A New Baby Sister I Did Not Want

17.  For late October it was warm.  Mid- afternoon  Grandma Neely and  Aunt Rachael came.  Daddy hustled Ivy, Arville and me into the wagon and delivered us to Granny’s house.  In hushed  voices  Daddy and Granny talked.  Aunt Evil herded us into the back yard.  Aunt  Evil was described by relatives – especially the Neely’s—as queer and nervous. The Cardwells agreed but were more circumspect in their criticism because she did live with and care for Granny, relieving them of the problem.

Daddy came to the back yard. “You youngens  behave and do what Evil and Granny tell you. I’ll be back tomorrow.”

“Where you goin’, Daddy?” Ivy asked.

“Home.  I’ll be back tomorrow.”

Arville cried when Daddy left. “Stop you wailin’”, Aunt Evil said.

He cried harder. Granny took his hand. “I fancy you’d like a piece of stack cake.”

It was always fun staying at Granny’s.  A big front porch had a swing and two doors into the two front rooms. We occupied one room. Ivy and I in the bed with the fresh straw filled mattress—Arville on a pallet in front of the fireplace next  to the pump organ which Granny allowed us to play and abuse.

Later that night Granny gave us milk and more stack cake.

Daddy came for us the next morning.  Not until we were home to the Basin did Daddy say, “You got a new sister.’

Ushered into the front room we found  Mommie in bed.  Next to her a wiggly ugly baby.  What Ivy or Arville felt I do not know.  What I felt was real and painful.  I did not want her.  I wanted to send her back. I could not imagine another baby I would have to sit and hold when she cried.  I did not want Diane.

When I scowled and refused to come closer to look at her Daddy said “ Better pull in that lower lip. You might step on it and that’ll hurt.”