“Ma’am?” Norman said. “Did your nigger say somethin’?” Norman was a struck deer. “Did he say somethin’ about me?” “Tell her I just make sounds,” I mumble-whispered to him. “He just said somethin’ else,” she said. “Oh, sorry, ma’am, but my slave here that I own, he just makes noises. He likes to pretend he can talk just like us white folks. All he can do, though, is grunt and whine like a fawn. You ever hear a fawn cry out?” “Bless his heart,” she said, though it was clear she hardly wanted me blessed by God or man. She cut me a hard look. “They’s like lil’ monkeys, ain’t they.” “Just like
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