Ben wrote a letter to the woman, the letter was returned, Ben did some investigation, he learned a burglar broke into the home and killed the woman and Anthony as they slept. During this time, Tom, Ben, and Charles were the only family members that knew about Becky’s baby and the hidden plantation. However, only Charles and his grandpa Tom knew the murderer. Tom was proud of his tall handsome grandson, he sat his son Ben down and made Charles master of H. B. Metropolis. Tom claimed that Ben was too soft.
Since the child was an undisclosed being, Becky Lou could not attend her son’s funeral or travel to see his body.
While Ben was master of the plantation, he lived in Titleburk and let the overseers run the plantation. Without his father’s approval, Ben hired five men to guard the gates and forest. Tom was outraged. Summer of 2016, Charles turned twenty-one, he and his grandpa moved to the plantation house.
Between MacCall and Titleburk, Charles hired eight homeless men to clean the yard, and paint inside and outside the plantation mansion. He hired three homeless women to clean and polish everything that was of metal or wood. He let the homeless men and women stay in Vance cabin, since they were homeless Charles figured they would go nowhere, and they didn't. He promised them after their task was done, he would pay each five hundred dollars. Their last day, Charles threw a party for the homeless and his father’s five guards. The party was held in Vance cabin, using streamer’s and Christmas lights, Charles had the women to decorate the cabin, the men hung Christmas lights.
Tom was a mean ruthless plantation master, and Charles was a cool ruthless man. He could smile in the person’s face, shoot them or slice their neck, slip on his shades, and stroll away like it was just another day. Tom admired his grandson.
Harry wanted to be like his son Charles, Tom wanted to be like his grandson Charles II, Tom had Harry’s nature.
It was Tom’s idea for them to move into the mansion, then kill everyone after their work was done. Charles went in town and picked up twelve pizza, and two kegs of beer, before taking them to the cabin, Tom poisoned the beer, Charles stirred each keg for five minutes. Charles called the cabin and had a few of the men to push the kegs and pizzas in a wheel barrel to the cabin. At the party, Charles danced with the three women. He laughed, talked, and joked around; Charles was the bell of the party.
They did not die right-a-way, the party continued for a few hours. Charles sat down and thanked them for being good workers, he said, “I am going to miss you.”
As the guards and homeless men and women were talking, they quietly passed away.
Charles had three cans of gasoline hidden in the woods, he poured the liquid inside the cabin, and on the dead bodies. When Charles got on the porch, he left the door opened. He removed his shoes and jumped on the ground, he struck a book of matches and threw it in the opened door. Charles stood watching the cabin that Vance wife loved too much, go up in flames with the bodies inside. He picked up his shoes and threw them inside the cabin.
The families of the murdered victims had no idea where they worked or for who, hence, their absence did not lead back to the Browns. A year after the manslaughters, Tom became very ill. Before Tom’s death, Charles shared with his grandpa his plans to manufacture cigarettes and cigars. Tom said, “go for it grandson. I am so happy to see a real man in charge.”
Shortly after Tom’s funeral, Becky Lou was out with a friend shopping in Titleburk, the friend stole jewelry. She and Becky Lou were put in prison, Charles hired a lawyer named Phillipa Paddleton to represent his sister, Charles nor Becky Lou knew that they were Phillipa's cousins.
Charles Paddleton’s offsprings were teachers, speakers, doctors, Government Officials, they held social events to raise money for a good cause. Charles loved to travel; he raised his family to go beyond their imagination. Charles would be proud of his offspring, they toured the USA and the world, sometimes together. The family was close, they were the Paddleton’s, a name Charles Brown made up when he ran from his brother Drew and son Duke.
On the other hand, Charles son Duke family was social oddballs, they maintain life as status quo. A few were high school graduate’s other did not graduate, they were poor, except Charles brother Sam. He went to night school to get an accounting certificate. The whole family lived in Titleburk and was not aware of the plantation. Except for the ones that became H. B. Metropolis Master.
Becky Lou was different than Drews line of misfits. She liked people; she got a job working as a file clerk for a local company but got fired after the arrest. Charles was proud of his little sister, she was the only Brown that attended college, it did not matter that she had completed one quarter. After losing the file clerk job, Charles got his sister a job working in the library and part-time for him in the children’s area.
The nurse and the teacher in the children area were close to fifty-five, they were fresh graduates from college with a degree in nursing and education. On their hire date, both women were twenty-three years old. On their last day, they were invited to the plantation house, Charles wife and Harriett had prepared a feast for the women. When they entered the house, they noticed that the furnishings had changed, everything in the kitchen was modern and digital, they could not believe their eyes.
The nurse and teacher ate, laughed, and talk but in the back of their minds, they were going to report H.B. Metropolis to the authorities. They knew everything that went on in the slave compounds through Helen, and the nurse who delivered the slaves babies. The teacher had drawn a crude picture of the plantation from what she was told by the nurse and Helen.
There was one problem, they left the memoir in the children cabin.
In the kitchen the nurse and Teacher listen to Charles explain how much the world had changed, he talked and watched the nurses’ eyes become droopy with sleep, he talked until their faces fell in their plates. He and Harry II carried their bodies to the grave that was already dug. Next to the nurses, were fresh graves for the aging overseers. He was not going to find new overseers and anyone to work with the children, Charles had planned from an early age to end H. B. Metropolis and travel.
Charles hired his sister, Becky Lou to be Helen’s relief. When Helen saw Becky Lou lack of clothes, painted face, and loud personality, she suggested that Becky Lou wear the nurse or teacher dresses. Becky Lou clothes were way above the knee, the young boys’ eyes almost popped out their head. Becky Lou showed her gratitude by wearing the clothes while she was on the complex. On every other weekend, Helen went home to the slave complex.
The children liked it when Becky Lou came, she would bring big bags filled with donuts, cupcakes, pies, candy, and chips. Harry II, her nephew, told her not to give any to Helen. He did not trust Becky; Harry kept a close watch on all her comings and goings. He argued with Becky Lou and his father, Harry blared out, “Pops, she should be locked up like the nurse and teacher.”
“Harry, you forget I am a part of this family, I got this,” Harriett said confidently.
“I’m not talking to you,” Harry said as he scowled at Harriett. He looked at his dad and said, “I’ll go to town and find someone to be the overseer.”
Harriet said, “I found two overseers,’ a nurse, and a teacher a few counties away.”
Charles said, “that is not necessary.” He walked out of the room. [RL74]
*******
In the slave town area, Lillie and Sophie were leaving the general store porch, Sophie asked Lillie, “who foe’ you’s makin’ does dresses.”
“Helen say’s dey fo’ a white woman dat’ watch the kids.”
“Do you know what be wrong wid’ Glaidous?” Sophia asked.
“Wad' ja' mean Sophie?”
“Don’t know, he be happy now days. He's sermon be different,” she looked at Lillie, “you’s change to, like yah’ know somethin.”
They walked on a little further, Sophie asked, “Lee changed to, why y’all change and not me?”
Lillie had taken all she could and said, “cause you’s talk
too much.”
Sophie said, “I’s tells Massa.”
“Zaxctly,” Lillie said crossly as she walked away. She saw Glaidous coming down the road, she motioned for him to go to her cabin.
Glaidous had known his sister for over sixty years, he recognized the look on her face, and it wasn’t a come to coffee big brother look. Only three people made his sister mad, Bo, Harry, and his wife, Sophie.
In the castle, and Still, in the midst of arguing with his children and wife, Charles said, “Becky is my little sister, I will talk to her.”
“I believe...” Barbara began saying.
“She's my sister, discussion over.” He looked at them and shouted, “over!” and left slamming the door behind him.
XXIV
The First Meeting
February 15, 2017
Wednesday, the day before the NAACP meeting, Haze, his wife Tess, Timpkin, his wife KayKay were visiting the Bright’s. [RL75]Theenda invited the couples over, for the first meeting about the slaves. It was the wives first time hearing about the illegal plantation. Donovan shared with the wives his discovery of slaves in a nearby town. Tess was shocked, but KayKay was appalled that she was just finding out. KayKay was a social worker and a self-important woman. In looks she matched Timpkin perfectly, she wore plaid pleated skirts and a blouse that matched perfectly with a color in the plaid. Her hair was permed, she wore it in a bun with a ribbon that matched the blouse.
Tess was a registered nurse, she was pretty but had a hard look, she was twenty-six-year-old with soft smooth skin. Tess had Indian like features; her cold black hair hung down to her waist. At the meeting, Tess was trying to hide her face with her hair. She looked like she was playing peek-a-boo, a small portion of her forehead, the tip of her nose, and her lips were visible. She and Haze were sitting on the love-seat, her body was turned away from him. Haze was sitting on the opposite corner of the loveseat. Tess asked very softly, “how did this happen? Poor Timpkin, KayKay was a quarrelsome belligerent individual that knew everything. At the time of the meeting she argued with Donovan, she said, “me of all people you could have talked to about this matter, I'm a social worker and fixing problems is my job.” She violently crossed her leg, roll her eyes and jerked her head in the opposite direction of Donovan and stared at Timpkin. Her chest heaved up and down with each breath she inhaled and exhaled. She looked at Timpkin and snapped, “you should have told me.” She folded her arms in anger, she looked at Theenda and barked, “you knew.”
Twenty-two-year-old Theenda said to a sixty-three-year-old woman, “don't start with me, I'm not the one.”
Timpkin looked at his wife and tried to figure out why he married such a hot-tempered, overly confident unnecessary woman. He flashed back to the first time he saw her, she was tall, thin, paper sack brown pretty girl. She cut into his thoughts and ask, “why didn't you tell me?”
Theenda tried to calm the moment by saying, “Timpkin thought Donovan was lying about slaves,” she looked at Timpkin and said, “right Timpkin.”
“Right Thee. It's still hard for me to conceive that slaves exist in my hometown; how could such a thing happen?”
While talking he remembered the reason, he married her, the memory popped in his head so quick he jumped. When they were dating, she was all over him like a bad habit, after the wedding she was cured. It’s been a downhill ride ever since now he was ready to get off the ride. He looked at KayKay and frowned.
KayKay looked at Timpkin with remorse and asked. “what’re you frowning about?”
“How can there be slaves in America?” he asked.
Donovan looked around the room at each person and said, “I don’t know, but it happened.”
Theenda said, “according to the memoirs of the nurses and teachers dating back to 1876, they are real.”
“Would you like to read the memoir?” Donovan asked the group.
“I'll get it, Sweetie,” Theenda left.
Donovan continued, “April 13, 1876, Mr. Brown held a party for the slaves after construction was complete, he told them that they were free, he was going to give them some money and let them go. But he poisoned their drink killing the slaves from ages four years and above. On the same day, Mr. Browns youngest son shot, and killed his father. It's believed that he also killed his older brother years later.”
Haze said, “a whole lot of killing going around.”
Timpkin asked, “what happened to the nurse and teacher? And how do you know the memoir is authentic.”
Donovan said as he paced, “the dates, details. The gates and tiny houses that I saw is mentioned in the memoir.”
KayKay asked, “the children three and under what happened to them?”
“They were raised by the nurse and teacher. At age fourteen they were given to a husband and wife to raise as their own, when they turned seventeen or eighteen, they were in a cabin, and fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl was put in his cabin. Thus, the girl was his wife and he her husband. The two women wrote that they never told the children about freedom or their past, if a child would have said anything about the world outside the plantation, he would kill them.”
KayKay replied, “so it is possible that the slaves living now really don't know a thing about freedom.”
Still standing, Donovan answered, “you got it.”
Haze said, “so, we may be the first people they will see outside the plantation.”
KayKay asked, “I wonder if they know about Africa or the Civil War?”
Donovan answered a simple, “no.”
“Not really,” Theenda said returning to the room carrying a thick notebook filled with stacks of papers, she said, “just think at the time of the Civil War there were a little over four million slaves in existence not just in the south. She adjusted the memoir in her arms and continued, “New York. Pennsylvania. Maryland, New Jersey, Delaware, and so on. Harriett Tubman made her last freedom run to the south in the early 1900s before she got ill.”
Timpkin asked, “so, the Civil War didn't end slavery.”
“That's what she just said, ignorant man,” KayKay said belligerently.
Ignoring KayKay, Theenda said, “there was a number of reasons for the Civil War that did not include freeing a bunch of black folks, though it was a small part which was the beginning of our freedom. It allotted thousands of slaves to join the army or just run like crazy to Canada.”
Donovan questioned, “I wonder how many slaves exist now?”
“Do you know how ludicrous you people sound?” Timpkin asked uneasily.
Donovan said, “I think we're talking about becoming a modern-day abolitionist.”
Timpkin chimed, “that's ridiculous.”
Theenda said, “here's the memoir.” She handed them to Timpkin, he did not take the folder.
KayKay took the memoir and asked, “where did you get these.”
“A secret source,” Donovan answered quickly in the tone of, none-of-your-business.
*******
On weekends, Becky Lou was Helen’s relief. One day, Becky Lou made a discovery, when she stepped on a loose floorboard, she bounced her foot on the board several times, the disconnection seemed to be under the dresser[RL76]. She pulled the chest out, lifted the board and there were the memoirs. She took them to Mrs. Paddleton, who suggested that she make copies and give a copy to Donovan. Becky Lou went to the Library and made two copies. She met Mrs. Paddleton through Phillipa her lawyer. From that day forward, Becky Lou did odd jobs for the kind elderly woman
On the day Becky Lou was in the library, Donovan was there developing a different project for his class. He said to his class, “do not write or research topics about slavery, plantations, or the Underground Railroad.”
Becky Lou was going to take the papers to his school, but there he sat. She was nervous as she walked over to the table where Donovan was sitting. She wondered, what should I say, she stood in front of him and said. “Mr. Bright this is my report, you said that I could ask you to edit
.” She laid the large stack of papers in front of him.
He said, “yes, I will look it over for you.”
“Thank you, Mr. Bright.”
Becky Lou was several years older than Donovan, but she was acting like he was her senior. She returned to her post that was behind the desk. She watched the confused look on Donovan’s face as he flipped through the pages. The more he read, he realized what they were.
Becky Lou gave Mrs. Paddleton the original memoir, Donovan a copy, she placed the second copy under the floorboards.
*******
That evening after the first meeting, Tess and Haze were at odds in their house. Tess was upstairs preparing for bed, while Haze was in his home office reviewing his companies accounts. Tess went downstairs, and asked, “what do you think about the meeting?”
Haze turned and looked at her said, “let me finish these figures, I’ll be up in a minute.”
Tess left the room and ran back upstairs, jumped in bed and pulled the covers over her head. Haze finished working and went upstairs to their bedroom. “Tess,” he said, she pretended like she was asleep. He shook her and call out, “Tess”
She rolled over and said, “what?” In a hateful way.
“You asked me a question earlier. I think it’s disgusting to keep someone against their will.” He removed his shirt and was going towards their en-suite to shower.
She had an ornament on her nightstand, she picked it up and threw it at him, she missed.
He went to the closet and grabbed some of his things, on his way out the bedroom he asked, “can’t we have a conversation without fighting?”
Tess said, “never.” She threw the clock that was on her nightstand at Haze. Around the bottom of the clock was a decorative silver hard metal stand, with a sharp edge. Haze bent down to get out of the way of the clock, the metal part slammed and skidded across his back.
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