14. REQUEST TO BE QUEEN PART II

My body pulled up from the water. I wiped my face with my hand. My hand grabbed for the wash clothes and soap. I would not take a bath in a long time so I would make it count. I did not want to get to my people looking as if I came from the grave even if I did.

My hair was washed which left the water brown with dirt. The shame. I did not even know what I looked like. I probably looked like a crazy person. My hair had knots, deciding to just move on. I scrubbed my skin until it burned, scrubbed until I was sure I was clean all over. No part of me was not cleaned.

I stepped out of the water, drying my hair and skin with the towel. A jar sat next to the tub so I picked it up and indeed, it had excess water. I picked up a toothbrush and toothpaste. My teeth were just heavy. I always jumped at the opportunity to clean my teeth. When I was young, I used to use mint leaves then bite the ends of small tree branches until they were soft so I could clean my teeth. I brushed until my gums ached