DEAR GOD,
Harpo want to know what to do to make Sofia mind. He sit out on the porch with Mr. ____. He say, I tell her one thing,
she do another. Never do what I say. Always backtalk.
To tell the truth, he sound a little proud of this to me.
Mr. _____ don't say nothing. Blow smoke.
I tell her she can't be all the time going to visit her sister. Us married now, I tell her. Your place is here with the children.
She say, I'll take the children with me. I say, Your place is with me. She say, You want to come? She keep primping in front
of the gla**, getting the children ready at the same time.
You ever hit her? Mr. _____ ast.
Harpo look down at his hands. Naw suh, he say low, embarra**.
Well how you spect to make her mind? Wives is like children. You have to let 'em know who got the upper hand. Nothing
can do that better than a good sound beating.
He puff on his pipe.
Sofia think too much of herself anyway, he say. She need to be taken down a peg.
I like Sofia, but she don't act like me at all. If she talking when Harpo and Mr. _____ come in the room, she keep right on.
If they ast her where something at, she say she don't know. Keep talking.
I think bout this when Harpo ast me what he ought to do to her to make her mind. I don't mention how happy he is now.
How three years pa** and he still whistle and sing. I think bout how every time I jump when Mr. _____ call me, she look
surprise. And like she pity me.
Beat her. I say.
Next time us see Harpo his face a mess of bruises. His lip cut. One of his eyes shut like a fist. He walk stiff and say his teef
ache.
I say, What happen to you, Harpo?
He say, Oh, me and that mule. She fractious, you know. She went crazy in the field the other day. By time I got her to
head for home I was all banged up. Then when I got home, I walked smack dab into the crib door. Hit my eye and scratch
my chin. Then when that storm come up last night I shet the window down on my hand.
Well, I say, After all that, I don't spect you had a chance to see if you could make Sofia mind.
Nome, he say.
But he keep trying.