Smudges

The smell of dirt

I walk with my mother to the plantation most mornings unless Mrs. Janet keeps her over night because she is having one of her dizzy spells.
    "Sparrow why don't you tell me what is in that heads of yours girl" I look down at her as she stands several inches shorter than me. I have grown tall like Mrs. Janet. My mothers brownish gray hair was probably much like my soft honey brown hair is now. I smile at her as I ponder what she may have looked like at my age but to say that would make her feel aged.
   "I'm only thinking of the rain clouds" I say as I look to the eastward sky, it dares to darken and look angry. Im good with life among the outside of walls, I guess it to be a few hours before I feel the air turn moist and I'm usually right on point.
As we walk into the entrance of the plantation I can't help but to glance around all the men and women who are up and busting theirselves with the morning chores. There is towering strong men who look like bears standing up right on two feet in the distance, I see them working the fields. There are women tending the linens above a hot fire their skin shines like dark bronze with sweat. Small children run and play with smiles, and laughter as it fills the air.
Me and mother kiss and part ways. I watch her walk up the dark red bricks to inside the kitchen area to check on breakfast then go up and meet the lady of the house. I on the other hand am free to be just myself with the dirt. I grow daisies around my own yard too, but even the dirt here just 2 miles down the road is better than our old crusty dirt. This dirt is soft and smells are aromatherapy to my soul.
   I hear the sweet singing of the women in a distance behind me as I settle myself on my knees to start the weeding of the basil leaves that have recently sprouted from the dirt. I am amazed at how those tiny seeds can grow. I have found that my place is outside among the flowers and plants I surely can grow anything is what Mrs. Janet brags.
   Lost in my thoughts I went to grab another weed and notice a shadow beside me without looking up  "Harriet your out here early" when she didn't respond I turn and glanced up. the rays of sunlight so warm and bright I had to hold my hand over my eyes.
   "Sorry miss, I was just thinking how pretty them flowers be. Is this the work of your hands?"
   Yes it is I brushed my hands off and stood to see better, it was the young man from yesterday.  I had never even teeth so white and straight. Oh no I thought he has notice me staring.
   "I'm sorry I must be getting on my way misses, I was sent to work on the bushes in front of the house to cut them."
   I couldn't seem to get words out of my mouth as I watched him walk away he had hovered above me which is an oddity bc of my tall height for a woman. He couldn't be much older than me I ponder.  I suddenly realize I'm still staring as he has turned the corner towards the front of the house. Turning I get back to my herbs.
   This time I hear Harriet coming towards me for she is whistling. That is a skill I have never been able to learn. She sounds like a song bird.
    "Hey I saw Malachi as I was coming up" I look at her she's grinning ear to ear, I smile back. "What is that big smile of yours about I tease her".
    "Oh sparrow he is the new boy here all the girls are whispering about him she giggles. All the girls be saying they never seen such a handsome boy. They won't even make him work the field, Masta said he paid extra for him he is talented with the yard. So he's the new yard boy. What he say to you anyways, did he mention me?" Harriet says with a sparkle in her eyes
   I just smile and shake my head her excitement is to much, I catch myself glancing up to the front corner of the house but no one is there. I look at Harriet
Why can't I breath the glance took my breath. It was a glance of nothing yet my breath felt as if it became stuck.
"Harriet will you grab me the bucket water so I can water the sweet basil". I just needed her to walk away so I could think.
"Here sparrow"she says I smile and grab it from her.
"Sparrow, why do you get dresses and shoes and pretty things for working but we get nothing." Harriet said.
I could even begin to answer her, it was an innocent question I know but yet I felt it had dropped like a brick in my heart. I went to open my mouth and whisper that I would and I heard whistling this time a deeper whistle I turn to see Malachi walking on the outer edge of my garden back to the work shed where the yard tools are.
There it was again at that exact moment I turned to look to see where the whistling was coming from he turned his head. Time stood still for just a moment there was the same look from yesterday. His eyes fixated on me as he whistled something that sounded as smooth as leather if I could describe the sound.
That look haunted me all last night I can't read it. I think to myself. After what felt like a moment to long I turn away I feel chills run down my spine.
     "It's time to tidy up" I tell Harriet as we grab our stuff without looking back. I turn and grab her dirty hand in my own dirt covered hands and walk toward the house, as I turn the corner I remember I had forgot my small hand shovel. I walk back to grab it. I quickly glance around, Malachi must be in the shed. I was relieved. I spot the small shovel and something is laying on it. I walk quickly over to grab it and there laid a small rose the same beautiful pink as the ones that grow in front of the main house on the bushes. I grab it, smell it real quick. I inhale the smell of soft sweet water and dirt. I tuck it into my pocket as I hear Harriet calling me and rush back. I know that wasn't laying on my shovel before, I ponder as I grab Harriets hand again. Excitement and fear crept into me. It will be my secret tucked in my pocket for now. I couldn't dare ask or even say and get him whipped by my own father and what if it wasn't even him? No I must not say a word.