Theenda said, “let me explain, Tess told me to stay out of her business if she divorces Haze, she was going to take,” she looked at Donovan, “you Sweetie, from me.”
“No, she won’t,” Donovan said sarcastically. He looked at Theenda and asked, “what did you say.”
“I drove off.”
Haze said, “in some cases, silence is a louder way to get your point across.”
Timpkin said, “boy would Kay love to be here now.”
Everyone laughed, except Tess.
*******
Later that evening Donovan, Haze, and Timpkin went into Donovan's library, the women entered the kitchen. Haze wanted to go to the Blues Night Club, Donovan said they would be overheard while trying to plan the slaves escape. Haze wanted something strong to drink, he claimed his face hurt. Donovan asked Theenda to bring Haze some Aleve.
Theenda was about to enter the library when Donovan asked. She said, “I’m one step ahead of you Sweetie, “She sat a bottle of water, Aleve, a fresh bag of ice wrapped in a washcloth on Donovan’s desk.”
Haze said, “thank you Thee.”
Timpkin said, “so Tess hid behind her hair because you beat her, but this time she did,” he pointed to Haze's face and finished by saying, “that to you.
“No,” Haze began, “Tess has stabbed me and beat me with a baseball bat, I hit her to protect myself.”
Donovan said, “show him your back.”
Haze said, “it just about healed.”
Looking at Haze, Theenda said in a sad apologetic tone. “I’m so sorry Haze.”
Haze stood up and gave Theenda a hug, he said, “it’s okay little lady.”
Haze sat back down, Donovan saved Haze by saying, “listen you two, I figured out how the slaves can escape.
Timpkin ask, “How?”
“Dig their way out,” Donovan said.”
Timpkin said, “I was thinking the same thing, Glaidous is too old to try climbing the gate.”
“The gate is so high it would take a fire truck ladder to get the people over it.” Said Donovan.
The three men sat back in their seats, quietly thinking.
Theenda came in with three cans of Ginger beer. Donovan said, “thanks Baby Girl.”
Haze and Timpkin said, “thanks Thee.”
“No problem.” She left.
Timpkin asked, “I thought you two didn’t drink.”
“Dig from where? And with what?” Haze asked.
Before answering Haze question, Donovan said to Timpkin, “it’s a soda.” He looked at Haze and said, “The back of the church, Glaidous said that the church has a little Backroom with a dirt floor.”
“Is the church the closest to the gate?” Haze asked.
“I believe so,” Donovan answered.
Timpkin suggested, “it will take about a month to dig from there to under the gate.”
“Maybe longer,” Donovan stated, “the gates are six feet underground, they will have to dig eight feet down so the heaviest slave can crawl under.”
Haze asked, “what're they do with the dirt.”
“Hum,” Donovan began, “here's a thought, remember the Shawshank Redemption movie, the guy put the dirt in his pockets and spread it around on the ground outside.”
Both Haze and Timpkin laugh at Donovan, “Don-man,” said Haze, that was a movie, the actor hauls a wall of dirt in his little pockets.”
Timpkin agreed, he said, “Haze has a point, they have to dig eight feet down then right back up, they are going to need more than pockets.”
“We have pants specially made, pockets that go from their waist down to the cuffs of their pants. Shirts with big pockets.” Donovan suggested.
Haze rubbed his chin, looked at Timpkin from the corner of his eye, Timpkin said, “so you want pockets?” He leaned in closer to Donovan, “we buy them clothes don't you think the overseers will notice.”
Donovan let out a sigh, “they'll need shovels, picks, hats with lights attached, food.”
Haze frowned at Donovan, and asked, “food?”
“They need energy and a taste of freedom food,” Donovan laughed and continued, “that’s what they call it.”
Haze said, “I wish Breeze was here, he'd let us use his equipment.”
Donovan said, “no he wouldn't, or did you forget”
“That's right,” Haze said quickly, “I forgot.”
Timpkin asked, “where do you plan to get the construction tools?”
*******
KayKay drove herself over to Theenda's home since Timpkin didn't bother to go home after work. She missed the conversation in the living room, when she arrived, Tess and Theenda were in the kitchen. KayKay said to Tess in an arrogant tone, “I like your hairstyle, so much better than that straggly way you normally wore it.”
Theenda looked at KayKay questioningly, and asked, “Kay do you speak first then think, or do you always have diarrhea of the mouth?”
KayKay looked at Theenda in surprise, she held her arms out and turned her head from side to side, and said, “I was commenting on her new hairdo, contrary to old hair don't, what's wrong with that?” She snootily looked away.
Theenda looked at Tess, and mouth, “brain on vacation.”
Tess laughed out loud, and asked, “when do you think the escape will take place Thee?”
“I suggested to Donovan during the Juneteenth celebration.”
“Why?” asked KayKay angrily.
“It will draw attention from our real purpose,” Theenda answered.
KayKay commented, “Hum, I had suggested to leave them alone. Periodically we could visit. Take them what they need. Give them a little freedom from the outside in.”
Theenda and Tess studied Kay for a moment, then Theenda gave her a compliment, “Kay, my goodness, you are a genius.” She meant it facetiously, “I was thinking you could be the chairman of the Juneteenth celebration; you know the people better than Tess or myself.”
Tess said, “I'm helping Donovan, Timpkin, and Thee with the escape. Kay, you and Haze would draw the attention from us. What do you say?”
“They've never held the celebration here; you think they'll go for it?” KayKay asked.
“I think so, especially if you and Haze make it deliciously fun and girlfriend, the food so tasteful it’ll be a delightful soulful experience,” Theenda said
“Yummy,” said Tess, “they will be focused on the Juneteenth celebration, leaving them no time to think about what the other half is doing.”
“Like a scorpion,” chimed in Theenda, “it keeps you busy fighting one end, then kills you with the other, we’re the other end.”
“Ideas are forming in my highly developed and educated mind already, at my church in Chicago I was over the ladies’ auxiliary, at a very young age. Ahh, as I think back to those days, I was good, I held excellent programs that involved the whole community. Everyone cooperated with my plans because of its perfect structure. how right you are, I am perfect for the endeavor.”
Theenda said, “I thought you had the skills.”
“Oh, how right you are Thee, this town is in for a good time,” KayKay said with a smug smile on her face. She put her hand on her chest, stretched her neck higher, perched her lips similar to the older rich women on soap operas. KayKay said proudly then repeated herself, “how right you are darling, how right you are.”
While silently laughing Tess managed to get out, “then, it's settled.” Tess looked at Theenda and said, “Thee, I am sorry about the outburst.”
KayKay asked, “what outburst.”
The guys joined the ladies in the kitchen to get something to eat and share their ideas. When the women learned about the digging, they decided maybe June was not a reasonable time to escape. Tess said, “there’s a second-hand shop not far from where I lived in Mississippi, they sell old construction equipment and materials.”
Donovan said, “that work, far enough away to not be detected.”
Haze said, “yeah, sin
ce people are dropping dead like flies.”
A few days after the meeting, Donovan and Theenda drove to Georgia a hundred miles away to purchased fishing equipment. A friendly cashier asked, “y’all goin' fishin.'“
Donovan answered, “yes, my wife and I are going shark fishing with a group.”
The cashier said, “you'll need a stronger line, honey.” She told them the fishing equipment needed to catch a shark.
Timpkin had a flatbed truck with a cover. The following Thursday he and Donovan drove to Mississippi to purchase the supplies for the slave’s great escape.
XXXIII
Trouble
April 28, 2017
Friday after work, Theenda, KayKay, and Tess went shopping at a second-hand store, they purchased items for the slaves from a size small to XXX, plus baby, and children clothing. Excitement and compassion oozed from Theenda's happy heart, it spilled from her chatty lips into KayKay and Tess hollow ears. “I hope they like the clothes we're buying, I hope they fit. Donovan said their shoes are run over and have holes, after the escape, we’ll get them shoes. We're going north, so we need to buy coats also, oh yeah and medicine, lotion, soap, I guess we need to buy everything. You two agree?” When they did not answer, she looked around at KayKay and Tess, then asked, “am I talking to myself?”
Tess said, “Haze is in trouble.”
Theenda misunderstood Tess, she asked, “Did you sign the divorce papers?”
KayKay pushed Theenda aside, looked directly into Tess's face, and asked, “you’re getting a divorce? When? Where? I knew something was up with you two.”
Tess totally ignored KayKay, and corrected Theenda's assumption, “no Thee, Haze and I are doing wonderful, we’re back together, the police was by the house today looking for him.”
Both KayKay and Theenda gasp in shock. Theenda asked, “Haze took you back? I don’t understand.”
Tess got a little rattled and said, “focus Theenda.” She reached out and pulled both women in closer, then said, “get this, the officer asked if I,” she looked around the store and whispered, “knew about slaves.”
KayKay said, “and so it begins.”
Theenda asked, “What did you say to the officer? And why were you at Haze house?”
“I said sure I know about them,” she laughed and said, “I asked him if he wanted to read one of my books on slave narratives.”
Theenda said, “good for you,” she asked, “he didn't do anything to you?”
“No,” Tess said, she continued, “the officer said, no ma'am, I don't want to read anything about slaves, have a good day.”
Theenda asked, “when did you two get back together?”
“Oh, a few days ago, the three beatings worked and he's afraid of Donovan.”
By this time KayKay was completely outdone with her friends, she slammed the clothes on top of a rack, put her hands on her hips, and hissed, “excuse me, aren't we in this together?”
Theenda looked at Tess and said, “follow.”
Tess said, “okay, where are we going?”
“So, you’re not in the hotel?” KayKay asked Tess furiously.
Theenda whispered, “you and Haze back together, what happened to you trying to take Donovan from me.”
KayKay blew up like a balloon filled with helium, still, she stood silently as the women talked.
Theenda and Tess watched her out the corner of their eyes, Tess said, “that would not work Thee, I was only kidding. Plus, Donovan said he would have nothing to do with me.” Tess looked genuinely sorry when she continued, “thank you for being my friend, it was stupid of me to say such silly things.”
Theenda cleared her throat and said, “I am holding off my anger right now, freeing the slaves is more important than petty backstabbing, we need your input and help on this project. Let’s finish shopping, I'm famished, here lately I've been eating way too much food.”
Tess asked, “why? You never have an appetite.”
“I don't know.”
KayKay said, “I have to go.” She went to her car and called Timpkin, she asked him about Tess and Donovan.
Theenda said, “now, let’s get some shopping done.”
Tess said, “she and her church friends are the nosiest people I’ve ever seen.”
With sadness in her voice, Theenda said, “she’s in her car calling Timpkin about you and my husband.”
*******
Donovan, Timpkin, and Haze trailed through the woods, they were delivering the digging equipment. Donovan and Timpkin had purchased along with the digging gear a wheelbarrow to make it easier getting everything up the hill and through the woods. The three men took turns handling the heavy container, sometimes one pushed while the other two pulled. The three men had backpacks filled with McDonald and canned sodas. Normal chatty Haze was subdued during the struggle with the equipment, Donovan said, “Haze you're awfully quiet.”
Timpkin agreed, “yeah man what's wrong, you didn't speak during the drive out here, or now. What’s up?”
“That's unusual for you,” Donovan commented.
Haze was experiencing a large-scale dismal letdown from his friend Breeze, which shadowed his disposition, as he said, “I looked for you two for the past several days, where were you?”
“Remember Haze, I asked if you wanted to go to Mississippi with us, but you said that you couldn't take off because there was trouble with one of your workers,” Donovan snapped at Haze.
Timpkin said, “we're almost to the gate. Don, do they know we're coming?”
“Yeah, remember before we left, they asked when we're coming back, I gave today's date.”
Haze said, “I’m in trouble.”
“What kind of trouble?” Donovan asked.
Haze suggested, “let’s discuss it on the way home.”
Light from the bright moon and flickering stars made their journey through the woods, a little easy.
Earlier that day Haze had learned from Tess that the police were looking for him. Thus, he had not gone home since early morning, he was grumpy, jumpy, worried, on edge, he said, “Tess said the police is looking for me.”
Donovan asked, “why?”
Timpkin said, “Breeze had something to do with it, right?”
“I don't have time for I told you so, what am I to do,” Haze plead, “Before he was killed, I went to his house, he told me that he didn't mention my name. He had packed bags next to his living room door, he thought he was getting paid, he was taking his band to California. We argued. I told him to keep his mouth shut. But what did he do…”?
“Let’s deliver the tools first,” Donovan suggested, “then we'll figure out what to do with you.”
“Yeah, one thing at a time.” Timpkin agreed.
Donovan said, “Theenda called and said you and Tess are back together.”
“No way man.” Haze answered.
Donovan asked, “so Tess is not living in your house?”
Haze said, “why would I let that violent woman in my home. Last time she was there the police took her to jail, before then, she busted in and stabbed me. Fool me once I learn my lesson. The police went to her job at the hospital asking for me.”
Donovan asked, “how do you know?”
“A nurse called and told me.” Haze answered.
Timpkin asked, “how do you know the nurses?”
Haze answered, “since marrying Tess, I’ve been in the hospital a lot.”
When they exited the forest, it was easier pushing the wheelbarrow, Donovan heard something, his attention shifted from the perplexity of Haze situation to the sounds of horse hoofs trotting towards them. “Somebody's coming,” whispered Donovan, “let’s go back to the forest,” he softly said.”
But they had walked too far to go back, they could see the gate, they laid flat as they could on the ground, there was nothing they could do with the barrow. The men had God on their side, a big dark gray stormy cloud, covered the moon and stars. It hid the men and their equipment.
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On the inside of the outer gate, the overseers were making their last round, they figured no one knew about the plantation so didn't bother to look outside the gate. They herd the men talking as they rode past, Roy said, “I don't know why Mr. Brown makes us do this every night, the slaves can't get' out.”
“If we don't, we git' beat or no pay when we get out, so stop complaining.”
“We made our rounds, let's go home,” Roy said.
Fred said, “dis' time next year we's be off dis' plantation. I's take my Monies, and travel.”
“I'm going to find my family then report the Browns”
The men rode off out of earshot and out of sight when Donovan said, “wonder if the slaves forgot about tonight, they didn’t mention them.”
When the two men headed home, using their binoculars Donovan, Timpkin, and Haze watched the overseers disappear in the darkness.
“They are no better off than the slaves,” Haze mumbled.
“Wonder if we should help them out of here?” Donovan asked.
Haze answered in a resounding whisper, “no, they’re a rapist, lying, stealing fools. You want to set them free?!”
“He's got a point.” Timpkin agreed with Haze.
They began walking towards the same area where they met the slaves before, “when you put it that way.” Donovan said more to himself.
The cloud traveled on, the moon and stars brighten the men way to the gate. Lee saw them, he whispered, “Mr. Bright, Mr. Bright.” With Lee was Glaidous, Ben, Jethro, and Saul.
Donovan said, “did you see the two men go past?”
Lee said, “yaw Sir. We seed dem.”
“Dis' dey' last round,” Ben explained.
“We brought the tools; Haze will explain how to use some and Timpkin will describe the rest. I'm leaving a cell phone for you Lee, I’ll teach you how to use. If you have any emergencies call me, my number is on the phone.”
While Donovan was talking, the slaves stared at him in total confusion.
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