Sisters under the Skin

All of the sudden we heard dogs barking overhead. Ms. Tubman blew out the lantern. The baby started crying and we all sat in the dark in terror that the baby would give away our hiding spot. I guess Olivia must've given the baby some more breast milk, because thankfully the crying stopped. Closer still were sounds of dogs barking and men talking! After what seemed like eons, the noises all died out. We lay there in silence, long after they were gone. We fell asleep, still holding our breath. Only then did we learn that all along Olivia had been pressing Joy so close to her chest, trying desperately to hush Joy's telltale cries. The next morning we all began stirring around. I expected to hear our little Joy crying. But I looked over and saw Olivia rocking the baby hard staring straight ahead with tears flowing down onto Joy's tiny face. Olivia seemed to be channeling all the hurt and anguish of every slave dating back from the first one forced onto a ship to the huddled, pitiful souls surrounding her, dreaming of freedom. Baby Joy was quiet. Her normally dark face had an eerie gray undertone. My mind flashed with images. The dogs barking hot on the trail. The baby crying, about to give us away. Joy's cries stopped suddenly. I gasped sharply, tears in my eyes.