If the Creek Don't Rise

by Leah Weiss

Only got the clothes on her back and a backbone that won’t bend.

You can starve in a world when you’re hungry and won’t settle for crumbs.”

Mama said baines is another word for bones so I thought I’d see a lot of bones on the ground, but I don’t see any that first day.

I think Mother Jones would have kept right on picking berries, too.

It’s like it growed roots into the earth a mile down. It’s where Walter got killed years back by the perfect storm sent by God.

He messed with me, too. Once. Almost. But I grew a backbone.

busy hands do a lotta good to settle a troubled heart. A story helps, too.

Sadie says, “Roy Tupkin,” and he gets bigger in my little room.

days to recollect how he looked, and that shames me.

That picture is tucked under the folded flag.

Now he could have done a lot with that news if he told it slow, but it’s still funny.

“I’m so glad to meet you at last. May I call you Mother Jones?”

If you don’t believe in God Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, before you read National Geographic, you will after.

“Turn right and go straight.”

“Nature makes a pretty strong case for its own evolution.”

an ostentation of peacocks, a parliament of owls, a knot of frogs, and a skulk of foxes. My favorite is the crows.

Roosevelt cracks himself up and that cracks me up, too.

That’s the meal that comes with its own music, don’t you know.”

They conveniently ignore the fact that neither God nor the law gives husbands unqualified dominion over their wives.

“No, sir. Them that got, give.”

Baines Creek needs Miss Shaw more than she needs us.

Women have a right to make their own decisions about their bodies. The law on the books is archaic.”

when I trust the Bible’s law: killing a helpless fetus is murder.

I see in Kate’s eyes she’ll never change her mind, but neither will I. We call a truce and lay it to rest.

“I understand the relief your faith provides.

The cause and effect I believe in are education and opportunity. Those actions and goals elicit positive change.

A god monitoring my days seems naive at

best and dangerous a...

“I love to teach, and I love to learn.” “And God is Love.” Kate laughs without judgment

“I understand. You wanted to be on the Good Guy’s side, right? I don’t blame you.”

The sun finds the silver strands entwined in her dark hair growing on the head that holds the brain I admire.

I almost say I’d love you to be with me but stop myself from sounding silly.

“Well, you’re sweating, your sentences have been reduced to repetitions, and you haven’t touched your second hot fudge sundae. Therefore it’s official: you stink at love.”

fresh joy floods through my veins like rain in the desert.

She sought me out. She found where I live!

Susie was careless. She wore her shawl to Mr. Simmons’s funeral visitation, and cause the day turned from chilly to warm, she hung that shawl on the back of her chair. I watched it slip into a soft heap as she stood to talk to his widow. Then

she walked into the sunshine without a look back. I slid my foot over and pulled the shawl beside my chair, reached down, and bunched it under my sweater. I took my leave and walked home, stitching my plan into place.

I squeezed my legs together and made a moment of bliss thinking bout that shawl, the tall grass, and the trouble them two would make for Susie Domer.

I won’t listening to Brother’s sermon cause I got my own thoughts,

What kind of teacher says to strangers she got fired for doing something shady, then expects a howdy-do and come on in?

A man wouldn’t have been prissy with his words.

Don’t see her afeard of Judgment Day.

Whatever the case, the church gave me more than shelter that day; it gave me direction when I was rudderless.

I need an ally to instill hope and possibility in my good people.

I think magical, not frightening.

Cocoon.

Birdie’s home isn’t an

eerie place. It makes me curious. Feel safe.

It’s just this lovely, marvelous, blue smoke.

Miraculously, my headache is gone.