The Darkest Child

by Delores Phillips

I propped my elbows on my knees and watched the men as they worked in the field.Velman had removed his shirt, and his bare back glistened with perspiration. I imagined it couldn’t be easy trying to remove a buried car from crusted earth, but Velman’s agile, flowing movements made the task seem effortless.The sight of him caused my stomach to flutter and my underarms to prickle, and I didn’t know why. Folding my arms across my abdomen, I turned away and focused my attention on Laura’s neatly parted braids, anything to keep my thoughts away from Velman. I was beginning to like him. I hadn’t at first, when he had seemed pushy and gabby, and when I had thought he was courting my mother. I knew now that he hadn’t cared anything about Mama; he’d been teaching her to drive, bargaining with her for the love of Martha Jean. Now he seemed strong and protective, like someone I could depend on.

Ohhhh wow. Wow