Miss Kew walked up and back, real fast. ‘We have a great deal to do,’ she said, talking to herself.
Miriam came in with a big oval pan and towels and stuff on her arm. She put it down on the bench thing and Miss Kew stuck the back of her hand in the water, then picked up Baby and dunked him right in it. Baby started to kick.
I stepped forward and said, ‘Wait a minute. Hold on now. What do you think you’re doing?’
Janie said, ‘Shut up, Gerry. He says it’s all right.’
‘All right? She’ll drown him.’
‘ No, she won’t. Just shut up.’
Working up a froth with the soap, Miss Kew smeared it on Baby and turned him over a couple of times and scrubbed at his head and like to smothered him in a big white towel. Miriam stood gawking while Miss Kew lashed up a dishcloth around him so it come out pants. When she was done, you wouldn’t of known it was the same baby. And by the time Miss Kew finished with the job, she seemed to have a better hold on herself. She was breathing hard and her mouth was even tighter. She held out the baby to Miriam.
‘Take this poor thing,’ she said, ‘and put him—‘
But Miriam backed away. ‘I’m sorry, Miss Kew, but I am leaving here and I don’t care.’
Miss Kew got her honk out. ‘You can’t leave me in a predicament like this! These children need help. Can’t you see that for yourself?’