All But One

by Sandra LaVaughn

  Theenda asked, “why were you in jail.”

  Haze entered and said, “when she left, she went to my home and tried to break in. An officer caught her.”

  Tess said, “I saw the cop, so turned around and parked on a side street, I saw him drive off, I went back to Haze house,” she looked hateful at Haze then continued, “I had to break in because Haze changed the locks, the police caught me.”

  Donovan walked past Tess and exited the house when he got on the porch, Donovan yelled, “come out Baby Girl, the Linwood’s are coming down the street”

  Before joining Donovan, Theenda said to Tess, “you have to change clothes we are going shopping, I cannot stay in this house, wondering if there are slaves.”

  Tess said, “thought you were going to church.”

  “I went yesterday.”

  “Yesterday?” Tess questioned.

  When Theenda and Tess exited the house, the sun burst through the clouds pushing them aside. Both Theenda and Donovan looked up at the sky then at each other and smiled, she stood next to him and held his hand.

  Tess looked at them and rolled her eyes.

  Haze caught Tess action, he said to her, “I have something for you to sign,”

  Before she could answer the Linwood’s pulled up and parked. KayKay got out the car, Tess said, “good grief.”

  KayKay’s black wide brim hat was as extensive as a small umbrella, she wore black lace gloves, all white silk suit, and black and white shoes. Theenda said, “I love this whole ensemble, girlfriend,” she stood back and admired KayKay’s outfit, and continued, “my my, I like that outfit.” She looked around at Donovan and said, “this is how you dress for church.”

  KayKay said, “I thought you’d attend church today.”

  “I went yesterday.”

  “Oh, to that Advance church.”

  Theenda said, “no Kay, Seventh-Day Adventist, they had a play that was out of this world. If it was possible, they should get an Oscar for costumes.”

  Donovan said, “I agree. The music and singers were phenomenal.”

  Timpkin asked what the play was about?”

  Theenda answered, “the Crucifixion of Jesus.”

  Donovan said without pausing, “blew my mind.” He looked around at everyone then at his watch and said, “time to go.”

  Theenda said, “Kay it’s six o`clock, aren’t you early?”

  KayKay said, “I’m going to the early morning service with some of my friends.” She kissed Timpkin on the cheek, and continued, “see you when you get in.”

  She turned to leave, but saw Haze standing alone, Theenda had also seen him alone. Both Theenda and KayKay went to him and gave Haze a group hug. Haze blushed, his reaction was like that of the shy cowardly lion, on the Wizard of Oz, before he said, “shucks ladies, thank you,”

  Theenda said, “a book bag full of food, juice, and water is in Donovan’s truck for you.”

  After their group prayer, Donovan kissed and hugged Theenda and pulled off, Timpkin sat in the front and Haze in the back. When the truck was no longer in site KayKay said, “well I’m off to church. You ladies have a blessed day.

  When she drove off Tess asked, “did you really like that silly outfit.”

  “I loved it, she went to Bloomingdales in Atlanta.”

  Tess said, “hum, I thought it was silly.”

  Theenda said, go home shower and change, we’re going shopping.”

  “Stores here are all closed.”

  “We’re not going to the stores here. Go change, I’ll meet you at the hotel in one hour.” She ran back into the house.

  Tess said to herself as she got in her car, “I am not driving three hundred miles to Georgia.”

  *******

  In the back seat of Donovan’s truck, Haze saw the stuff that Theenda had put in the seat next to him. He asked Donovan, “what is all this stuff your wife bought? She expects us to carry it?”

  Timpkin said, “one of those is my bag.”

  “Okay,” Haze began, he picked up Timpkin’s bag and continued, “it’s not as full as the ones Thee packed.”

  “I don’t know what Thee put in our bags,” Donovan began saying, he finished, “I am going to put a few bottles in my backpack and call it a day.”

  Timpkin said, “in case you’re right and there are slaves, take the medicine Thee bought.”

  Haze said, “Thee is a very kind-hearted woman. You’re a lucky man, Don-man.”

  Timpkin agreed saying, “yes she is.”

  Donovan said, “Haze you’re going to get a good woman, I feel it in my bones.”

  Haze said, “that would be nice.”

  “Kay is not violent, she’s just…” Timpkin was saying.

  Donovan and Haze said together, “annoying.”

  Haze said, “Tim-man, she made you lunch and kissed your cheek.”

  “Yea, she did that,” Timpkin commented.

  Donovan said, “Kay is happy, she and her girls are going to talk about…”

  Timpkin cut Donovan off and said, “Tess.”

  Haze explained, “Kay took pictures as you two, threw Tess out the house.”

  “Yep, they’re attending the early church service, brunch to gossip,” Timpkin said.

  Haze said, “their minds will not be on the sermon or Jesus.”

  Donovan said, “their minds will be buzzing with chinwag.”

  Haze said, “really Donovan, couldn’t just say gossip.

  Timpkin said, “well, they’re going to be wagging their tongues.”

  They laughed.

  Donovan said, “to change the subject, Haze there should be a bag from a drug store. Theenda bought them medicines and Easter candy. Do you see it?”

  “Yea man got it.”

  Timpkin commented, “that means she believes there are slaves.”

  Donovan replied, “what Thee said was, “I don’t know what you’re going to find.” She handed me the bag.”

  Timpkin said, “we’ll find nothing.”

  Haze asked, “is what Kay and those women planning a sin?”

  “Are you asking if gossiping a sin?” Donovan replied with a question.

  *******

  In the castle, Charles was in a good mood, everything was going his way. Harry had not returned since the argument; his household and plantation was running smoothly with the help of his brother, Sam. Although Sam had gotten on Charles' nerves, he was taking him to Titleburk to celebrate Easter.

  Barbara could not be happier, her spy told her all about Harry’s new name and his illegal Canadian birth documents. She ran and told the findings to Charles, who called Chief Stevens. He put the phone on speaker.

  Chief Stevens said, “Mr. Brown when you give the word, I will make the call to the Canadian Police.”

  Charles said, “let’s allow him to wallow in his treachery for a while, when we shut the plantation down, call the Canadian police.”

  Steven’s asked, “when are you leaving?”

  Charles answered, “later this year, I am giving you a few million for all your help and loyalty to this family.”

  Stevens replied, “thank you, Mr. Brown, with the money, I will quit my job and leave town.”

  After they ended the conversation with Chief Stevens, Barbara said to Charles, “that’s a good plan, though there’s one thing.”

  “What’s that?”

  She began, “now don’t get upset Charles.”

  “What’re you talking about woman?” Charles asked.

  “You’re strongly saving your sister, but your son-your flesh and blood.”

  “Oh, Becky will be eliminated eventually, I’ve taken care of that, I love little carrot top, she’s exceptional. Harry, I despise. He is the Brown men weakest link.”

  “I concur,” Barbara agreed.

  Charles and Sam hitched a cart on the back of Charles motorbike to deliver the Easter food to the overseers. Charles noticed that when his son was around, the area was chaotic. He looked at Sam and
said, “take this to the overseers.”

  When Sam arrived at the overseers' cabins, they had the horses and a cart ready to make the delivery in the slave area. Sam gave them twelve whole chickens, ten for the slaves. Two chickens for themselves, plus a victrola turntable, and vinyl records. Before leaving, Sam said, “this record player was my idea.”

  Roy said, “thank you, Mr. Brown.”

  When Sam left, the overseers put two tables between the cabins, on one of the tables they set the victrola turntable and records, Sam brought five different records, the Beatles, Michael Jackson, Lady Gaga, Conway Twitty, and Blake Shelton. The overseers' women took turns cranking it to keep the music going. Like the slaves, they did not have electric or indoor plumbing. The small group had been locked up for years, the only artist they recognized was the Beatles and Jackson. The overseers took the food to the slaves while their women cooked and danced to the music.

  Charles, Barbara, and Sam attended Easter Service in Titleburk. They stayed in the house Duke built years ago. Barbara wanted to sell it, but the house had been in the family for over a hundred years. Sam suggested, “when I want to take a break from the plantation house, I could stay here. You two have the castle, I’ll have this.” He asked Charles, “would that be okay with you?”

  “Sure.”

  “Do you think the slaves and overseers, are responsible enough to be by themselves all day and night?”

  Barbara asked impatiently, “How will they get out?”

  “Don’t the overseers have the key?

  “Only to the slave gate,” Charles answered

  “Is that wise?” Sam asked.

  Charles did not answer, so Sam said, “no, that is not wise when we get back, I will take the key and keep it.”

  Barbara could see on Charles face and body language that he had had enough of Sam. She was holding Charles' arm, he could feel her get tense. He looked at her and whispered, “not now.”

  It was as if Charles and Barbara Brown were a restored team of Bonnie and Clyde.

  Since Charles was planning on giving up the plantation, he had the slaves to plant the tobacco in fields one, two, and four. The quality of the tobacco in field number three had weakened, he decided to let the field rest for a few years.

  The slaves held their party in tobacco field three. For dessert the women had made several cakes the day before after Roy and Fred dropped off the food, Lillie gave the men two cakes. They thanked Lillie and galloped away happy, neither of their women could bake. Roy said, “it was nice of Lillie to give us two cakes.”

  In Lillie’s cabin was Lee, Cush, and Glaidous. Lee instructed Cush to stay with his friends and keep them away from the outer gate. Glaidous said, “Jesus is gonna save us.”

  “Lawd-Lawd,” Lillie said. She looked at her little family and asked, “y’all be nervous? I’s is.”

  *******

  Becky Lou stopped past the plantation house with treats for the kids, she had chocolate and marshmallow Easter Bunnies, bags of jelly beans, and for Helen several Almond Joys. Since Harry II was gone, Becky had begun giving treats to Helen, who shared with the slaves. Her brother Sam didn’t seem to mind. Still, Becky told Helen to keep it a secret between the two of them.

  When Becky arrived at the house, no one was there, she went straight to where the key of the gate was always left, it was gone. She laid the sweets on the kitchen counter, and then went up to the attic to fetch a key out the trunk. As she was running up the steps, the excitement caused goosebumps on her skin, she said, “I am going to set the slaves free.” But when she got to the trunk, it had a brand-new deadbolt lock. Becky gasped in fright, she muttered, “they know.”

  She ran down the attic stairs, out the front door, got into her car and drove to the train station to check on the things she had locked up.

  *******

  Ten o`clock in the morning, the slave's church service ended early. They were leaving the best service they had ever had. Rita said to one of her friends, “I’s ain’t neva heard Mr. Glaidous speak like’s dat.”

  The woman said, “he be full of Jesus ta’day.”

  Another woman walked up to them and said, “Miss. Lilly sang dat’ song. Glory be child, what come ova’ her?”

  The slaves went to their cabins and changed out of their church clothes. They went straight to tobacco field number three, before church the men set tables and chairs up for the Easter celebration. Never had they had a rip-roaring praise God service, and so much room to party. The men made an open pit fire to cook the vegetables and meat, and to make candy for the teens.

  The ladies cooked fried corn, fried green tomatoes, fried okra, an enormous pot of boiled greens with large pieces of fatback, fried chicken, and corn pong. The meal had cholesterol written all over it, still, to the slaves, it was fit for a king.

  The women held a cake and pie baking contest. The men had a band that consisted of two slaves strumming away on their homemade fiddles, one of the teens had made a wooden flute, a scrub board player, and a spoon slapping musician.

  In the tobacco field, several of the older ladies was working on a quilt. The older men aimed to finish a six-chair dinette set, the table's feet were going to be carved into miniature size gargoyles. They got the idea from the post on the bar and grill, Harry V. Brown had the men to design the bottom of the post, like gargoyle feet holding on to the porch.

  Glaidous was so excited to meet a walk-about, he sat in a corner alone. On a large piece of art paper, that Sam sent by the overseers, Glaidous drew the scene of the slaves. Some were sewing, others making furniture, dancing, eating, cooking, standing around talking, teens running and playing, as he was drawing, Glaidous noticed all the slaves were smiling or laughing. He was drawing a happy picture.

  Glaidous saw Lee quickly walking past, he yelled out, “Lee, come'mer' a minute.”

  Lee went to him and said, “unk, dat’ be da’ best sermon I’s heard.”

  Glaidous said, “thank you, it be meetin’ da walk-about.” Then he asked, “what bout' Bo? Where he gonna' be while we talk ta' da' walk-about?”

  “I's' got Fanny ta' keep him busy.”

  “Did ja' tell Fanny bout our walk-about?”

  “Naw' Sir, I's' tell her we's play a trick on Bo.”

  “She fell foe’ dat?” Glaidous asked.

  “Well, I's' tell her I's' fix a big plate of food foe’ her, and I's' gib' her three bottles of wine from all da’ wine dat' Massa gib' us foe’ da' party.”

  Glaidous looked puzzled and asked, “why so many bottles?”

  “Two, ta’ git' Bo drunk, and one fo’ her.”[RL87]

  *******

  10:30 a.m.

  Donovan, Timpkin, and Haze arrived at the foot of the mountain, they had to climb up and through the woods.

  Donovan said, “here we are.”

  Timpkin Looking around, said, “where are we, I don't see a plantation, I thought coming up that road we'd eventually see more than a forest.”

  Impatiently Haze bellowed, “you thought it would be sitting on the side of the road?”

  If it was possible Haze and Timpkin would hear Donovan’s heart rapidly beat, Donovan lowered his head and took a long deep breath. He remembered when he met Theenda the first time how bad she was shaking. He smiled as he tried to hide his quivering. He said in his mind, Don control yourself. He looked at Timpkin and wondered how he would feel if an outsider moved to New York, claiming slaves lived in his town. He said as he parked the car, “Haze please, no arguing today.” Then to Timpkin, he said, “see that metal building?” He pointed towards the building peeking through the trees, “it has furniture and tobacco in it.”

  When the men got out the car Donovan covered the car with limbs and weeds, Haze asked no questions he just helped. Timpkin stood watching.

  Timpkin asked, “why are you doing that?”

  Haze said, “Figure it out Tim-man.”

  “From here we walk, we should meet them soon,” Donovan said.

 
; Donovan and Haze began the long walk, while Timpkin lagged behind and argued, “do you really know where you're going? I can't imagine you just happened upon this place; did you have a map?”

  Donovan looked back and said, “Timpkin we have a long way to go, come and see for yourself or stay behind.” Donovan turned and caught up with Haze who never stopped walking. Haze said to Donovan, “we should have left him at home.”

  “I agree.”

  “I have to admit Don-man, I am nervous.”

  “We're going to be okay.”

  Haze asked, “did you see the paper? They killed Breeze.”

  “Yes, I read he entered the police station and threaten the secretary.”

  “I’m so sorry Don-man, I got mad at you for beating me, went to Breeze about the slaves, he asked the chief for hush money, now he's dead.”

  “Are they coming after you?” Donovan asked.

  “I hope not. Breeze was going to take the money and run?”

  “What're you two yakking about?”

  “Keep up old man,” Haze said.

  “What were you going to do with the money?”

  “I didn’t want money, I wanted to get back at you.”[RL88]

  Donovan looked around at Timpkin who looked in disbelief and sad, he said, “Tim, if this was New York, I would find it hard to believe. Who knows, maybe I’m wrong.” Donovan paused before continuing, “slaves in 2017, I hope I’m wrong.”

  *******

  Lee waited by the gate where Donovan left the Essence Magazine, and where he left the note for Donovan. Lee’s was holding the note that Helen had given him. Ben saw a look of panic on Glaidous face, he calmly and quickly went over to Glaidous and whispered, “calm down or you gib' Lee away.” Then he went over to Lillie who was looking edgy, “Miss. Lillie, would you dance wid' me?”

  Lillie said, “you be years yongen' dan' me.”

  “I's just wanna' dance Miss. Lillie.”

  She stood, Ben took Lillie by her arm, and they danced.