Elder 6

“Put my babies down you nasty thieving son of a bitch. I’ll
kill her … I’ll kill her dead.” Mama had the old woman’s hair
pulled so tight she couldn’t move her head.
Pop was coming fast as he was able behind Mama. He had
a piece of brick in his hand that must have been the only
weapon he could find. “Put ’em down. Put them babies down
afore I hit you in the head with this brick,” Pop yelled shaking his
fist in the air.
I knew right then my Mama could do anything … knew it in
my soul. Knew she could save me from anything on earth.
The Gypsy man dropped me and Willy both and began
pleading with Mama not to kill the old woman. I reckon even
Gypsies love each other cause the man had tears running down
his face as he continued to beg Mama to let her loose.
Mama yelled for me and Willy to get up and come to her,
which I was well on my way to doing. But Willy wasn’t moving.
Mama kept yelling his name but he was laying just as he fell. I
ran back to him even though I was scared the Gypsy man would
grab me again. Willy didn’t look hurt, no blood anywhere that I
could see. Still, he wouldn’t wake up so I drug him by his arm
toward Mama.
Everybody was yelling. Pop threw his brick, but it didn’t hit
nobody. Mama was losing her hold on the old woman cause she
was trying to sink to her knees. Soon as I got Willy in reach,
Mama let go and pushed the old woman down. She told Pop to