--Why, why did Granny Evans, why'd she name me Euphrates?
--Tell her she said, tell her it sounded mellifluous. Euphrates Evans. Mellifluous.
--Mama!
--Girl, it is mellifluous.
--How Granny Evans come to know that word. Never saw her read a word.
--Girl, shut that mouth.
--Sister India always laughed at me. You never said--
--Girl!
--Even the family calls me Fraidy.
--Now children at the school started that. Second grade.
--Third grade. I told them Euphrates. Euphrates. Billy Horton said you a queen or something. You was Phrates last year. Phrates before that. Now you the queen? No you--now you, you Fraidy.
--Fraidy! Fraidy! Fraidy!
--Miss Warner called me Fraidy. Fraidy, clean the board. Fraidy, do problem 14. Fraidy, you can play tetherball with the boys.
--Fraidy! Fraidy! Fraidy!
--India was mean to me. Why was she so mean, Mama?
--India loved you.
--Mama!
--Hush. Put your dress on and brush your hair. And no ponytail.
--Mama!
--Today you are Euphrates Evans and you are India Evans sister and you will represent the family in all you say and do.
--I don't want to cry.
--Cry or don't cry. But you will come home that baby girl's aunt Euphrates Evans. You will always be her Aunt Euphrates.
--She will call me Aunt Euphrates.
--Just get that dress on, Fraidy. Please. I just can't today. I just can't. Just get your dress on.
Lyman 2024
