Donovan spoke up, “since I've been here, I've seen this town celebrate MLK Birthday and twenty-eight days during Black History month which was off the chain. The week we moved here, the MLK and Black History Month Committee asked my wife to sit in on the committee meetings, she was the only black. They only had two weeks to plan King Birthday. Now you're claiming that the people in this town, that make-up reasons to have a celebratory event be it Latino, Asian, German, whatever the nationality will oppose Juneteenth.” Donovan stood up and said, “you have until noon tomorrow to make up your minds, we don’t have time to be imprudent because we have less than six weeks to plan.” He looked at KayKay and said, “if you can’t lead, I’m taking over.” He looked at the group, “if you can’t make a decision, my wife and I will go to the whites and design a program without you. The white citizens in this town know how to throw a party.” With that said, he left.[RL98]
After Donovan left, the Juneteenth committee sat quietly for a few moments, one of the male committee members said to KayKay, “Kay we've never planned anything of this magnitude. It’s always been the whites.”
A female member said, “maybe we should plan now for next year. We’ll let Mr. Bright and his wife have it this year. We’ll learn from them.”
KayKay spoke up as though the most wonderful meaningful inkling on how to handle Donovan popped in her head, she said, “we'll allow Donovan to do it this year with his wife and others, and next year we will go bigger, Don and his group will be as dull as the moon on a stormy night, next year our celebration will shine like the sun on a clear day.”
A female laughed and said, “good idea Kay, when he falls, we won't reach down to pick him up.”
KayKay said with the utmost arrogance, “yes dear, we will keep our arms folded and let Mr. big man Bright waddle in his ego.”
One of the men said, “that's not what Juneteenth is all about.”
One of the other men said as he stood, “it's about unity. Kay, you're planning a division.”
“Well, after Mr. Bright’s failure,” a female began, then stated with confidence, “we will unite.”
“Yes.” KayKay began, our meeting will be next year, the first week of January, that gives us plenty of time to bamboozle Ogville.”
“Same place?” One of the women asked.
“Yes,” KayKay answered.
One of the ladies said, “oh, next year is going to be fun.” She looked around at the others and asked, “isn't it?”
A male said, “you'll need to find someone else. I don’t want to see that young man fail.”
Another man said, “he’s right. Instead of division, we should join in with Donovan to learn, and not fight.”
The four men left.
*******
Meantime, at Donovan's house, Theenda's mom had dropped by with an unexpected visit. She opened the screen door and knocked on the front door like a demented person. Theenda panicked, she thought it was the police again, she peeked out the window it was her mother. Her heart fluttered nervously, Theenda instantly became stressed. Donovan had called saying he was on his way home with news that she would like. She was happy that Donovan was coming home, it did not matter the content of the news good or bad. Theenda stood in the middle of the sitting room hyperventilating, she placed her hands over her mouth and nose, and said to herself, “get control.”[RL99]
Theenda's mother knocked on the door harder and constantly pressed on the doorbell, she yelled out, “Theenda, I'm having a panic attack out here.”
Theenda opened the door and said, “Hello mom.”
“What took you so long,” Mrs. Carboy yapped and pushed Theenda out of her way when entering the house.
She set her bags next to the door and went through the house like the irrational person she was. Theenda did not move from the entrance way. When Mrs. Carboy came down the stairs Theenda took her in the kitchen.
Theenda's mom was a hard-homely looking elderly woman. She was big, tall, poor, her hair was untidy, and her shoes were dirty. Her shabby look gave her the appearance of a welfare reject, yet Mrs. Carboy had the audacity to condemn her daughters immaculate clean affluently decorated home. The woman looked like she had walked to Ogville. She entered the kitchen and said, “you look awful, just like this filthy house.”
Theenda was frightened of her mother, she recalled on her fourteenth birthday, all she asked was, “may I have cake and ice cream this year.”
Her mother hit Theenda so hard it knocked one of Theenda's tooth out. Theenda bled profusely from her nose and mouth. She ran outside where a neighbor saw her bleeding, they rushed Theenda to the hospital. The nurse that took care of Theenda's face asked, “how did this happen.”
Theenda decided it was time to report the horrible abuse that took place in her mother’s home. The nurse called a social worker, she spoke with Theenda and the person that brought her to the hospital. The social worker and dentist read about Mrs. Carboy children broken limbs, cuts, and bruises. She also, discovered that Mrs. Carboy was fired from her position as a Social Worker due to child abuse allegations. Theenda was placed in a safe home. [RL100]
Theenda was joggled out her total recall moment when Mrs. Carboy yelled, “are you listening to me girl, you’re too old to daydream.” She looked around the kitchen then said, “my church friends said, you should go to hell for treating me so poorly. The mother of the church told me at one of our Sunday dinners, we give birth to the little snot nose brats, then they turn their backs on us. And that is what you have done to me. You live in this big filthy house and don’t invite me for a visit.”
Theenda looked around the kitchen, all the dishes were washed and put away. “Hum,” Theenda replied, on the countertop was the ingredients for a hoagie sandwich and a scented candle burning. She took in a deep breath and said, “whatever you say, mom.”
“You still don't know how to cook without burning food, didn't you learn anything from me?” Her mother screamed.
Theenda replied, “nothing is burning mom, I'm not cooking.”
“Don't get smart with me, I was at your sister's last week, she got smart with me, I slapped her, you're not too old for me to knock some sense into.”
Theenda said, “let’s take your things up to the guest room.”
“What makes you think I want to stay here?”
Impatiently Theenda asked, “where would you like to stay mom?”
“You sass me, you learned to do that in that home that social worker put you in. That couple was old.”
Theenda said impatiently, “they sent me to college.”
Laughing Mrs. Carboy said, “they dead now, all you got is me.”
“My family is Donovan and his wonderful family. Whom I love.”
Mrs. Carboy reached up to slap Theenda, who took off and ran into the front room and stood behind the couch. Donovan entered the house when Mrs. Carboy was running out the kitchen, with her fist raised with the intention to hit Theenda.
Donovan yelled, “stop!” He picked up a book lying on the coffee table and threw it at her. She stopped, turned towards Donovan and leaped at him. He jumped out her way, she ran into the wall.
“Glad to see you, Sweetie,” Theenda said, she came from behind the couch and stood next to Donovan. She looked at her mother and asked, “where would you like to stay mom?”
“Are you kidding me Thee,” Donovan said.
Mrs. Carboy said, “you’re going to stay with this man that threw a book at your mother.”
Theenda stood like a mannequin in a store window, she ignored her mother’s question and said, “I know of a suitable hotel, I will call them?”
Donovan said to his mother-in-law, “I believe it is time for you to leave.”
Her reply, “this is my daughter’s home, you can’t put me out.” She stood like a boxer, her non-dominant foot, and dominant foot was at shoulders width apart pointing slightly away from Donovan. Her Torso was twisted towards him, her arms were in defense mode in front of her
face. Donovan trained as a boxer recognized the stance.
Theenda was on the phone making the reservation, she quietly prayed that Donovan’s temper would stay at bay and not escalate. Donovan folded his arms and scrutinized the woman, he wanted to see what she was going to do, how far was she going to push him. Mrs. Carboy standing in a boxer’s stance said, “try me.”
Donovan tried to keep his cool, he went to the door, opened it and said, “git out.” He threw her suitcases out, they landed in the driveway.
She swung at him and missed.
It was all over, Donovan grabbed the woman by the arm and pushed her out the door, then closed and locked the door.
Banging on the door she yelled, “open this door!” Pretending to cry Mrs. Carboy said, “Thee don’t allow him to treat me like this, tell him to back off me, I’m only trying to help you.” She opened the screen door and banged with both fists.
Donovan looked a Theenda and said, “I know how to get her away for good. If you’re with me.”
“I'm with you, do whatever it takes.”
Donovan opened the door, and asked through the screen door, “do you know about slaves?”
“Yes, you imbecile, everyone does.”
When she reached to open the screen door, Donovan slammed the main door shut and locked it.
Theenda watching said, “that’s your plan?”
Her mother got an ink pen out her purse and like a mad woman began to rip the screen door, she slammed it open and shut several times. Donovan asked, “why is she so mad?”
“I don’t know.”
“How did she find us?”
“I sent her a birthday card, with our address on the envelope.”
Donovan asked, “you did what?”
“I didn’t know she would come.”
Donovan called the police, he said, “pray.”
When an officer answered the phone, Donovan stood by the door, he gave his name and address. He said, “my mother-in-law is here threating to take my wife to a place where there are slaves.” He innocently asked, “what is she talking about?” Donovan played his part well, he said, “I have no idea what this mad woman is talking about when I came home from the Juneteenth meeting, I found my wife hiding behind our couch and her mother trying to kill her daughter. I threw her outside.”
While Donovan was on the phone, [RL101]Mrs. Carboy shouted, “if you don't open this door, I will burn this house down and kill you both, I read in the paper where people have been killed because of slaves, I have been here for two weeks, I know all about those slaves, LET ME IN!” She calmed down and said, “if you let me in, I will tell you all about this town's secret.” Then she screamed, “I am getting a lot of money and will help you escape!”
Donovan was still on the phone with the officer when he asked Donovan, “you didn't know she was here.”
“No, Sir.”
Theenda peeked out the window and said, “there are about ten police cars out front.”
The officer on the phone said, “I called the Police Chief in MacCall, he is on the way. His name is Chief Stevens, he'll want to talk to you and your wife.”
“Yes Sir, anything to help.” The call ended.
An officer knocked on the door, Donovan held the door open for him to enter. Once inside the officer said, “Mr. and Mrs. Bright, I am Officer Felix, we’re taking Mrs. Carboy to the station for questioning. We will hold her until Chief Stevens from MacCall arrives to question her, he will want to talk with you, he will investigate your home and cars. You may come to the station now or wait to receive a call from us.”
Donovan said, “we’ll wait.”
Officer Felix left.
Theenda turned to Donovan and said, “that chapter of my life is closed, Sweetie.”
“I'm sorry that I wasn't here earlier.”
“You didn't know she was coming; I mean that she was already here.” Theenda said confused, “I didn’t know. I talked to my sister yesterday, she said nothing about mom missing or coming.”
“Strange,” Donovan said.
Theenda asked, “How did you know she knew about the plantation?”
“I didn’t.” He stood shaking his head, “honestly, I have no idea where that came from.”
Theenda nervously exhaled, “how about mom blaring it out, I mean loud about the slaves.”
“Maybe, God had a hand in this.” He stood quiet and confused, then said absentmindedly, “I don’t know or understand what's going on.”
The singular thought of Mrs. Carboy upcoming demise triggered an eerie feel in the room. The husband and wife duo stood side by side watching the police cars drive off. When they were gone, Donovan broke the silence by saying, “your mother come at you ready to beat you down. And you asked her, where she wanted to stay. My lovely wife, you are incredible.” He chuckled as he hugged her.
Theenda said, “the hotel said she had a reservation and had been here for two weeks.” She sheepishly asked, “she’s not going to make it, is she?”
Donovan said, “I don’t believe so.”
Later that day, Chief Stevens showed up at the Bright’s home. The Chief drilled Theenda about her mother, she gave the Chief the phone number to the hospital that had Theenda's and her siblings’ records. Donovan took Stevens to his home office, Stevens called the hospital and gave them his name, Social Security, and badge number. While he waited, he wandered through the house, upstairs and down. Thirty minutes later the records were faxed on Donovan's home machine. Chief Stevens sent Donovan out the office, he said, “I want to read the records and speak with the hospital alone. Not only did he speak with the hospital but also, the social worker, and the Agency that fired Mrs. Carboy, and the Police Department in New York, they faxed Stevens, Mrs. Carboy records. An hour later Chief Stevens exited Donovan’s office and said, “it will be taken care of, no need for you to go to the station.” He left.
Donovan said, “the first Officer said he would do that. I don’t think he was supposed to tell us what the Chief of Police was going to do.”
Theenda said quietly, “he went through our closets, drawers, what was he looking for.”
That evening, Mrs. Carboy was strange fruit hanging from a tree. A picture was printed in the newspaper of her body dangling, the article claimed that she had committed suicide. Members from the church Theenda attended, planned the funeral, and had her body cremated, then gave the ashes to Theenda. Everything was accomplished within two days. Nothing more was said or done, Mrs. Carboy was an outsider that accused their favorite couple of something heinous, Mrs. Carboy had to be annihilated. Theenda shipped the ashes to her dad in New York, he threw them away, sold the house, and told his daughters he was starting a new life, just like their brother that ran away, they did not hear from their dad until his death.
*******
Lee, Ben, Jethro, and Saul were in Glaidous shack, he had caught a cold, Lee said to his aunt Sophie, “auntie please keep unk home this evenin.”
“Dat' old fool is determined to go to the church with you boys this evening. I can't stop him.” Sophie said, then asked, “what y’all be doin'?”
Glaidous said, “I's got's ta' git' out dis house.” He walked ran outside and stumbled off the porch.
Outside Lee said, “Unk you ain't goin with us, we been digging foe’ ten weeks, seven nights a week. We git' three' maybe foe’ hours sleep per night. You's' sick, stay home and rest this evenin,' and dat’ be my stand on dat,” Lee said with conviction.
Glaidous said, “you need me.”
“Lee, let unk Glaidous go wid' us, cain't be much harm,” Saul plead.
“You need me,” Glaidous repeated.
Lee told Saul, “iffen he coughs or sneeze, Bo will hear him.”
Glaidous pointed, “y’all go home, look yonder”
Glaidous saw Bo, pacing back and forth, on Drew Road watching the men. “Bo, be standin' at da' end of da’ row foe’ a long time.” Glaidous repeated, “you need me.”
“Wh
y you keep sayin' dat' unk?” Lee asked.
Glaidous whispered, “I may be old, stiff, and have a cold, I can walk and run a little bit. I's draw Bo from da' path. Y’all act likes' yah’ goin' home.”
Sophie stuck her head out the door and voiced softly, “Massa gonna' find out bout' what you's doin. Whad’eva' dat' be.'“
“Woman hush dat' noise,” Glaidous snapped.
“Massa gonna' find out.”
Glaidous told Sophie, “only iffen you tell him,” he looked around at the four men, and said, “you boys head home when you see Bo followin' me, go foe’ da' church.”
“Unk, “you be careful out der.”
Saul said, “Bo be a mean and hateful man.”
“I could tell Massa bout' dis,” Sophie said.
“Aunt Sophie please don't,” Lee pleaded.
Glaidous peered at her before he left, and said, “you do, Massa be afta' us and you, silly woman, did ja' learn anythang' from Lillie’s beatin, from yo’ beatin last month?”
Lee said, “I's thank he did away wid' his children.?”
Sophie listening, said before closing the door, “Lee, I’s thank’ you right. Y’all go on and do whad ja’ gotta do.”
Saul said, “likes he did dat’ wild girl, dat’ help Helen. She be gone to.”
“Dat’s right, Helen say so,” Lee said.
“He kills he kids, what he do ta’ us?” Jethro asked.
Glaidous said, “stop yapping and go.” He began walking slowing in the opposite direction of the church, Bo's watched the boys go to their shack, and then his eyes follow Glaidous, who was walking toward the slave gate’s opening. Glaidous said, “it be a nice night, thank’ I’s take a walk.”
Bo ran towards Glaidous and said, “oh no you don't.” He caught up with Glaidous and stood in front of him.
Glaidous kept Bo engaged as Saul, Lee, Ben, and Jethro quietly ran towards the church. They were dressed in all black which Donovan had bought when he delivered the digging tools. In Haze and Donovan backpacks, they had their slave clothes to change into for their work in the tobacco field, and snack food in the other. Each night the four took turns carrying the backpacks, it was Jethro and Saul’s turn to carry them, Jethro said, “dis’ thank make me feel fee.
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