Sophie looked at Lillie in a kindly way, and said, “dat's yo' mind, you's still thankin' bout young Massa...”
Before Sophie could finish, Harry and the two overseers appeared on horseback.
That morning Harry woke up displeased with his life, the plantation, and his parents. He tried to call Harriett; her phone was out of service. He wanted to take his frustration out on someone, he thought about Lillie, he said to himself, “she prances around the plantation like she’s boss.” Before leaving the mansion, he grabbed a bottle of liquor and left. He went to the overseers’ cabin, they all got drunk, especially the overseers and their women because they were accustomed to watered-down liquor.
Harry and the overseers galloped in a drunken stupor to the slave quarter. While Lillie was looking for them, they were already in the tobacco field. As she returned to the porch and sat down, the three men had left the tobacco field and galloped towards town.
Harry sat high on his horse angrily looking down at Lillie, she turned her head away from Harry. She looked at Sophie, and said, “good man with no grudge, I feel sorry for you old fool.”
Harry climbed down off his horse, and said, “ready for your beating?” He looked at the overseers and told them to take Lillie to the whipping tree. They grabbed Lillie, she tried to struggle away, but their grip got tighter.
Lillie angrily looked at Roy and Fred and said, “let me go, I’s walk by myself.”
The two men let her go.
Harry pulled out his whip and cracked it in the air as he followed close behind the overseers and Lillie. Without the overseers holding on to her, Lillie walked tall and strong with the knowledge that she was going to meet a walk-about, and one day be a walk-about. She smiled as she leaned against the tree determined not to make a whimper, she refused to give Harry the satisfaction. Lillie thought only of the pictures in the Essence Magazine.
The women, except Sophie, scattered, some ran out to the field to tell Lee and the other slaves. Another woman went in search of Glaidous. While the women were running around to get help for Lillie, Sophia did nothing. She stayed in the slave town and continued to work on the quilt.
*******
While minor warfare brewed on the plantation, Breeze was at the police station, he was hoping to get half a million dollars for hush money, that would help him out. He proudly strutted into the police station, like regal Clydesdale's high stepping in the fourth of July parade. He demanded the secretary to get the Chief of Police.
She looked at him and asked, “who're you?”
“Never mind who I am,” when she did not move, Breeze yelled loud, “get the chief, now!”
She quickly went to the chief office, returning with her was Gideon, the Chief of Ogville Police Department, “you frighten my secretary, I don't like that.”
Breeze didn't apologize to the secretary, he said to the Chief, “I know about the Brown family going against the government by harboring slaves.”
“I know of no such thing.”
“You do know something, I see it in your eyes, I want in.”
Gideon said, “slavery is over.”
“Then pay me to keep my mouth shut.”
“I'll go and check it out,” the chief said.
“How do you know where to go?”
“I know, get back with me the day after tomorrow, if they have slaves, you'll get your money.” The chief told his secretary to get one of his deputies to write up a contract, he looked at Breeze and asked, “mind waiting.”
“No, do what you have to do.”
“How much are you asking for?”
“Half million.”
“I'm on it.”
Before leaving the Chief asked, “whose working with you?”
Breeze thought a moment before claiming, “I work alone, Chief. I got the history from working on the Brown family Mini Malls.”
“Well young man, you will get paid in full.”
The Chief entered his office with the secretary behind him. Breeze waited with a huge smile on his face, he was filled with greed, which caused a dark foggy cloud to blocked Breeze thinking. He walked into the police station, without a plan, demanding money. Fortunately, for Haze, Breeze money hoggishness saved his life. Ogville’s Chief of Police called MacCall’s Chief Stevens. He told Stevens about Breeze demands.
Stevens asked, “why did he come to you?”
“He’s a hot head.”
“I’ll take care of it,” Stevens said.
Gideon told Breeze that Chief Stevens want to meet with him in MacCall, “that’s where you’ll get paid,” Gideon said with humor in his voice.
When Breeze left, the Chief secretary asked, “what slaves Sir?”
“The ones in that cocky man’s head.”
*******
On the plantation, the slaves ran from the tobacco field towards the slave area. One of the overseers saw them coming, he ran towards the opening of the gate to close and lock it, but the slaves beat him to the opening. They ran inside their area. Both Roy and Fred had their whip out slicing in the air, Roy yelled, “git' back to work, git' back to work!”
Lee shouted back, “not without my mama.”
As Harry raised his whip, he said, “you disrespected my dad in the house of God.” His whip came across Lillie's back.
Lillie stood strong; she did not make a sound. Harry raised the whip again, Lee was quicker, when Harry was coming down to give Lillie the second lash, Lee grabbed the whip out of Harry's hands and challenged him, “not ta’ day.” He threw the whip down. The slaves stood by Lee. Harry pulled out his gun, Jethro a great big man-dingo built slave, chest wider than the whipping tree, arms bigger than the biggest branch, he was as tall as the highest limb, said, “it gonna' takes' moe dan' dat' pistol' ta' kill me.”
Harry jumped on his horse and galloped away.
Sophie had stopped sewing, she went to Lillie, but was pushed away. Another woman knocked Sophie down, then put her arm around Lillie and said, “come on Lillie, let’s get ja’ home.”
Glaidous went to Lillie and asked, “yous' okay lil' sis.” He looked at Sophia, “I's stayin at my sista' house ta’night.” He watched Harry galloping quickly away and then said, “you can stay wid' him. Go on afta’ him. You luv' him so much.”
Lee looked at Roy and Fred and asked, “whad’’ ja' gonna do?”
Fred answered and said, “Lee, we's won’t’s off dis' place just like you, we's goin' to our shack and git' some rest.”
“Ain't ja' goin' ta' lock da slave gate?” Lee asked.
Roy looked in the direction of Harry galloping away and said, “he took our key.”
Jethro stared up at the sky, it was about two o'clock, he asked, “iffen' we take ta’day' off and sleep early, you's tell Massa.”
“Iffen, we's did dat,' we's git' in trouble wid' ja',” Fred answered.
Roy and Fred left. The Slaves stood watching the two men slowly trot away. Lee said more to himself, “dey's tied' as we.”
Bo decided to take over, he yelled, “git back ta' work!” He raised his whip and cracked it in the air.
Jethro calmly walked up to Bo, took the whip threw it on the ground, with one punch knocked Bo out cold, and said, “shut up fool.”
Lee turned around and yelled out, “everybody, get good rest ta’night,' somethin' we's ain't neva had.”
The slaves went to their cabins.
*******
Chief Stevens drove up the hidden driveway of the Brown's mansion, parked his car, went up to the mansion and rang the doorbell. Charles greeted the chief at the front door, “hot-dog lookie' here who the cat dropped in.”
The chief looking nervous, said, “Sir. I have bad news.”
“Come in, have a seat.”
Becky Lou was there visiting she stood outside the closed double doors to listen. She heard the chief say, “a saxophone player named Breeze, he works for you. He’s snooping around your family history.”
Mr. Brown slide back in his ch
air in dismay, and asked, “my family? There were others who snooped around, asking questions in Ogville, but they were taken care of.” He stood and paced. Charles looked at the chief, and said, “they have to be silenced, get on it.”
“Sir. Breeze has a little friend named Haze.”
“Him too.”
Chief Stevens said, “he has a wife that he uses as a punching bag. The high school history teacher got wind of Haze beating on his wife, well Sir, his little wife knows judo.”
Charles laughed as he said, “she kicked Haze all over their backyard.”
Both men laughed hard.
“Wait,” Charles said while laughing, “and then the history teacher got in on the action, he beat Haze so bad,” Steven and Charles laughed so hard tears rolled down their cheeks as Charles continued, “when the teacher finished with him, he had twelve stitches in his face, a splint on his broken nose.”
Stevens said still laughing, “Oh Lord have mercy, we need him on our team.”
Charles said, “husband and wife tag team.”
The two men laughed and talked about Donovan and Theenda for another ten minutes.
All their lives the slaves wanted to fight back, yell out their true feelings, but they lacked the courage to stand. For the first time in their lives, Lee and the slaves stood bold and unafraid of Harry and the overseers, during Lillie’s beating. Only a few slaves knew about the Essence Magazine and Donovan, but a change was taking place on the plantation. Talking to Lillie and Lee, Glaidous said, “it be da’ mar-ja-zine, it bring a good spirit.”
At three o’clock that evening, the slave area was quiet, even Bo was fast asleep. The next morning, they were up, working, and singing at four ‘clock.
Charles had come to the mansion to stay the night since he could not reach Harry on the landline or his cell phone. He figured Harry was out with his friends getting drunk. When Harry entered the house Charles was up, Harry began fussing about the slaves, he blamed everything on them. When Harry emptied his pant pockets, he had both keys to the gates, he realized the gates were unlocked.
Charles snatched the key out of Harry's hands, ran to the garage got his motorbike, both outer and the divider gates were unlocked. As Charles went through, he locked the gates. Then Charles road at breakneck speed to the overseers’ cabins, their women were home. They told Charles that the men had left only five minutes ago. Charles got one of the horses ready to ride, Roy looked around and saw Charles galloping towards him and Fred. When he caught up with the men, Charles said, “hello fellows, don't know what we'll find today. Harry left their gate opened.”
Roy said, “I trust them, Sir.”
When the overseers and Charles arrived in the slave compound, they were surprised to find the slaves in the field working and singing. It was a peaceful site. The overseers no longer locked the slave gate the day Harry raped Bo, they knew the slaves was trustworthy. “After all,” Roy said to Fred one day, “they nor we can get out.”
Six of the older slave women were on the general store porch quilting and humming. Lillie looked up and saw the three men sitting high on their horses, looking at them through the slave gate, she looked back down and continued sewing, she said, “funny what a little rest will do for you.”
Charles handed Roy the key and said, “I guess they can be trusted.” He went home.
Roy looked at Fred and asked, “where would they go?”
Fred asked, “like you said, how will they get out?”
On the general store porch, Sophie tried to join the women, she said, “Lillie I’s sorry bout’ Massa Harry, I should be der’ fo’ ya.”
The women and Lillie continued to hum and sew.
Sophie said, “I’s won’t ta’ help.” She sat on the steps.
One of the ladies said. “Sophie, go else whars.”
XXX
Harry’s Prayer
March 26, 2017
Once or twice a month, Charles and Harry II officiated the slave church services. Normally Charles preached but for this service, Harry had prepared a sermon and Charles was happy, he imagined that his son was coming around. “Maybe,” Charles mumbled to himself, “he’ll travel with us.” Charles clapped his hands once and claimed, “yes, we’ll see the world together as a family.”
The slaves preferred Glaidous because he spoke on hope and a closer walk with Jesus. Charles sermons were more about the slaves behaving, he referred to them as ignorant stupid things, that should obey him and his son.
Harry V. Brown II stood on the pulpit trying to look important, or godly, he was nervous about giving his first sermon. Harry watched his father lead out, his suit fitted him perfect, hair was flawless, his skin was bronzed, Charles like his namesake had a velvet voice. Harry II, on the other hand, walked stooped over, his clothes did not fit, his hair was unkempt, he had pimples the size of a small rock, his speech was muffled. Harry II would have been a big disappointment to his namesake, Harry V. Brown I.
Charles stood on the pulpit directing his favorite song, Bringing In the Sheaves. He sang the song fast with a lot of energy. Most of the slaves mumbled the verse, “bringin' in da' sheep.” A few of the slaves sung loud, tasteless, wrong, and hardy when it came to the course, “bringin' in da' sheep, bringin' in da' sheep, ye shall come rejoicin' bringin', innnnn, daaa' sheeeepssss.”
But no one sang as energetic and dogmatic as Charles Brown, his baritone voice seemingly boomed all over the plantation, as he slowed the song down and put emphasis on, “bringing innnnn, daaaaa' sheeeepssss,” and then quickly jump back in the verse singing vivaciously. Charles loved the Cosby show, but his dance steps and bouncing on stage as he sang and directed was more like George Jefferson on the Jefferson TV show.
When song service was over the slaves sat down, Charles out of breath said, “on this fine morning, my son Harry V. Brown II has prepared an excellent sermon for your wicked souls.” He looked around at his son and continued, “Harry come stand by me.” This is my baby boy, all of you know him, but you never heard him speak God's word. He's graduated from college; this is where white people go to become good teachers and leaders of this country. We learn to be good and kind Massa of poor people who live in this country. You slaves have it good. Most Massa’s have their slaves live in a small gate and one room shacks, you have a big huge house and lots of lands.”
“Tell em' paw,” Harry encouraged his dad.
“You have a store, this beautiful church, a club to hold parties.” Charles smiled at the slaves before saying, “you have it good, there are slaves out there that want to come and work for me because they've heard how good it is here.” He gave Harry a pat on the back, as he said, “preach the word son.”
The tired slaves, quietly sat as their minds took a stroll down memory lane, Saul's beating, Lee's beating, Lillie’s, a young teen tied to the whipping tree and given forty lashes. The slave’s faces were bitter sour at the thought of hearing Harry’s voice.
“I'm not in the mood foe’ this, not today, not tomorrow, or any other day,” Lillie whispered to Rita, who was sitting next to her.
Harry gave his dad a hug, and said, “thank you paw,” he turned to the slaves, and continued, “I hear that most of you insist on pretending to be sick, many of you are sloppy workers, that’s why you get beatings. You ain't nothing but a bunch of lazy, thankless slobs. My family tries to teach you to be hardworking slaves. We clothe you, give you food, a nice place to live, raise-teach-train-develop your children so you don't have the hardship, that's our God-given duty.”
Bo yelled out, “speak the truf”' Massa, dey' lazy.
A slave woman softly muttered, “I's wanna' raise my own baby.”
Harry preached on, “It is white man duty to serve God and listen to what He tells us to do, God talks to us, He tell us how to take care of you, our property, that's why you live good, it's our duty. When we the whites, are blessed, then slave be live good.”
Rita mumbled to Lillie, “talkin' bout' God, a few days ago he r
aped Bo.”
“Sho'nuff' did,” said Lillie, “I's don't thank' God approved.”
Bo yelled out, “preach Massa, we lib' good.”
Harry picked up his Bible and waved it in the air, he screamed, “the Bible say that your Massa is your divine being on this earth, we are your god, you must obey your Massa, work hard...”
Before he finished Lillie stood up and challenged Harry, “sho' me in da' Good Book where dat' be found.”
Harry turned three shades of red, his face got so tight the slaves saw the outline of his jaw bone.
Another slave kept seated but yelled out, “sho' me too Massa.”
Harry slammed his Bible down on the podium, and uttered in a loud shrilling tone, “sit down woman, y’all be quiet.”
Lillie said softly, “but Massa, I’s' just wanna' read it foe’ me.”
A host of other slaves mumbled that they wanted to see that scripture.
Charles jumped up to the podium, and said, “do not interrupt my son! He is preaching the word of God, pathetic people, listen, learn, and obey what the Lord has to say.”
Lee, sitting on the other side of Lillie, tugged on the back of Lillie's dress and said, “sit down mama a ‘foe’ you get beat.”
With eyes steady on Lillie, Harry pushed his paw to the side, and agreed with Lee, “listen to your son, or I will flog you in God's house, with God watching. God in his loving mercy cain't teach or tame you heathens.” He irritably looked at the slaves and said, “my daddy cain't tame you, Jesus cain't domesticate you. God gave me the power, to turn you worthless things into a human, I can, and I will. I, your lord and Massa, I will beat the devil out of all y’all.'“
Charles said, “preach son, let the Word of God use you.”
Sophie was sitting on the other side of the church next to Glaidous, she nervously said out loud, “only you can train us heathens, young Massa.”
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