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文檔簡(jiǎn)介
TheBluestEye
by
ToniMorrison
Editingnote:
Thisbookisimpossibletorate.Whilereadingyouwillencounter
textthatrunsalltogetherthisisnotascanningerrororan
editingerrorratheritisthewaythebookwaswritten.
Youwillalsonoticenumerusgrammaticalandspellingerrors
againnotalloftheseareinfacterrorsbutthewayinwhich
thecharactersspeak.
Finallythisbookisformaturereaders.Itisexplicitandhas
subjectmatterthatsomemayfindoffensive,howeveritis
realisticandportraysalifethatmostofuscannotunderstand
orrelateto.
Lastprinting:04/23/02
`:192'HOLT,RINEHARTANDWINSTONNewYork
Allrightsreserved,includingtherighttoreproducethisbook
orportionsthereofinanyform
PublishedsimultaneouslyinCanadabyHolt,RinehartandWinston
ofCanada,Limited
LibraryofCongressCatalogCardNumber79-117270Published,
October,1970
345678910
DesignedbyRichard-GabrielRummonds
ISBN:P-1567-rintedintheUnitedStatesofAmerica
Tothetwowhogavemelifeandtheonewhomademefree
Hereisthehouse.Itisgreenandwhite.Ithasareddoor.It
isverypretty.Hereisthefamily.Mother,Father,Dick,and
Janeliveinthegreen-and-whitehouse.Theyareveryhappy.See
Jane.ShehasareddressShewantstoplay.Whowillplaywith
Jane?Seethecat.Itgoesmeow-meow.Comeandplay.Comeplay
withJane.Thekittenwillnotplay.SeeMother.Motherisvery
nice.Mother,willyouplaywithJane?Motherlaughs.Laugh,
Mother,laugh.SeeFather.Heisbigandstrong.Father,willyou
playwithJane?Fatherissmiling.Smile,Father,smile.Seethe
dog.Bowwowgoesthedog.DoyouwanttoplaywithJane?Seethe
dogrun.Run,dog,run.Look,look.Herecomesafriend.The
friendwillplaywithJane.Theywillplayagoodgame.Play,
Jane,play.
Hereisthehouseitisgreenandwhiteithasareddooritis
veryprettyhereisthefamilymotherfatherdickandjanelive
inthegreen-and-whitehousetheyareveryhappyseejaneshehas
areddressshewantstoplaywhowillplaywithjaneseethecat
itgoesmeow-meowcomeandplaycomeplaywithjanethekitten
willnotplayseemothermotherisverynicemotherwillyouplay
withjanemotherlaughslaughmotherlaughseefatherheisbig
andstrongfatherwillyouplaywithjanefatherissmilingsmile
fathersmileseethedogbowwowgoesthedogdoyouwanttoplay
doyouwanttoplaywithjaneseethedogrunrundogrunlook
lookherecomesafriendthefriendwillplaywithjanetheywill
playagoodgameplayjaneplay
Hereisthehouseitisgreenandwhiteithasareddooritisveryprettyhereisthefa
milymotherfatherdickandjaneliveinthegreenandwhitehousetheyareveryh
appyseejaneshehasareddressshewantstoplaywhowillplaywithjaneseetheca
titgoesmeowmeowcomeandplaycomeplaywithjanethekittenwillnotplays
eemothermotherisverynicemotherwillyouplaywithjanemotherlaughslau
ghmotherlaughseefatherheisbigandstrongfatherwillyouplaywithjanefatherissmilingsmILefathersmileseethedogbowwowgoesthedogdoyouwantto
playdoyouwanttoplaywithjaneseethedogrunrundogrunlooklookherecom
esafriendthefriendwillplaywithjanetheywillplayagoodgameplayjaneplay
Quietasit'skept,therewerenomarigoldsinthefall1941.We
thought,atthetime,thatitwasbecausePecolawashavingher
father'sbabythatthemarigoldsdidnotgrow.Alittle
examinationandmuchlessmelancholywouldhaveprovedtousthat
ourseedswerenottheonlyonesthatdidnotsprout;nobody's
did.Noteventhegardensfrontingthelakeshowedmarigoldsthat
year.Butsodeeplyconcernedwerewewiththehealthandsafe
deliveryofPecola'sbabywecouldthinkofnothingbutourown
magic:ifweplantedtheseeds,andsaidtherightwordsover
them,theywouldblossom,andeverythingwouldbeallright.It
wasalongtimebeforemysisterandIadmittedtoourselvesthat
nogreenwasgoingtospringfromourseeds.Onceweknew,our
guiltwasrelievedonlybyfightsandmutualaccusationsabout
whowastoblame.ForyearsIthoughtmysisterwasright:itwas
myfault.Ihadplantedthemtoofardownintheearth.Itnever
occurredtoeitherofusthattheearthitselfmighthavebeen
unyielding.Wehaddroppedourseedsinourownlittleplotof
blackdirtjustasPecola'sfatherhaddroppedhisseedsinhis
ownplotofblackdirt.Ourinnocenceandfaithwerenomore
productivethanhislustordespair.Whatisclearnowisthatof
allofthathope,fear,lust,love,andgrief,nothingremains
butPecolaandtheunyieldingearth.ChollyBreedloveisdead;
ourinnocencetoo.Theseedsshriveledanddied;herbabytoo.
Thereisreallynothingmoretosay--exceptwhy.Butsincewhyis
difficulttohandle,onemusttakerefugeinhow.
Autumn
Nunsgobyasquietaslust,anddrunkenmenwithsobereyessing
inthelobbyoftheGreekhotel.RosemaryVillanucci,our
next-doorfriendwholivesaboveherfather'scafe,sitsina
1939Buickeatingbreadandbutter.Sherollsdownthewindowto
tellmysisterFriedaandmethatwecan'tcomein.Westareat
her,wantingherbread,butmorethanthatwantingtopokethe
arroganceoutofhereyesandsmashtheprideofownershipthat
curlsherchewingmouth.Whenshecomesoutofthecarwewill
beatherup,makeredmarksonherwhiteskin,andshewillcry
andaskusdowewanthertopullherpantsdown.Wewillsayno.
Wedon'tknowwhatweshouldfeelordoifshedoes,butwhenever
sheasksus,weknowsheisofferingussomethingpreciousand
thatourownpridemustbeassertedbyrefusingtoaccept.School
hasstarted,andFriedaandIgetnewbrownstockingsand
cod-liveroil.Grown-upstalkintired,edgyvoicesaboutZick's
CoalCompanyandtakeusalongintheeveningtotherailroad
trackswherewefillburlapsackswiththetinypiecesofcoal
lyingabout.Laterwewalkhome,glancingbacktoseethegreat
carloadsofslagbeingdumped,redhotandsmoking,intothe
ravinethatskirtsthesteelmill.Thedyingfirelightsthesky
withadullorangeglow.FriedaandIlagbehind,staringatthe
patchofcolorsurroundedbyblack.Itisimpossiblenottofeel
ashiverwhenourfeetleavethegravelpathandsinkintothe
deadgrassinthefield.Ourhouseisold,cold,andgreen.At
nightakerosenelamplightsonelargeroom.Theothersare
bracedindarkness,peopledbyroachesandmice.Adultsdonot
talktous--theygiveusdirections.Theyissueorderswithout
providinginformation.Whenwetripandfalldowntheyglanceat
us;ifwecutorbruiseourselves,theyaskusarewe
crazy.Whenwecatchcolds,theyshaketheirheadsindisgustat
ourlackofconsideration.How,theyaskus,doyouexpect
anybodytogetanythingdoneifyouallaresick?Wecannot
answerthem.Ourillnessistreatedwithcontempt,foulBlack
Draught,andcastoroilthatbluntsourminds.When,onaday
afteratriptocollectcoal,Icoughonce,loudly,through
bronchialtubesalreadypackedtightwithphlegm,mymother
frowns."GreatJesus.Getoninthatbed.HowmanytimesdoI
havetotellyoutowearsomethingonyourhead?Youmustbethe
biggestfoolinthistown.Frieda?Getsomeragsandstuffthat
window."Friedarestuffsthewindow.Itrudgeofftobed,fullof
guiltandself-pity.Iliedowninmyunderwear,themetalinmy
blackgartershurtsmylegs,butIdonottakethemoff,forit
istoocoldtoliestockingless.Ittakesalongtimeformybody
toheatitsplaceinthebed.OnceIhavegeneratedasilhouette
ofwarmth,Idarenotmove,forthereisacoldplaceone-half
inchinanydirection.NoonespeakstomeoraskshowIfeel.In
anhourortwomymothercomes.Herhandsarelargeandrough,
andwhensherubstheVickssalveonmychest,Iamrigidwith
pain.Shetakestwofingers'fullofitatatime,andmassages
mychestuntilIamfaint.JustwhenIthinkIwilltipoverinto
ascream,shescoopsoutalittleofthesalveonherforefinger
andputsitinmymouth,tellingmetoswallow.Ahotflannelis
wrappedaboutmyneckandchest.Iamcoveredupwithheavy
quiltsandorderedtosweat,whichIdo--promptly.LaterIthrow
up,andmymothersays,"Whatdidyoupukeonthebedclothes
for?Don'tyouhavesenseenoughtoholdyourheadoutthebed?
Now,lookwhatyoudid.YouthinkIgottimefornothingbut
washingupyourpuke?"Thepukeswaddlesdownthepillowontothe
sheet--green-gray,withflecksoforange.Itmoveslikethe
insidesofanuncookedegg.Stubbornlyclingingtoitsownmass,
refusingtobreakupandberemoved.How,Iwonder,canitbeso
neatandnastyatthesametime?Mymother'svoicedroneson.She
isnottalkingtome.Sheis
talkingtothepuke,butsheiscallingitmyname:Claudia.She
wipesitupasbestshecanandputsascratchytoweloverthe
largewetplace.Iliedownagain.Theragshavefallenfromthe
windowcrack,andtheairiscold.Idarenotcallherbackand
amreluctanttoleavemywarmth.Mymother'sangerhumiliatesme;
herwordschafemycheeks,andIamcrying.Idonotknowthat
sheisnotangryatme,butatmysickness.Ibelieveshe
despisesmyweaknessforlettingthesickness"takeholt."Byand
byIwillnotgetsick;Iwillrefuseto.ButfornowIam
crying.IknowIammakingmoresnot,butIcan'tstop.Mysister
comesin.Hereyesarefullofsorrow.Shesingstome:"Whenthe
deeppurplefallsoversleepygardenwalls,someonethinksofme.
..."Idoze,thinkingofplums,walls,and"someone."Butwasit
reallylikethat?AspainfulasIremember?Onlymildly.Or
rather,itwasaproductiveandfructifyingpain.Love,thickand
darkasAlagasyrup,easedupintothatcrackedwindow.Icould
smellit--tasteit--sweet,musty,withanedgeofwintergreenin
itsbase--everywhereinthathouse.Itstuck,alongwithmy
tongue,tothefrostedwindowpanes.Itcoatedmychest,along
withthesalve,andwhentheflannelcameundoneinmysleep,the
clear,sharpcurvesofairoutlineditspresenceonmythroat.
Andinthenight,whenmycoughingwasdryandtough,feetpadded
intotheroom,handsrepinnedtheflannel,readjustedthequilt,
andrestedamomentonmyforehead.SowhenIthinkofautumn,I
thinkofsomebodywithhandswhodoesnotwantmetodie.
ItwasautumntoowhenMr.Henrycame.Ourroomer.Ourroomer.
Thewordsballoonedfromthelipsandhoveredaboutour
heads--silent,separate,andpleasantlymysterious.Mymotherwas
alleaseandsatisfactionindiscussinghiscoming."Youknow
him,"shesaidtoherfriends."HenryWashington.He'sbeen
livingovertherewithMissDeliaJonesonThirteenthStreet.But
she'stooaddlednowtokeepup.Sohe'slookingforanother
place."
"Oh,yes."Herfriendsdonothidetheircuriosity."Ibeen
wonderinghowlonghewasgoingtostayuptherewithher.They
sayshe'srealbadoff.Don'tknowwhoheishalfthetime,and
nobodyelse.""Well,thatoldcrazyniggershemarriedupwith
didn'thelpherheadnonq.""Didyouhearwhathetoldfolkswhen
helefther?""Uh-uh.What?""Well,herunoffwiththattrifling
Peggy--fromElyria.Youknow.""OneofOldSlackBessie'sgirls?"
"That'stheone.Well,somebodyaskedhimwhyheleftanicegood
churchwomanlikeDeliaforthatheifer.YouknowDeliaalways
didkeepagoodhouse.Andhesaidthehonest-to-Godrealreason
washecouldn'ttakenomoreofthatvioletwaterDeliaJones
used.Saidhewantedawomantosmelllikeawoman.SaidDelia
wasjusttoocleanforhim.""Olddog.Ain'tthatnasty!""You
tellingme.Whatkindofreasoningisthat?""Nokind.Somemen
justdogs.""Isthatwhatgiveherthemstrokes?""Musthave
helped.Butyouknow,noneofthemgirlswasn'ttoobright.
RememberthatgrinningHattie?Shewasn'tneverright.Andtheir
AuntieJuliaisstilltrottingupanddownSixteenthStreet
talkingtoherself.""Didn'tshegetputaway?""Naw.County
wouldn'ttakeher.Saidshewasn'tharminganybody.""Well,she's
harmingme.Youwantsomethingtoscarethelivingshitoutof
you,yougetupatfive-thirtyinthemorninglikeIdoandsee
thatoldhagfloatingbyinthatbonnet.Havemercy!"Theylaugh.
FriedaandIarewashingMasonjars.Wedonotheartheirwords,
butwithgrown-upswelistentoandwatchoutfortheirvoices.
"Well,Ihopedon'tnobodyletmeroamaroundlikethatwhenI
getsenile.It'sashame.""WhattheygoingtodoaboutDelia?
Don'tshehavenopeople?""Asister'scomingupfromNorth
Carolinatolookafterher.Iexpectshewantstogetaholtof
Delia'shouse.""Oh,comeon.That'saevilthought,ifeverI
heardone.""Whatyouwanttobet?HenryWashingtonsaidthat
sisterain'tseenDeliainfifteenyears.""Ikindofthought
Henrywouldmarryheroneofthesedays.""Thatoldwoman?"
"Well,Henryain'tnochicken.""No,butheain'tnobuzzard,
either.""Heeverbeenmarriedtoanybody?""No.""Howcome?
Somebodycutitoff?""He'sjustpicky.""Heain'tpicky.Yousee
anythingaroundhereyou'dmarry?""Well...no.""He'sjust
sensible.Asteadyworkerwithquietways.Ihopeitworksout
allright.""Itwill.Howmuchyoucharging?""Fivedollarsevery
twoweeks.""That'llbeabighelptoyou.""I'llsay."
Theirconversationislikeagentlywickeddance:soundmeets
sound,curtsies,shimmies,andretires.Anothersoundentersbut
isupstagedbystillanother:thetwocircleeachotherandstop.
Sometimestheirwordsmoveinloftyspirals;othertimesthey
takestridentleaps,andallofitispunctuatedwithwarm-pulsed
laughter--likethethrobofaheartmadeofjelly.Theedge,the
curl,
thethrustoftheiremotionsisalwayscleartoFriedaandme.We
donot,cannot,knowthemeaningsofalltheirwords,forweare
nineandtenyearsold.Sowewatchtheirfaces,theirhands,
theirfeet,andlistenfortruthintimbre.SowhenMr.Henry
arrivedonaSaturdaynight,wesmelledhim.Hesmelled
wonderful.Liketreesandlemonvanishingcream,andNuNileHair
OilandflecksofSenSen.Hesmiledalot,showingsmalleven
teethwithafriendlygapinthemiddle.FriedaandIwerenot
introducedtohim--merelypointedout.Like,hereisthe
bathroom;theclothesclosetishere;andthesearemykids,
FriedaandClaudia;watchoutforthiswindow;itdon'topenall
theway.Welookedsidewaysathim,sayingnothingandexpecting
himtosaynothing.Justtonod,ashehaddoneattheclothes
closet,acknowledgingourexistence.Tooursurprise,hespoketo
us."Hellothere.YoumustbeGretaGarbo,andyoumustbeGinger
Rogers."Wegiggled.Evenmyfatherwasstartledintoasmile.
"Wantapenny?"Heheldoutashinycointous.Friedalowered
herhead,toopleasedtoanswer.Ireachedforit.Hesnappedhis
thumbandforefinger,andthepennydisappeared.Ourshockwas
lacedwithdelight.Wesearchedalloverhim,pokingourfingers
intohissocks,lookinguptheinsidebackofhiscoat.If
happinessisanticipationwithcertainty,wewerehappy.And
whilewewaitedforthecointoreappear,weknewwewereamusing
MamaandDaddy.Daddywassmiling,andMama'seyeswentsoftas
theyfollowedourhandswanderingoverMr.Henry'sbody.Weloved
him.Evenafterwhatcamelater,therewasnobitternessinour
memoryofhim.
Shesleptinthebedwithus.Friedaonthe
outsidebecausesheisbrave--itneveroccurstoherthatifin
hersleepherhandhangsovertheedgeofthebed"something"
willcrawloutfromunderitandbite
herfingersoff.Isleepnearthewallbecausethatthoughthas
occurredtome.Pecola,therefore,hadtosleepinthemiddle.
Mamahadtoldustwodaysearlierthata"case"wascoming--agirl
whohadnoplacetogo.Thecountyhadplacedherinourhouse
forafewdaysuntiltheycoulddecidewhattodo,or,more
precisely,untilthefamilywasreunited.Weweretobeniceto
herandnotfight.Mamadidn'tknow"whatgotintopeople,"but
thatoldDogBreedlovehadburneduphishouse,goneupsidehis
wife'shead,andeverybody,asaresult,wasoutdoors.Outdoors,
weknew,wastherealterroroflife.Thethreatofbeing
outdoorssurfacedfrequentlyinthosedays.Everypossibilityof
excesswascurtailedwithit.Ifsomebodyatetoomuch,hecould
endupoutdoors.Ifsomebodyusedtoomuchcoal,hecouldendup
outdoors.Peoplecouldgamblethemselvesoutdoors,drink
themselvesoutdoors.Sometimesmothersputtheirsonsoutdoors,
andwhenthathappened,regardlessofwhatthesonhaddone,all
sympathywaswithhim.Hewasoutdoors,andhisownfleshhad
doneit.Tobeputoutdoorsbyalandlordwasone
thing--unfortunate,butanaspectoflifeoverwhichyouhadno
control,sinceyoucouldnotcontrolyourincome.Buttobeslack
enoughtoputoneselfoutdoors,orheartlessenoughtoputone's
ownkinoutdoors--thatwascriminal.Thereisadifferencebetween
beingputoutandbeingputoutdoors.Ifyouareputout,yougo
somewhereelse;ifyouareoutdoors,thereisnoplacetogo.The
distinctionwassubtlebutfinal.Outdoorswastheendof
something,anirrevocable,physicalfact,definingand
complementingourmetaphysicalcondition.Beingaminorityin
bothcasteandclass,wemovedaboutanywayonthehemoflife,
strugglingtoconsolidateourweaknessesandhangon,ortocreep
singlyupintothemajorfoldsofthegarment.Ourperipheral
existence,however,wassomethingwehadlearnedtodeal
with--probablybecauseitwasabstract.Buttheconcretenessof
beingoutdoorswasanothermatter--likethedifferencebetween
theconceptofdeathandbeing,infact,dead.Deaddoesn't
change,andoutdoorsisheretostay.
Knowingthattherewassuchathingasoutdoorsbredinusa
hungerforproperty,forownership.Thefirmpossessionofa
yard,aporch,agrapearbor.Propertiedblackpeoplespentall
theirenergies,alltheirlove,ontheirnests.Likefrenzied,
desperatebirds,theyoverdecoratedeverything;fussedand
fidgetedovertheirhard-wonhomes;canned,jellied,and
preservedallsummertofillthecupboardsandshelves;they
painted,picked,andpokedateverycorneroftheirhouses.And
thesehousesloomedlikehothousesunflowersamongtherowsof
weedsthatweretherentedhouses.Rentingblackscastfurtive
glancesattheseownedyardsandporches,andmadefirmer
commitmentstobuythemselves"somenicelittleoldplace."In
themeantime,theysaved,andscratched,andpiledawaywhatthey
couldintherentedhovels,lookingforwardtothedayof
property.ChollyBreedlove,then,arentingblack,havingputhis
familyoutdoors,hadcatapultedhimselfbeyondthereachesof
humanconsideration.Hehadjoinedtheanimals;was,indeed,an
olddog,asnake,arattynigger.Mrs.Breedlovewasstayingwith
thewomansheworkedfor;theboy,Sammy,waswithsomeother
family;andPecolawastostaywithus.Chollywasinjail.She
camewithnothing.Nolittlepaperbagwiththeotherdress,ora
nightgown,ortwopairofwhitishcottonbloomers.Shejust
appearedwithawhitewomanandsatdown.Wehadfuninthosefew
daysPecolawaswithus.FriedaandIstoppedfightingeachother
andconcentratedonourguest,tryinghardtokeepherfrom
feelingoutdoors.Whenwediscoveredthatsheclearlydidnot
wanttodominateus,welikedher.ShelaughedwhenIclownedfor
her,andsmiledandacceptedgracefullythefoodgiftsmysister
gaveher."Wouldyoulikesomegrahamcrackers?""Idon'tcare."
Friedabroughtherfourgrahamcrackersonasaucerandsomemilk
inablue-and-whiteShirleyTemplecup.Shewasalongtimewith
themilk,andgazedfondlyatthesilhouetteofShirleyTemple's
dimpled
face.Friedaandshehadalovingconversationabouthowcu-ute
ShirleyTemplewas.Icouldn'tjointhemintheiradoration
becauseIhatedShirley.Notbecauseshewascute,butbecause
shedancedwithBojangles,whowasmyfriend,myuncle,mydaddy,
andwhooughttohavebeensoft-shoeingitandchucklingwithme.
Insteadhewasenjoying,sharing,givingalovelydancething
withoneofthoselittlewhitegirlswhosesocksneversliddown
undertheirheels.SoIsaid,"IlikeJaneWithers."Theygaveme
apuzzledlook,decidedIwasincomprehensible,andcontinued
theirreminiscingaboutoldsquint-eyedShirley.Youngerthan
bothFriedaandPecola,Ihadnotyetarrivedattheturning
pointinthedevelopmentofmypsychewhichwouldallowmeto
loveher.WhatIfeltatthattimewasunsulliedhatred.But
beforethatIhadfeltastranger,morefrighteningthingthan
hatredforalltheShirleyTemplesoftheworld.Ithadbegun
withChristmasandthegiftofdolls.Thebig,thespecial,the
lovinggiftwasalwaysabig,blue-eyedBabyDoll.Fromthe
cluckingsoundsofadultsIknewthatthedollrepresentedwhat
theythoughtwasmyfondestwish.Iwasbemusedwiththething
itself,andthewayitlooked.WhatwasIsupposedtodowithit?
PretendIwasitsmother?Ihadnointerestinbabiesorthe
conceptofmotherhood.Iwasinterestedonlyinhumansmyownage
andsize,andcouldnotgenerateanyenthusiasmattheprospect
ofbeingamother.Motherhoodwasoldage,andotherremote
possibilities.Ilearnedquickly,however,whatIwasexpectedto
dowiththedoll:rockit,fabricatestoriedsituationsaround
it,evensleepwithit.Picturebookswerefulloflittlegirls
sleepingwiththeirdolls.RaggedyAnndollsusually,butthey
wereoutofthequestion.Iwasphysicallyrevoltedbyand
secretlyfrightenedofthoseroundmoroniceyes,thepancake
face,andorangewormshair.Theotherdolls,whichweresupposed
tobringmegreatpleasure,succeededindoingquitethe
opposite.WhenItookittobed,itshardunyieldinglimbs
resistedmyflesh--thetaperedfingertipsonthose
dimpledhandsscratched.If,insleep,Iturned,thebone-cold
headcollidedwithmyown.Itwasamostuncomfortable,patently
aggressivesleepingcompanion.Toholditwasnomorerewarding.
Thestarchedgauzeorlaceonthecottondressirritatedany
embrace.Ihadonlyonedesire:todismemberit.Toseeofwhat
itwasmade,todiscoverthedearness,tofindthebeauty,the
desirabilitythathadescapedme,butapparentlyonlyme.Adults,
oldergirls,shops,magazines,newspapers,windowsigns--allthe
worldhadagreedthatablue-eyed,yellow-haired,pink-skinned
dollwaswhateverygirlchildtreasured."Here,"theysaid,
"thisisbeautiful,andifyouareonthisday'worthy'youmay
haveit."Ifingeredtheface,wonderingatthesingle-stroke
eyebrows;pickedatthepearlyteethstuckliketwopianokeys
betweenredbowlinelips.Tracedtheturned-upnose,pokedthe
glassyblueeyeballs,twistedtheyellowhair.Icouldnotlove
it.ButIcouldexamineittoseewhatitwasthatalltheworld
saidwaslovable.Breakoffthetinyfingers,bendtheflatfeet,
loosenthehair,twisttheheadaround,andthethingmadeone
sound--asoundtheysaidwasthesweetandplaintivecry"Mama,"
butwhichsoundedtomelikethebleatofadyinglamb,or,more
precisely,ouriceboxdooropeningonrustyhingesinJuly.
Removethecoldandstupideyeball,itwouldbleatstill,
"Ahhhhhh,"takeoffthehead,shakeoutthesawdust,crackthe
backagainstthebrassbedrail,itwouldbleatstill.Thegauze
backwouldsplit,andIcouldseethediskwithsixholes,the
secretofthesound.Ameremetalroundness.Grownpeoplefrowned
andfussed:"You-don'tknowhowto-takecareof-nothing.
I-neverhadababydollinmywholelifeandused-tocrymyeyesoutfor-them.
Now-yougotoneabeautifuloneand-youtearitupwhat'sthematterwith-you?"Howstrongwastheiroutrage.Tearsthreatenedtoerasethe
aloofnessoftheirauthority.Theemotionofyearsofunfulfilled
longingpreenedintheirvoices.IdidnotknowwhyIdestroyed
thosedolls.ButIdidknowthatnobodyeveraskedmewhatI
wantedforChristmas.Hadanyadultwiththepowertofulfillmy
desirestakenme
seriouslyandaskedmewhatIwanted,theywouldhaveknownthat
Ididnotwanttohaveanythingtoown,ortopossessanyobject.
IwantedrathertofeelsomethingonChristmasday.Thereal
questionwouldhavebeen,"DearClaudia,whatexperiencewould
youlikeonChristmas?"Icouldhavespokenup,"Iwanttositon
thelowstoolinBigMama'skitchenwithmylapfulloflilacs
andlistentoBigPapaplayhisviolinformealone."Thelowness
ofthestoolmadeformybody,thesecurityandwarmthofBig
Mama'skitchen,thesmellofthelilacs,thesoundofthemusic,
and,sinceitwouldbegoodtohaveallofmysensesengaged,the
tasteofapeach,perhaps,afterward.InsteadItastedand
smelledtheacridnessoftinplatesandcupsdesignedfortea
partiesthatboredme.InsteadIlookedwithloathingonnew
dressesthatrequiredahatefulbathinagalvanizedzinctub
beforewearing.Slippingaroundonthezinc,notimetoplayor
soak,forthewaterchilledtoofast,notimetoenjoyone's
nakedness,onlytimetomakecurtainsofsoapywatercareendown
betweenthelegs.Thenthescratchytowelsandthedreadfuland
humiliatingabsenceofdirt.Theirritable,unimaginative
cleanliness.Gonetheinkmarksfromlegsandface,allmy
creationsandaccumulationsofthedaygone,andreplacedby
goosepimples.Idestroyedwhitebabydolls.Butthedismembering
ofdollswasnotthetruehorror.Thetrulyhorrifyingthingwas
thetransferenceofthesameimpulsestolittlewhitegirls.The
indifferencewithwhichIcouldhaveaxedthemwasshakenonlyby
mydesiretodoso.Todiscoverwhateludedme:thesecretofthe
magictheyweavedonothers.Whatmadepeoplelookatthemand
say,"Awwwww,"butnotforme?Theeyeslideofblackwomenas
theyapproachedthemonthestreet,andthepossessivegentleness
oftheirtouchastheyhandledthem.IfIpinchedthem,their
eyes--unlikethecrazedglintofthebabydoll'seyes--wouldfold
inpain,andtheircrywouldnotbethesoundofaniceboxdoor,
butafascinatingcryofpain.WhenIlearnedhowrepulsivethis
disinterestedviolencewas,thatitwasrepulsivebecause
itwasdisinterested,myshameflounderedaboutforrefuge.The
besthidingplacewaslove.Thustheconversionfrompristine
sadismtofabricatedhatred,tofraudulentlove.Itwasasmall
steptoShirleyTemple.Ilearnedmuchlatertoworshipher,just
asIlearnedtodelightincleanliness,knowing,evenasI
learned,thatthechangewasadjustmentwithoutimprovement.
"Threequartsofmilk.That'swhatwasinthaticeboxyesterday.
Threewholequarts.Nowtheyain'tnone.Notadrop.Idon'tmind
folkscominginandgettingwhattheywant,butthreequartsof
milk!Whatthedevildoesanybodyneedwiththreequartsof
milk?"The"folks"mymotherwasreferringtowasPecola.The
threeofus,Pecola,Frieda,andI,listenedtoherdownstairsin
thekitchenfussingabouttheamountofmilkPecolahaddrunk.We
knewshe
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