The Darkest Child

by Delores Phillips

Ain’t nobody gon’ kill him. Let him out, Angus, or I’m gon’ tell everybody he’s yo’ son.” “Don’t threaten me, Rozelle. I’m trying to help. Bill Griggs cares about his boy the same way you care about yours. He didn’t say it to me, but I’ve been hearing rumors of trouble. He could get a bunch of men together to come out here and snatch Sam from this house, and you know what would happen. I’m trying to keep Sam safe until this dies down some.” “Go to Hell, Angus!” Mama said angrily.“Why you trying to keep him safe? We ain’t asked for yo’ help.You ain’t never claimed Sam to be yo’ son, so why you all of a sudden wanna keep him safe?” “First of all, I’m not convinced that he is my son. All I know is what you told me. I was just a boy, Rozelle, and you had me thinking you were a white woman. Remember that?”