Theenda cut the car off and said, “that’s why you look the way you do. You’re an Egyptian, true African Egyptian, and you know it. What I wouldn’t give to know where I come from.”
“Ah, you’re part Asian, Baby Girl, so Asia.”
Theenda rolled her eyes, and said, “not funny.”
Laughing James said, “yeah, it’s a little bit funny.” He stopped laughing and continued, “son, no one ever looked in the wallet, we passed it down from one generation to the next,” James paused and said proudly, “my boy.”
“When I get to Ogville, I’ll scan the note and picture to you.”
“Let’s do the dates first,” James suggested. “John Bright was born 1869.”
“Right.” Donovan agreed.
“1878, would make him nine when they got to New York. In 1880 he was eleven.” James paused for a while.
Donovan asked softly, “dad, still there?”
“Give me a minute to think son.” All was quiet until James said, “my dad told me, his grandpa told him, that his grandpa ran away from his mom, when he was eleven years old,” James burst out laughing before saying, “boy, that’s our grandma from the eighteen hundred, and we have a picture of her. She’s from another state, no wonder I could not find her.”
“Dad, they got to New York in 1878, where did they come from? What happened to his dad?”
James said,” Now, there’s the unsolved mystery.”
It was ironic that the sixth generation of Moses and Paula was going back to where it all began, as a historian.
God Blessed Donovan and Theenda to get a job teaching, January 2017, in the middle of the school year. Ogville school district was not looking for a teacher, they simply liked the young couple and made a place for them in the school system.
Donovan’s grandma that was married to Paula’s son, John Bright, predicted as she said, “one day, someone with your genetic factor, is going to reach into that little slit, pull out your mothers note, and the picture will fall out. That person is going to do something, extraordinary.”
*******
Donovan and Theenda were out for a walk in sunny warm Ogville, they were getting acquainted with their neighbors and neighborhood. Donovan said, “I called mom and told her it’s eighty-five degrees in January.”
“What did she say?”
“Shut-up boy, it’s twenty here.”
They laughed. Theenda said, “that sounds like her.”
He said, “dad, mom, my brothers are astonished by the picture and note I sent.”
Theenda said, “it really is unbelievable.”
Donovan and Theenda’s first day in class after the holidays, was January 4, 2017. Donovan was a tall handsome drop dead gorgeous black man, his perfect physique looked like he was artistically designed by Elijah Pierce, a sculptor that lived in Columbus, Ohio. In looks he was duplicate Moses, his personality paralleled Thaddeus. The male students wanted to dress and be like him. The females just wanted him.
Theenda, was classy, sophisticated, and gorgeous, she was Black American mixed with a hint of Asian and American Indian, the mixture gave her a striking appearance. She resembled the pictures of Cleopatra in looks and figure. Theenda had a good laugh when a fifth grader told her to leave her husband and marry him. During dinner, she told Donovan about the boy’s proposal, he did not think it was funny.
In New York there were thousands of beautiful people of all shapes and sizes, that resembled fashion models. in Ogville, not so, they weren’t ugly just country decent. The clothes in the stores appeared to be from the 1950’s era.
Even so, Theenda enjoyed the slow quiet small-town lifestyle. After dinner, she and Donovan took long peaceful walks, no rush hour, no school buses, one beautiful park, only three small city buses. The sidewalks were free from being jam-packed with heavy traffic of people coming and going in different directions. One evening, the happy couple drove downtown, and walked along the main street where Theenda saw beautiful wood furniture in a store window, they went inside and purchased a dining room set, plus kitchen table and chairs.
After making their purchase, they quickly walked back towards their car, Theenda stopped so abruptly she almost pulled Donovan's arm out of its socket. He said, “ouch,” then asked as he yanked his hand out of hers, “what's wrong with you?”
She said softly, “I can see the sidewalk, and we’re downtown.” She looked around and continued, “look at the bareness of people, cars, buildings.” She looked at Donovan and whispered, “listen, “she pointed to her ear, and continued, “to the quiet.”
Donovan was lost for words, he nodded in agreement, then said, “peaceful.”
Theenda stopped to look in a clothing store window, she said in a matter of fact voice, “we’ll fly to New York to shop.”
“I thought you liked it here.”
She hunched Donovan, who was looking in another direction, and pointed at a suit on a mannequin and asked, “like that suit.”
He looked at the suit in the store window and said, “yep, we’ll spend a few weeks in New York, to shop and visit the fam.”
They left the shops and walked to Mall Street, where a statue of Paula’s Massa, Harry V. Brown stood. He was standing in the center of a triangle shaped island, that was in a downtown park. The statue was fifty feet tall and stood on a ten feet pedestal. It was donated to the city by Harry’s great-great-great grandson, Charles Brown. [RL59]He thought of Harry as being more important than Christ the Redeemer. An exact replica of Harry’s statue was in downtown Titleburk and MacCall, only the statues in those towns stood one hundred and twenty feet tall, it stood on a twenty-five feet pedestal. [RL60]Charles had total control of all businesses and the police departments in Titleburk and MacCall. In the two towns, Charles commanded that no building could be built, as tall or taller than Harry’s statue. Ogville remained nonaligned to H.B. Metropolis, though the town commission allowed Charles Brown to build the statue. Being Independent of Charles and the Browns rulebooks, Ogville was free to mandate their regulations as a small town. They were free to follow States Laws like other cities.
Donovan said, “let’s get to the car.”
“I think we’re lost.” Theenda giggled softly.
“I know where the car is, there are only one street and one parking lot,” Donovan remarked.
*******
Ogville was a party town, the residence celebrated every holiday downtown around Harry's statue. Latino, Asian, Black American, German, Easter, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Christmas. Though the commemorative holiday that Blacks did not participate, was the Confederate Memorial Holiday, nor did they attend parades, or shop. They were unanimous in their unspoken united defiance that was incognito during the holiday.
The residents and businesses kept their Christmas decorations up through Dr. Martin Luther King birthday. The week of his celebration, whether it fell on the weekend or weekday, the white residence planned a gospel festivity. Performing were local choirs and quartet groups with the triangle being the stage.
XIX
Ogville and MacCall
Charles Brown II served as the twenty and twenty-first century Master of H.B. Metropolis, he adored his grandpa Harry the originator of H.B. His admiration for Harry was steamed from the article written by his uncle Charles in 1876. He wanted to know more about his uncle, Charles searched in the attic chest and saw the article about Cody Paddleton winning the Mayor’s Office, he asked himself, “why is this in here?” He read the article but did not see anything about the Browns, he threw it away not realizing, Cody was his great-great-great uncle and the son of whom he was searching for. To Charles, it was as though the man he was named after, disappeared off the planet.
For many years, Charles continued his search for his namesake throughout the mansion and Castle. He went to the library of all three towns to dig a little deeper, he only found the same article that Charles had written long ago.
In the early 2000’s Charles gave up hop
e of ever finding the man he was named after, he became restless, he wanted to travel and see the world. January 2017, he fashioned a plot to escape H.B. Metropolis secrets.
*******
Donovan, the history teacher at Ogville High School, had his senior class to work on a special historical research project. He thought since he was in the south, it would be interesting to see the student’s topics. Donovan wondered how many would research plantations, or the Underground Railroad Stations, or Ogville historical figures. His purpose for giving his students the assignment was twofold. Through their research, he would learn more about the town he chose to live. His students, that seemed to know little about where they were born, would gain knowledge of their hometown. To Donovan’s surprise, his four senior classes enjoyed doing the research, they compared notes, and class discussions continued after the bell had rung for them to go to their next class or go home. Donovan had to literally put them out of his classroom. There was a black student whose family lived in an underground railroad house that sat by the river. The student’s parents invited all of Donovan’s classes to tour their home and learn its history. The teacher assistants, students, and Donovan had a great time learning about their town, instead of research they called it, Mr. Donovan’s Students Discovery. And then, it came to an end when a student, made a historical discovery that got his family murdered.
On January 17, 2017, the third week of researching, one of Donovan’s students handed him a piece of paper with only a few words written on it, the student found the paper in the basement of his home. Donovan had no idea what the message meant. The student showed the paper to his father, he did not understand the message either. The next day in class, Donovan asked if the student had learned the meaning of the message, the student had not. Donovan encouraged his students to dig deep, and don’t give up.
After class, on January 18, 2017, the student went to the library and asked Becky Lou the Librarian if there was a microfiche machine. Becky Lou showed him the machine’s location. The other Librarian was leaving for the day, she said, “Becky, leaving out, see you in the morning.”
Becky Lou replied, “Alright, I’m locking up in a few minutes.”[RL61]
The student could not find what he was looking for on the microfiche, he asked Becky Lou if they had information on a plantation with people still living there. Becky Lou said, “very interesting.” Then she asked, “why do you need this info?”
The student ignored her question and asked, “Do you have anything about the plantation in the library.”
“I need to know,” Becky Lou began, she looked in the curious boy’s eyes then continued, “I need to know the reason.”
“It’s for my class research.”
Becky Lou asked confused, “what teacher is asking you to do this?”
“Mr. Donovan Bright, the history teacher. My class is researching Ogville history. We call it, Mr. Donovan’s Students Discovery.” The teen laughed.
“He’s from New York, right?” Becky Lou asked.
“Yes, ma’am.” The student answered.
Becky Lou asked, “can you keep a secret?”
The student answered, “yes ma’am.”
Becky quickly went to the door, pulled the blinds, that read Closed, and locked the door. “Be right back.” On her way down into the basement, Becky Lou whispered to herself, “I have to let her know.” She returned to the student carrying a dusty hand-drawn map, and two sheets of papers with just enough information about H.B. plantation to dampen his young mind. When Becky Lou handed the students the items from the basement, the student said, “I found a piece of paper that read, an illegal plantation still exist.”
Becky Lou asked to see the paper, he pulled it out of his pocket and showed it to her, as she was reading, he said, “if it’s illegal then slaves are there, right?”
Becky Lou unlocked the door and said, “share what I gave you and the note with your teacher. The people in this house are very dangerous. Tell no one else about what I gave you or the note you found.”
Becky Lou watched the teenager run down the street, she whispered as she closed the door and locked it, “he lives in Stacey’s house.” She got her purse and left, running to her car she said, “I have to tell Mrs. Paddleton I know Mr. Bright’s location.”
The student ran all the way home from the Library, as he entered the house his eyes shined with eagerness and joy, he had found a dangerous place. He said as he ran up the stairs to his room, “wait till I tell Mr. Donovan.” He went to his room and wrote his report. When he finished, he printed the report and gave it and the items from the library to his dad, who was intrigued by his son’s discovery. He said, “dad the Librarian whispered, tell no one, it’s a dangerous place.”
His father said, “she was teasing you.” He read the report.
The next day the teen’s father took off work at lunchtime, he drove to MacCall to discuss his son’s finding with, Sam Stevens, the Chief of Police. When he entered the Chief office, he realized the papers were in his briefcase, that was in the trunk of his car. He had planned to bring it in and show the papers to the police. The teen's father sat talking at first about the hot weather, he wanted to get the feel of the Chief, which was not working. He became nervous as he sat before the Chief who was standoffish. Different thoughts rumbled in the man’s head, what if the Librarian was right? What if the Chief was part of the secret? Sweat ball formed on the man’s forehead. The teen's father decided not to tell the police about his son’s discovery. The extremely nervous man said, “I hear there’s a plantation in town, I would like to take my family to see it, would you happen to know the location.”
Chief Stevens sat motionlessly, his deep-set eyes pierced the man through and through. Stevens said, “excuse me,” he left. When the Chief returned, he said, “sorry about that.” He assured the teen's father that no such house existed, then abruptly dismissed the man.
Relieved to be out the police station, the man walked ran out the door. When he got to his car, he was met with a surprise, two of his tires were slashed. He was confused when an officer came out, he asked the man, “how did this happen in a police parking lot?”
The officer hunched his shoulders and asked, “need help?”
“Yes Sir, I only have one extra tire.”
The officer returned inside the police station, when he came out, Stevens was with him, he told the officer to go on his rounds. The two men stood watching the officer drove off when he was out of site, Stevens inquired about the year, make, and model of the man’s vehicle, then Stevens returned inside and called the used tire company.
That evening when the teen's dad arrived home, he was nervous and frightened. He called his family together and said, “we have to leave this weekend, pack a few items, Saturday morning, we’re leaving everything behind.”
The teen said, “but my report. I’m hoping to get an A.”
“What’s so urgent honey?” His wife asked.
The teen's father told them about the two flat tires. And the men from the used tire company, he said, “they told me if I don’t keep my mouth shut about the Brown family, I will be eliminated.”
“They literally said that dad?” His adult daughter asked.
“Not out loud, they whispered like they were afraid.”
“Afraid of what?” His wife asked.
“Not what, who.”
“I don’t understand dad.” His son said.
“Maybe you’ll understand this. After they got my tires on, one of the men got in the truck and turned it on, the engine was loud. The other stood in front of me with his back to the police station. He talked fast as he was taking the money, “when the Chief find out who is talking about the Browns, they end up dead. Be careful.” He ran to the truck.
His wife said flippantly, “you went straight to the police, that’s who you were supposed to tell, you told the boss, so I don’t see the problem. I will not leave my things behind.”
His daughter said wi
th a strange angry tone that emitted from her throat, “weren’t you listening, the Chief is in on it.”
The next day after class, the student handed his report, note, and papers to Donovan, and whispered in Donovan's ear, “investigate in secret, the place is very dangerous.” He turned and ran.
Friday morning, January 20, 2017, the student and his family were found dead in their home. The newspaper caption was, “A Mysterious Death.”
*******
Sitting at his desk in his home office, Donovan remembered the most bizarre funeral on January 21, 2017. Ogville residence arranged the family’s funeral, it was nothing fancy. When Donovan arrived at the funeral home chapel, there were five compose wood crates of different sizes lined up in front of the room. Donovan walked down to see the body of his student and his family. He stood looking down in the crates, there was no pillow, no cushion, no cover, no satin, just plain blank boxes. A little baby was in a tiny box, Donovan had to stifle a chuckle, the baby had on a pamper and tee-shirt, lying next to the child’s little head was a pacifier. Saturday morning, the whole family were lying in crates on the day they were supposed to run for their lives.
The chapel was full, not a sound was made, no one spoke, not even a pastor, no music played, only thick suffocating stillness smothered the air. Ten minutes later a police officer stood, raised his hand, everyone left. All was quiet in the parking lot, everyone got in their cars and drove off. Donovan went home to tell Theenda about the oddest funeral he had ever attended, she was not home. [RL62]
He looked at the clock, it was ten thirty in the morning. Taking precaution, Donovan drove one hundred miles north. He went to a Target and purchased ten pay-as-you-go phones, and cards to add minutes. When he got home five hours later, Theenda was home. He told her about the funeral but not the phones. At the time Donovan had no idea of the reason he purchased so many phones or drove so far. He locked nine phones in his office file cabinet. In his desk was the students map, on the pay-as-you-go phone he entered H. B. Metropolis in google maps, Donovan found Harry’s plantation. Had it not been for the student, he would have been oblivious of the plantation.
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