Maysie Hayseed.

When Aaron  Culpepper was 13 he discovered that he liked girls.
Unfortunately for him he had a speech impediment,
The doctor told his Mother that it was Childhood Apraxia of Speech.
The girls at school used to tease him all the time.
Anna Beauchamp a girl he particularly liked challenged him one day.
If you can say “Suzie sells sea shells by the sea shore”, she said.
I’ll let you kiss me.
Other children crowded around to get a laugh out of the joke.
Aaron took a deep breathe and said:
“Woosie sulls se se shills on the se se sh sh shore.
The whole crowd burst out laughing.

As time drifted away like a boat from shore Aaron grew more isolated.
Living in the country made it easy to be alone.
He would spend most of his time by the river.
He took a fishing line but never tried to catch fish.
He thought the fish to beautiful to kill.
He would simply dream of a happy place,
Where he could speak eloquently to girls.
 
 Once he was laying in the grass watching the fish swim by,
And he saw a beautiful black girl about 13, on the other side.
She placed a towel on the ground and sat down.
After a while she took off her clothes  and bathed in cool waters.
Aaron covered his eyes and felt ashamed.

Someone screamed in a loud voice from the distance.
“Maysie Hayseed you get yo black arse back here and make my lunch.”
Aaron was horrified by the way the man yelled at her.
She quickly dressed herself and ran back to the house.

Many days went by before Aaron saw her again.
This time Maysie had a big belly.
Aaron realised she must be pregnant.
He still though she was the most beautiful girl he’d ever seen.
Her black skin shined like silk in Morning sun.

The months went by slowly and Aaron didn’t see Maysie much.
He would go to the river every day and stay till dark but she wouldn’t show.
Then  one day Maysie appeared with a bundle in her arms.
It was a baby wrapped in a small blanket.
She put a towel down as she usually did.
Placed the baby on the towel and knelt down.
The baby started to cry. Maysee was staring into space.
Aaron could hear her praying.

“Oh God on high,I don’t ask much of nothin,
But I can’t look after no baby. She cries all day and half the night.
My husband said he’s gonna kill me if I don’t shut that baby up’
Please forgive me God I’s sorry.”
With that she placed her hands over the baby’s mouth.

Aaron rose to his feet screamed in his broken voice Nin Nin No ooo

Maysie didn’t hear Aaron
She just  wrapped the baby up and put a rock on her chest.
Then she  placed the bundle carefully in the water.
It all sank like a broken heart.

Aaron returned to the river every day.
He never saw Maysie again.
Some folks said she died others thought she went to jail.

Aaron’s family  moved away from the river.
His father wanted to work in the city.
Aaron got a job as a librarian’s assistant.
He didn’t have to speak much in that job. Just day dream.
He could spend his days dreaming of Maysie Hayseed.

Part two:

Aaron loved his job in the Library.
He read the name out loud every morning as he entered.
“The Council Library of River City  1812“.
Of course he spoke softly because of his speech impediment.
One morning he went in and sat at the desk as usual.
As he was close to the door he could see everyone who came in.
About 10 o’clock he fell on the floor.
He saw  Maysee Hayseed standing in the doorway.
She walked over to him and asked:
“Are you okay?”
“Yes suss us I am fi fi fine.How can I he he help you?”
“I was told that this library houses the maps of the town
and surrounding areas.I need to find my old house.
It didn’t really have an address.It was just a shack
by the river.We called it Hades.I don’t know why.”
Aaron shook his head first left and right
and then up and down.
“We di di do have thi thi those maps.”
Maysee introduced herself and Aaron explained
that he knew her years ago.
He said he could walk her to the old shack.
As they were walking Maysee told Aaron that she
knew he was watching her but she didn’t mind.
She felt flattered in a strange way.
They got to the river and could see the old shack
were Maysee lived.I hadn’t changed a bit.
Maysee started to pray.
“God forgive me for what I am about to do.
I did some things back then that i aint proud of.
Every night I’s dreamin’ of my little baby.
She gathered some dry grass and twigs and put it next to the
old wooden door.
She told Aaron that he didn’t have to stay.
Maysee had a cigarette lighter and lit he kindling.
The house was made of old dry wood and exploded
into flames.
Maysee and Aaron watched as the past was burnt away.
After the fire Maysee walked to the river and
threw a Cross with Jesus on it into the water.
“Be at peace daughter mine” she said .
Aaron walked her back to town and said that he
believed she would be forgiven.