Fraidy Evans (F)

--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