Excerpt from my novel

This is big of me. I have to give myself a mini applause. Those who know me personally know that an applause is my way of acknowledging progress. For a few years I have been writing a novel loosly based on family events. My family , like all others has its fair share of skeletons, but  there's always that one family that stands out, ya know? Like Honey Boo Boo's family! (P.S. I have NEVER watched that show!)

Chapter 1: Lille Mae

 Durham North Carolina 19 and 19.

“Momaaa!” called Addie Mae. She was about to give birth to her oldest baby girl. Addie was seasoned birther by this time, having birthed 4 babies already. This time was different,  she was screaming too loudly, just wailing and a wailing. Couldn't get it right. This baby is just stubborn, it wont come down. She was starting to feel weak and  the air was thick, making it hard to breath..... Loosing too much blood. She never had a hard time with the other ones.

By the time the baby was born, Addie passed out on the barn house floor. Addie was lucid at first, just  getting a glimpse of her new chocolate baby but then the room started spinning and to her relief became a peaceful black.

Cholena

Poor Addie should be done with this birthing. She was getting old. At 32, she should have been on her 10^th child by now. But she got married late and is now making up for lost time. Her mammy  Cholena,  fixed her up all right. She been midwifing babies since she was 16. Cholena was a cripple. She wasn't fit for school,  so her parents sent her to Mituna the medicine woman. Since Cholena was 8 years old, she would go around the settlement with the Shay woman to learn the tribal medicine. When the old Shay died Cholena took the lead. Now, everybody goes to Cholena. She serves the role of town doctor, people go to her when something goes wrong. 

 Cholena got married at the age 15 to Charles, a freeman's son. No one on the reservation wanted a cripple for a wife so for a long time Cholena resigned to being a spinster. The first time she saw Charles, Cholena was on her way to the town store. He was shoeing horses with his father by the road. Later that week, Charles and his father showed up on the reservation to do business with the elders.  Over time, Charles and his father became close to the people of the reservation, so when Charles expressed interest in Cholena, the marriage was encouraged.  

         They had 8 children. 5 boys and 3 girls, Addie being the oldest.

Gathering her herb sachet, she made a salve and rubbed Addie up and cleaned her with a infused mix of water and pine needles. She saved the after birth to dry out and grind.  She then tended to the fussy baby who had been wailing continuously since the birth. The baby was healthy with a good set of lungs. But during these times, nothing as set in stone and a baby could die at any time.

Cholena said a silent prayer over the baby and spread a little molasses on the newborn's gums. She left the baby with Martha, Addie's oldest girl. After sleeping for some time, Addie woke right on up. Still tired from the pains of labor, she willed herself to a sitting position and pulled her wet hair off her face. Cholena nudged her “What you gon name 'er? Addie shot up some more, looking confused. Lord, is this baby a girl, dont let this baby be another girl.  “Mamma? What you mean what I’m gon name HER?”  

“Child, you had a girl, can’t do nothing about it!” Addie didn't want another girl. Not round these parts. Not a GIRL! Too much trouble for a girl, hard work, nasty menfolk to watch out fah.  Besides, Lonie not gon like this. This his 3^rd daughter.

With a burden settling over her heart, Addie sighed, “Ise just gone name her Lillie Mae.  Lille Mae Wiggins.”