All But One

by Sandra LaVaughn

  “What did you say?” Drew asked.

  In Harry’s will, he left the plantation to Drew and Steel Mill to Charles. He had asked Charles for money to give to Drew. Charles sent him thirty-five thousand dollars.

  Harry had splurged on the castle and spent every dollar he had. Charles answered Drew’s question by saying, “Dad left us thirty-five thousand dollars, the mansion, and the castle.”

  Drew said, “moneywise may the best man win, that will be me. My mansion, your castle.”

  Charles said again, “little brother, it’s not a contest.”

  XIV

  Back To Boston

  Charles and Drew returned to the mansion where Charles had hired a stagecoach to take him to the train station. Drew stood on the porch watching Charles leave for the second time. History repeated itself. When the carriage was out of sight, it hit Drew, Charles had a wife and child, he had no one. Laughing, Drew remembered he was supposed to return to Boston with Charles and meet his namesake.

  Drew jumped off the porch and sprinted down the long path after Charles. When he got to the road, the stagecoach was out of site and Drew out of breath. Then a question popped into his head, “who would watch the slaves?” He flopped to the ground.

  A pain of seclusion hit Drew in his gut so hard, it took his breath away. Drew pulled his self together, went to the barn and hitched a wagon and two horses. He checked the children and caretaker water and food supply. He left and was gone a week. Between Titleburk and MacCall he purchased enough food to last the babies, nurse, and teacher for several months. He even purchased three chickens, a hen, a chicken house, hay, and four extra barrels. He overflowed the barrels with water, which gave them eight barrels. Drew told the nurse and teacher to make the food and water last for at least two months, he said to them, “all the children need to be alive when I return. If any is missing or dead, I will kill you.” He left going to Harry’s old homestead to get a wife, he wanted to see if the plantation Moe escaped from, was still there.

  Drew went to the shoe factory where Moe worked when he was a kid, the company had gone out of business. Drew was leaving to visit the plantation where his dad was a slave when he saw a woman coming down the street. She and her clothes were filthy dirty, Drew asked her name, she said, “BB”

  She was poor, dirty, homeless and wanted to get out of poverty, so, it was easy for Drew to woo her. Drew asked, “what does the B’s stand for.”

  “Dat’s’ my name Sir, BB.”

  For several weeks, Drew bought her new clothes, got her hair done, cleaned her up. He told her he had to visit a place, he asked her to wait in town for him.

  Drew visited the plantation where Moe was a slave. It was still in operation, some of the buildings were old and worn, there were only a few people working the land, they were called, sharecroppers. There were no overseers to keep the workers in line. Drew asked an old man if he knew where a little boy named Moe lived. The man took him to the shack and said, “da woman kill herself in der.’ Nobody lib’ in it since dat’ day.

  Drew stepped inside the shack; his foot went through the floor. He was getting ready to run, but from the light that came through the open door and holes in the roof, he saw bones lying on the floor.

  He went back outside found the old man and asked about the bones he had seen.

  Moe’s brother heard Drew ask the question. He was the younger of the two that stayed behind. He went to Drew and said, “young man, dat’ be my mom, she be an evil drunk. Massa beat her good for beating on us kids. She kill herself da’ day my little brother left.”

  Drew asked, “what is your name?”

  “Toe Sir. I had three brothers and one sista.”

  “Where are your, brothers and sister?”

  “Da’ oldest two and Moe I ain’t knowin’ whar’s dey’ be, my brother dat’ worked the farm died years ago, both our wifes’ died from a surgery dey’ had. I’s da’ only one left. I’s an old man son.”

  Drew allowed his uncle to talk, he said, “I’s like a little place wid’ a porch, I’s sit out der’ all da’ day long. No worry bout’ food, nonthin.”

  Toe slowly turned to leave, Drew watched him go to a shack that leaned so low it looked like at any minute, it would fall over. Drew went with him and said, “I know of a place like that, it’s far from here, I am going back today, you can come if you like.”

  Seventeen other sharecroppers said that they wanted to go. Their ages ranged from thirty to over seventy.

  Drews luck changed, he needed slaves to begin the tobacco growing on H. B. Metropolis. All the cabins were empty since Harry’s hired hands children were still babies. Drew said to them, “I will find a way to get you there.”

  A woman said, “Sir. we’s got a wagon ta’ carry us all, and foe’ horses.

  Drew asked, “where’s your Massa.”

  Toe answered, “Mr. Jeb be old and cain’t see.”

  Another worker said, “he wonts’ know we be gone.”

  Drew said, “we’re all set, follow me to town, I am going to ask a woman to marry me, then we will go home.”

  They silently trailed behind Drew; in town, he asked BB to marry him, she said, yes,” before he finished asking.

  When they arrived at H.B. Metropolis, the eighteen thought the mansion was spectacular, Drew took them down to the slave area and told them to pick a cabin. Drew was proud, most of them chose Drew Road. While they were looking for a home, Drew returned to the mansion. He left all the gates opened. They stayed put, they had a job, town to go to, plenty of food, and a beautiful clean home. Drew went to Titleburk and purchased vegetable seeds for the garden, food, and wine, he returned to the slave compound. On the plantation where they were sharecroppers, most of the workers from Jeb’s plantation lived in the raggedy shacks or slept on the ground, they never went further than the slave quarters. Jeb who was old and cranky daily gave them a little bread. They stayed true to Drew because life on H.B. Metropolis was exquisite, nor did they ask about the large building sitting alone.

  Drew never told Toe, that he was his nephew, still, he bought the man a rocker, and sat it on his porch. Regrettably, BB became Drew’s punching bag and drinking buddy.

  When his new workers were settled, Drew went to Ogville and hired a locksmith to come to his home and change the locks on the outer and divider gates. The man asked too many questions for Drews comfort. When the locks were changed, and he had eight new keys to the two new locks, Drew killed the locksmith and threw his body down the well.

  None of the men knew how to make furniture, though they were experts in the tobacco fields. Drew had them plant tobacco in the four sections, some of the men suggested to Drew to let the land rest for a year. They explained that the fields were divided into sections of four, giving three segments time to rest and renew to its healthy state. Drew told them that they were to do as he said.

  The women made quilts, clothing, and planted a garden over the grave of Harry’s hired hands.

  To keep their home and peace, the eighteen obeyed Drew. Drew’s plantation ran like a well-oiled machine, even though it was slowly going downhill. Seeing the plantation and meeting his uncle drove him to drink heavily. He was nothing but the son of a slave.

  Drew’s uncle made him cry when he said, “young man, all my life be rough and hard, tank’ you’s foe’ savin’ me from dying da’ way I’s lib.”

  Drew took Toe’s calloused hands that were covered in warts in his, and said, “you are very welcome Sir.” He smiled.

  Toe’s favorite part living on the compound was working in the vegetable garden, especially since the food was for him and the others. In the general store Drew supplied meat, baking items, and material. A few men built a smokehouse to preserve the meat. On weekends they all went to the bar and had a good time. Life was good for the workers. Even though the gates were not locked, male nor female on no occasion ventured away from H.B., they never expected to live so well, they had everything they needed and more.

&nb
sp; *******

  Charles first son died of measles. Two years later, in 1883, their second son was born, they named him Duke. Life was good for the little family. Billy spoiled Duke, who adored him. They took family trips, and park outings together. Traveling on trains in the north Billy could sit with the family and enjoy the sites with little Duke. But going South was another issue. One summer, they were taking their first trip to see Drew.

  Billy had to get off and go in a boxcar with the animals where the coloreds sat on the floor. Charles took his family off the train with Billy and went back home. Charles wrote a letter to Drew, explaining the reason the trip was momentarily canceled. Billy felt bad because he knew that Charles wanted him to meet his brother.

  A month later, Charles was at the steel mill in his office, on his desk he had a picture of his wife holding Duke, one of Drew in front of the mansion, another of Mr. and Mrs. Brown. Charles had received a letter from Drew, what he had written made hairs stand on his back. Charles read darkies should not ride with white folk, they ain’t nothing but animals that can walk on two legs. They ain’t free, they still slave and will always be.

  Charles picked up Drew’s picture, it never dawned on him that his brother felt so harshly towards coloreds. He sat Drew’s picture back on the desk, and said softly to himself, “it’s a good thing we didn’t make it to MacCall. Drew would have put Billy in the slave area.”

  Another tragedy took place in Charles life, in 1885, his wife died giving birth to their third son. Charles named the child Cody, after his dead father-in-law, Mayor Cody. Charles was lonely and thought about returning to MacCall. He hired a nursemaid to care for his sons, so he could continue his duties in the steel mill which he had grown weary of. He did not want the company any longer, he talked to Billy about selling, for several years Billy had helped Charles run the mill. Unfortunately, in 1892, Billy fell ill and was not going to get better. Charles told Billy, “I will not run this company without you, I want to sell.”

  Through his illness, Billy helped Charles sale the Brown Steel Mill, at the time the company was selling over thirty thousand tons of steel every year. With the new locomotive transportation, the Brown Steel Mill sales skyrocketed. The steel was used to build every part of the train and tracks, for that reason the business sold for a very high price. Charles sold Brown Steel Mill to Morris, his brother-in-law.

  1893, Billy died a very rich man, due to investing and saving most of his money. In his will, Billy left everything to Charles, his money and two houses.

  Morris also purchased Charles mansion that sat on a hill. He kept Charles workers, but to serve in the managerial position, he hired some of his relatives from Europe to work for him. Charles closed Billy’s two houses and returned to MacCall enormously wealthy. With Billy’s money, the funds he saved, the selling of his mansion, and the Brown Steel Mill, Charles left Boston a multimillionaire.

  His inheritance from Harry and his mother put together was like a penny in a wheel barrel compared to his prosperity. His son Duke was ten, and Cody eight years old when they moved back to MacCall.

  Billy and Harry Epic

  Two men, one Black, one White. They were close comrades that became distant enemies. Both born a slave, both ran to freedom, both became rich. Both were rags to riches saga. One died contented and surrounded by friends and Charles. The other died a criminal surrounded by hundreds he executed and his sons. One enjoyed his riches; it was a blessing to him. The other fixated over being rich, it was a curse to him.

  *******

  1893

  The children of Harry’s hired hands were between the ages of eighteen and twenty-one, it was time for them to move to the slave area. Their caregivers, the teacher, and nurse taught the girls how to sew and Drew taught the boys and girls how to plant tobacco. Before leaving the children, area and taken to the slave compound, Drew coupled them together. He had the young slaves stand in the middle of the yard; Drew had one mass wedding with himself officiating as the pastor. The nurse and teacher stood watching the debacle.

  The teacher looked around at the thick trees that blocked their view, she said to the nurse, “I never paid this any attention, but we cannot see beyond the trees.”

  The nurse said, “I use to wonder what that great big building was that sat away from everything.”

  The teacher said, “and all the gates,” she asked, “what are they for?”

  Drew heard the women, he said nothing. What he did not know is the teacher had drawn a picture of what she could see from the children area before the thick forest filled in. Her picture was of the land, gates that she could see, although miles away she drew a building sitting alone.

  After the wedding, there were four single girls, Drew believed the older men in the slave complex would marry them and have children. The young adults had outgrown the cabin and small yard and were ready to leave, the nurse and teacher desired to go home to their family. Inside the cabin, they all packed their things and was ready to face the world.

  The teacher went into the room she and the nurse slept in and got the drawing of the plantation. When the nurse entered the teacher said, “I’m taking this with me and show to the officials.”

  The nurse said, “for now, hide it with what I wrote about this place.”

  The teacher asked, “where?”

  “Help me,” the nurse said.

  The two women struggled to pull a heavy chest-of-drawer from the wall and using a metal object they loosened two boards on the floor. The teacher took the covers off a large school book, she put the nurses writing and her picture between the hardbacks then placed it under the floorboard. Together they returned the chest-of-drawers to its place.

  With everyone packed and ready to go, the nurse, teacher, and their students sat around and talked about their future. The nurse looked at the teacher and said, “that building is miles away, how could we see it?”

  One of the twenty-year-old male students said, “God. Before the woods grew, we all could see far.”

  A female student said, “yes, it was God. There is something wrong about this place.”

  “God is going to fix it,” said the twenty-year-old male student.

  While the students and their caregivers were talking, Drew went to Ogville and found two drunks, he hired them to be the overseers. The men stayed in the mansion, they were fed, pampered, and received a five-day training on their job duties. At the end of the instructions, he paid them. He took the men and showed them where they were going to stay. One of the overseers asked, “this house foe’ when we be workin?”

  Drew said, “yes.”

  The other overseer asked, “Sir. may I go home and gib da’ money to my wife, and come back in da’ mornin?”

  Drew replied, “do this one thing for me, then you may go.”

  The overseers on horseback escorted the young slaves to the cabins. Over the eighteen years, only thirteen of the original eighteen from Jeb’s plantation was still alive. Drew’s uncle Toe was a very happy man in the slave compound. On one of the days that Drew visited his uncle, Toe was sitting on the porch rocking, Drew sat on the step.

  It was a similar scene of Moe sitting on the stoop listening to Elijah.

  Toe said talking to Drew, “young man if mama be a slave fo’ you, I’s believin’ dat’ mama would not drank da liquor and be so mean.”

  Drew turned his head away from his uncle when he felt a few tears roll out of his eyes.

  Nine years after moving to H.B. Toe became ill, he could no longer go to the upstairs bedrooms, he slept downstairs. He was going to sleep on the floor but Drew bought him a bed and hired a doctor to come once a week. Early one morning before sunrise, he got up and dressed, he sat on the porch. As the sun rose Toe watched most of the workers go to the field and a few worked in the garden. The warm morning sun was shining on him, it was like sitting in front of a fire on a cold wintry day. Toe laid his head on the high back rocking chair, closed his eyes and died with a big satisfied smile. Drew
cried.

  The thirteen remaining workers helped the young folk to settle in their new homes. They were happy to see new faces and young people; after the young adults joined the thirteen inside the slave compound, Drew locked the gates.

  The overseers returned to the divider gate to go home, they were locked in. Drew killed and buried the nurse and teacher that Harry hired from the local hospital and school to care for the children. The families of the two women searched years for their lost relative, unfortunately, without any success. As a souvenir, Drew kept the newspaper article about the two lost women.

  Charles Returned to MacCall

  After selling everything except Billy’s two houses, Charles and his boys arrived in MacCall. He went to Harry’s mansion to see Drew; Harry’s well-kept mansion and an exquisite yard were in disarray, even the long path was overgrown with weeds.

  When Charles arrived, Drew and his wife were sloppy drunk, Drew opened the door and was surprised to see Charles and his boys. Drew said, “hi brother. Come in,” he looked down at the boys and playfully asked, “who are these little people?”

  Drew worked his wife like she was a horse, he promised her an easy carefree life but only gave her a hard time. Charles told Drew, “I’ll be back in the morning. I’m taking the boys to pops castle to rest tonight.”

  Drew said, “you can stay here.”

  Charles backed out the door with his boys, when he was standing on the porch he said, “see you in the morning.” He and his boys left.

  Due to no one living in the castle, dust and dirt had taken over. He cleared a section for them to stay until he hired a cleaning crew.

  Drew was spending the money as fast as it came in. He had no business or people skills. On the other tobacco field that Harry started as a cover-up, was a wasteland. The four tobacco sections had been used and misused, instead of letting the fields rest for a period, Drew worked all the land at the same time, just as the workers told Drew, the fields stopped yielding healthy tobacco. Drew had no farming skills; he was a lousy salesperson with a mean personality. Harry’s H. B. Metropolis was falling apart. Charles never visited or had anything to do with the plantation, it was not his profession.