm still and my leg feels… itchy like. I want to move but the magic is keeping me still.
Everything feels… ok. It's calm now that I'm out of the pit. I found out my mom is a bitch. And my grandma is so evil the congregation just said hallelujah at the woman's funeral. Davea was a hoe. She used be love Mr. Ingram and they would fuck… in the house. On the sofa, in the kitchen, on the wall and Mr, Ingram is old! She called him--
I'm in my head. I can't break the magic but I wanna faint. She called him and Mr. Ingram was at the clinic for his back pain. But granny demanded it.
'Where are we going!'
'Shut the fuck up! You ain't satisfied until I crash this fucking car!'
Just be still…
Just be still…
'I can't this shit anymore! You tried to kill me!
'I don't know what I'm doing!'
'God I fucking hate my fucking daughter'
'Get away from me!'
.
.
.
Who the fuck are these people to think they can escape me? I'm inescapable. I'm trained for this…
(No I wasn't)
I cannot be controlled. The best part. They fear me.
(I fear myself)
Adonijah said I was in charge and if any steps out of line, I'll eat them.
(Not again.)
I'll tear them apart just like everyone else near my tree. That's my tree outside. The one with all the people. That's what Monty use to do.
(It's wrong.)
Hey, that's Cedrica.
(Leave her alone…)
I could… I bet she knows where Torielle is.
(Help…)
But she's the antichrist… but still. I bet she knows. I know everything about this church. I know how to make a mangle, I made Foixionss. He was happy I did something and this body he gave me. I should make another one. I'll put HIM in it.
(Stop fucking up my life.)