"Miss Tiny! Miss Tiny! Good day, Ma'am!"
"Is who that? But see here! Don't me tell you already, the mango no ripe yet! Me going have to talk to that father of yours! What a way modern-day pickney out of order sir!"
"I have a present for you!" I shouted as loud as I could.
She came closer to me, pointing her stick. "What you say? You say what? You no hear what me tell you? You hard of hearing, or what? Me say, talk up! Modern-day pickney, sir, them have no manners! Jus' a whisper-whisper behind you back. Talk up quick time before me call the corporal!"
"I have a present for you!" I screamed.
Miss Tiny stopped and gave me a hard look. "Look, Miss Tiny! It's for you! Open it!" I shouted loud loud.
She kept looking at me and at the box, and after a long while she opened it. "But stop! Is what this now! See here, pickney, is where you t'ief this expensive hat and frock from? Is who tell you say me want any outfit? You think me rich? Me no have no money to pay for this. Lord my God, is where you get this from?"
I just got so vexed, I started to bawl and cry.
"Miss Iris, my godmother, gave me to give you just because she is good and kind-hearted. Since you don't want them you can give them back to me. Miss Iris was right! You are a real old sensay..."
I ran down the hill as fast as I could and never stopped till I reached home. I caught up myself, then I walked into the house quietly and tried to do my duties as if nothing had happened to me. I never told anyone about it for I felt so ashamed.
On Easter Sunday morning, I woke up to hear Papa calling to me.
"Beeny, come out here a little."
When I went out onto the verandah I saw Papa standing near to the most beautiful goat kid!
"Papa, what...?"
"Don't ask me, Beeny love. When I came outside early this morning, I saw the kid tied here to the railing with this letter beside it on the table. It's addressed to you, Beeny."
Inside an airmail envelope was a neatly folded piece of paper. The writing was very shaky, so I had to beg Papa to help me read it.
Mango Walk Road,
Merryfield Village, P.A.
Dear Beenybud,
Good day. How are you? The dress and hat makes me feel like one spring chicken though me is one old sensay fowl. The Lord willing, I will wear them to service today. But if you do not take the goat I is not going nowhere.
If you does not want the goat bring her back to me past haste.
In my condition I have nothing more to offer you in returns for your kindness to me.
My eyes are dark. It is with great difficulty I write this to you and am asking please to see with me.
Yours truly,
Lucretia Williams.
Papa shook his head. "Miss Tiny! Could this really be from Miss Tiny? Beeny, you're a blessed child. Where you come from! I can't believe this! It's the first thing I have ever seen her give anybody in all the years I have known her!"
"Papa, I will tell you the whole story, but I have to hurry and thank her first, before I get dressed for church. Papa, isn't the kid beautiful? Maria. I am going to name her Maria! I will soon come back. I'm just running up to Miss Tiny's yard."
Excerpt from Miss Tiny
Author: Linda Gambrill
Publisher: Ian Randle
Kingston Publishers
