The Prodigy Slave, Book Two: The Old World: (Revised Edition 2020)

by Londyn Skye

  Maya immediately broke down into tears. “Is sh-she all r-right?”

  “She’s just fine, Ms. Maya.”

  She silently thanked God and squeezed James’s hand in return.

  “I’s just nine-years-old the day your Lily was sold to our farm. I’ll neva’ forget the instant connection we had when we first met. We were like two peas in a pod,” James smiled. “In all my young life, I’d neva’ felt so comfortable around a person that wasn’t family to me … ’specially a girl,” he laughed. “But I swear, it felt like I’d known her since birth. It wasn’t too long afta’ we met that she became my very best friend. And now…” He paused when a sudden warmth came over him. “She’s the love of my life.”

  Maya was still too overcome with emotion to speak, but she continued to gaze at James in a way that let him know he had her undivided attention.

  “I’ve done all I can to take care of your daughta’ ova’ the years, Ms. Maya. I promise you I have. But I’m just a stupid man, and I’ve made mistakes along the way. I’ve neva’ intended to hurt ’er … but unfortunately, I have.”

  “Wh-what do you mean you’ve hurt her?” Maya asked, sounding afraid to know the answer. “You said she was all right.”

  “Physically, Lily’s just fine. I can assure you of that. But emotionally that’s a different story. I feel ’er slippin’ away from me … from the world really. She’s so withdrawn that she barely even speaks … not even to me. She’s gone so far deep inside ‘a herself that I’m startin’ to fear I’ll neva’ get ’er back. I’m worried about ’er now more than eva’ because…” He paused again, feeling slightly embarrassed. “Sh-she’s about to have a baby … My baby.”

  “A baby?” Maya replied, pure delight in her voice. “My little grandbaby,” she added, her face illuminating with a grand smile.

  James nodded and smiled in return. “Yes ma’am. Due sometime in the summa’.”

  Joyous tears cascaded down Maya’s cheeks at the thought of becoming a grandmother.

  “But Lily’s scared, Ms. Maya. She told me that she’s neva’ wanted to bring a child into this world. This baby is everything to me, but she doesn’t feel nearly the same way. She’s been so down about it lately. All she wants to do is sleep, and she barely even eats. For weeks, I’ve had no idea what I could do or say to pull ’er outta the darkness … until the otha’ day. I’s sittin’ at work and outta the clear blue a name for our baby came to mind: Rose Elizabeth Maya Adams. I thought it’d be such a beautiful name for a little girl.”

  Another delightful smile crossed Maya’s face when she heard her name included. “Anotha’ little flowa’,” she said as her smile broadened.

  “That was exactly my thought,” James smiled in return. “Not only that but I realized that the answa’ to helpin’ Lily lied within that beautiful name. You see, Elizabeth was my motha’s name. She’s passed on now, but when she was alive, she always knew just what to say to me to make things betta’ wheneva’ I’s feelin’ down. Great motha’s have that kind ‘a powa’. I truly believe that’s because they have a unique bond with their children that nobody else could possibly eva’ have. That’s why my little girl’s name made me realize that you were the only person who could eva’ help Lily. Afta’ everything Lily’s told me about you, I just knew you had that great motha’ supa’ powa’ too,” he smiled as he squeezed her hand again. “Lily still goes on and on about how amazin’ you were to her. So, just like all great motha’s, I’m convinced you’d know just what to say to help bring your daughta’ back from the depths ‘a darkness. Hell, perhaps just seein’ you afta’ so long will be all it takes to see her smile … And Lord knows I’m desperate to see that genuine smile ‘a hers again.”

  Maya suddenly had a look on her face like she was trying to figure out if she was in the midst of a dream. Not only was this stranger speaking of her daughter in such a tender way, but of her grandchild. It made her feel as though her prayers were being answered tenfold. But one thing James mentioned in particular suddenly had her tears brewing again. “D-did you say, seein’ Lily again?” she asked, wanting clarity.

  James nodded. “Lily needs you right now more than eva’, Ms. Maya. Especially while she’s carryin’ my baby. So, I’s hopin’ you’d be willin’ to talk to ’er and help lift ’er spirits. And I just know she’d be so excited to tell you about all the amazin’ things that’ve happened in ’er life. Trust me, you’ll be so impressed by the things your daughta’ has accomplished. But I’ll leave that for her to tell.” He squeezed Maya’s hand again. “So, what do you say? Will you speak to ’er for me?”

  Maya looked at James like he was crazy. “Boy, if you think I’ma tell you no, then you done gone and lost yo’ damn mind,” she teased.

  James burst out laughing. “Now I see where Lily gets it from,” he said through his laughter.

  “She’s still just as sassy as she used to be, huh?”

  “She sure is,” James smiled, “but I love it.”

  Maya smiled back at the compassionate man in front of her. The fact that he seemed to care so much for her daughter brought immediate relief to all the worry she had regarding Lily’s welfare over the years. “Thank you for takin’ care of my daughta’ all these years.”

  “It’s been my pleasure.”

  “When can I see Lily again?”

  “I’m gonna work that out with Mr. Collins before I leave. He’ll let you know, but it’ll be real soon, okay? Don’t worry,” James assured her as he patted her hand and stood up to leave.

  Maya nodded and James turned to depart.

  “Mr. Adams?” Maya called out just before he reached the door.

  He stopped and turned around. “It’s okay to call me James.”

  “James,” Maya smiled. “Thank you for doin’ this. I-I didn’t think I’d eva’ see my b-baby again,” she confessed as she broke down into tears.

  James walked over and took hold of one of Maya’s hands again. “You gave birth to an extraordinary human bein’, Ms. Maya … truly extraordinary. She’s been strong all these years. Try to find comfort in that until you get to embrace her again.”

  … That incredible embrace was happening now in the middle of the woods near a campfire. “Lemme have a look at you!” Maya said, reluctantly letting go of her daughter and pulling her over near the fire so she could see her better. “Lily, you were such a beautiful little girl, and you’re an even more beautiful woman. I can hardly believe my eyes!” she expressed through the mist of tears still lingering within them.

  “You too mama! You’re still just as beautiful as I rememba’ you. You ain’t aged a bit.”

  “Chil’, tell that to my achy bones,” she laughed as she patted away her remaining tears. “I certainly can’t say the same about you, though. You was skinny as a twig, but you done filled out nice. Bet you gotta swat men away like flies,” she teased.

  Lily laughed which finally helped her tears to cease. Her mother’s sense of humor was one of the things she missed most about her. When their tears finally settled, they sat at the campfire together. Lily immediately reverted to her childlike ways and cuddled up next to her mother like she was five again. “Rememba’ when we used to sit togetha’ like this late at night and stare up at the stars with that old telescope you had, mama?”

  “How could I eva’ forget? That was always one ‘a my favorite things to do with you. I still rememba’ how determined you were to give a name to every star in the sky,” Maya laughed.

  “If I’d stayed with you all these years, I’m convinced I’d be finished by now!” Lily joked.

  “I believe you!” Maya agreed. “I rememba’ you’d named so many that you started addin’ junior to all the names you’d already used … even the girl’s names!”

  Lily pointed up in the sky at a star. “Yep, there’s Susie Junior right there!” Her and her mother laughed in unison over the memory.

  James was looking on from a distance, leaning against his wagon with his beer in his hand
, smiling at how animated Lily was. It was the most he had heard her speak and laugh in months. It made him instantly feel as though the one-hundred dollars he had spent was worth it.

  “You always did have an incredible memory,” Maya continued. “I couldn’t believe how you’s able to rattle off all the names ‘a those stars like it was nothin’. You neva’ forgot a single one. I’s always so amazed at your brilliance.”

  “I definitely got my intelligence from you mama.”

  “Oh no, honey! Ain’t no way this ol’ brain ‘a mine could compare to yours,” she smiled. “Hell, you used to talk circles around me when you were two! Always felt like I’s talkin’ to a grown woman. You was usin’ words I ain’t neva’ heard befo’ in all ‘a my life,” she laughed. “I rememba’ around that time, I had gotten that little ol’ music box that we used to dance togetha’ to and…”

  “I rememba’ that! I bet you still have bruises all ova’ yo’ feet from me dancin’ on top of ’em.”

  “Girl, my toes ain’t been right since!” Maya joked. “But I rememba’ the first time you heard the song from that music box, you were hummin’ that song all day long, twirlin’ around the fields just like the little lady spinnin’ around inside of it. Just two years old and you’s able to recall that song…” She snapped her finger. “Just like that.”

  “I still rememba’ every note ‘a that song, mama.”

  “You do?” she asked, genuinely surprised.

  “Mm-hmm. In fact, I blended that melody into the first song I eva’ composed on the piano. Every time I play it, it reminds me of you. I play it in your honor every year actually.”

  Maya froze and pulled Lily up from her shoulder to look her in the eyes. “Piano?” she asked, sounding stunned.

  Lily nodded. “Been playin’ since a few weeks afta’ I’s sold.”

  Maya’s mouth was agape. “Yo’ masta’ was kind enough to teach you to play?”

  Lily looked away sheepishly. “Nooo, I, umm, kinda broke the house rules.”

  “Kinda? Eitha’ you did or you didn’t.”

  “I did,” she replied shamefully.

  “Guess I can’t be so upset at ya’. We was certainly breakin’ the rules sneakin’ out to use that telescope. I s’ppose I wasn’t the greatest influence on ya’.”

  “Don’t say that mama. You were wonderful. I knew I wasn’t s’pposed to be on that piano, but I just couldn’t help myself. Felt like it was callin’ my name every day until I just had to give in.”

  “So, if you weren’t s’pposed to be on it, how in the world did you learn to play?” Maya asked, bewildered.

  “I taught myself.”

  “Lord, I didn’t think such a thing was possible!” she replied, sounding truly astounded. “That’s probably the most complicated instrument on this earth to play.”

  “I know, but I’s just as determined to figure out how to play that thing as I was about namin’ all the stars.”

  “As bright as you were as a little girl, I guess I shouldn’t be surprised at all that you had that sort of ability. Shouldn’t be surprised one bit,” Maya said proudly, pulling her daughter close to her again. “I do wonda’ how in the world you got away with such a thing, though,” she laughed. “But then again, you always were a sneaky one.”

  “I used to wait for everybody to leave the house every mornin’. I knew everyone’s schedule so well, I knew when I could get away with it. It worked for years until…” Lily hesitantly looked over at James.

  “Until what?”

  “Until James caught me.”

  Maya glanced over at James too.

  He shrugged and smiled sheepishly in return.

  “Somethin’ tells me masa’ James wasn’t too hard on ya’ about it,” Maya concluded.

  Lily held James’s gaze. “Not at all,” she replied, with gratitude clearly in her eyes. “In fact, he did the most amazin’ thing for me.”

  For over an hour, Lily filled her mother in on the fifteen years they had missed together, including her friendship with James. She then went on to describe the wonderful details about her great journey to Winter Garden and all the places she had been to in-between. Her mother listened intently, expressing her joy through happy tears and laughter as Lily excitedly told her about William, the student orchestra, Landon, and Piers LeRoux’s painting of her that now hung in a Manhattan art gallery. When her mother questioned why she was no longer touring the country, Lily then tearfully told her about her plans to travel to the Old World, but that it all just recently came crashing down. James still stood quietly leaning against his wagon, suddenly hurting all over again too after hearing the agonizing finale of her story.

  “You have every right to be upset about how everything ended, Lily,” Maya said after listening to her daughter’s astonishing story. “I know it’s got to hurt to have your dreams suddenly snatched out from unda’ you. But I urge you to rememba’ this. I’ve known slaves that ain’t neva’ set foot off they plantations … eva’. They’s born there and they died there. But you … you just spent nearly a year travelin’ this country, seein’ the inside ‘a grand theata’s, and ballrooms. For a year, you’ve changed people’s lives and quite possibly their views on slavery and Negro people as a whole. You’ve probably left a mark on this world that otha’ slaves could only dare to dream of. What you’ve accomplished might one day help make it so that yo’ children’s children, and maybe even your own, might not eva’ know what it’s like to have a hole left in their soul when somebody takes their baby away, or what it’s like to live and die as a slave. To know that you had a hand in the way that the tides are strengthenin’ on the shores of freedom should make you incredibly proud … I know that’s certainly how it makes me feel.

  “Besides, in my heart ‘a hearts, I believe that your journey ain’t even close to bein’ ova’ yet. This is all just a minor setback that’ll deepen your appreciation for your future success. I’m convinced that you gon’ get to that Old World you spoke of, come hell or high wata’.” Maya looked over at James. “Somethin’ tells me that that man ova’ there wouldn’t be able to live with himself until he deliva’s you to your dreams. ’Cause it sounds to me like he loves you more than anything in this whole world.” She reached down and touched her daughter’s abdomen. “You and this little baby y’all done created.”

  Lily’s heart began to beat wildly. She turned her head and looked up at her mother with surprise. “H-how did you know?” she asked. She then glanced at James again when she quickly realized the answer. James held her gaze without an ounce of guilt in his eyes for having already broke the news to Maya.

  “Lily, I know how frightened you are about havin’ this baby. I can completely empathize with the way you feelin’,” Maya boldly admitted.

  “You can?”

  “Mm-hmm,” Maya nodded. “The day I realized I’s carryin’ you was the scariest day ‘a my life. I won’t lie. First few weeks, I cried myself to sleep ova’ it every night. As bad as I’d always wanted to be a motha’’, I didn’t wanna subject no child to this world we livin’ in. So, every night I cried … not for me, but because I’s so scared for you. I cried wonderin’ how I’s gonna get you off ‘a that plantation and give you a betta’ life. Lyin’ there in a puddle ‘a my own tears every night, I prayed, and I prayed hard, that by some miracle you could have the sort ‘a life I ain’t neva’ have. Then one night, I rememba’ prayin’ and I felt you move inside ‘a me for the very first time.” Maya began to tear up while thinking about it. “It was the most amazin’ thing I’d eva’ felt. Every night from then on, every time I prayed, I felt you playfully rollin’ around in there,” she smiled. “It neva’ failed. I felt like it was God’s way of tellin’ me everything was gonna be all right.

  “Then, sho’ ’nough one day, the Lord sent me anotha’ sign. I just so happened to ova’hear some rich fella’ tellin’ Masa’ Levi about an awful tragedy in his life. Afta’ hearin’ that gentleman’s story, it finally dawned on me that we al
l gonna face adversity and hardship in our lives. It don’t matta’ if you’s a slave or the richest man on this planet, a life without adversity is neva’ guaranteed to anyone. It’s impossible to avoid that fact, no matta’ how much money you have or what corna’ of this earth you run to. Acceptin’ that fact flushed away all my worries and freed up space in my heart to just love you and care for you the best way I knew how, despite our circumstances. Afta’ comin’ to terms with that reality, I cried nothin’ but tears of pure joy the day I first held you in my arms. I loved you like God himself had descended down from the heavens and handed me his most precious creation.”

  Lily continued listening intently with tears streaming down her face.

  “You brought so much joy into every single day ‘a my life from that moment forward. Afta’ havin’ the honor of bein’ yo’ motha’, I truly began to believe that we’s all born for a purpose, no matta’ what circumstances may have gotten us into this world,” Maya said, placing her hand on Lily’s stomach. “So, you just neva’ know what my little grandbaby here has to offa’ you … or quite possibly to the world. When I gave birth to you, I could neva’ have guessed that you would go on to do the things you’ve done. We may not all end up bein’ here for some grand reason, like you happened to be. But I’m convinced we all have somethin’ to offa’, even if it’s somethin’ as small as makin’ somebody smile, or laugh, or brightenin’ someone’s day like you sho’ did for me every day.” She caressed the place where her grandchild was sleeping peacefully. “This baby you carryin’ now ain’t no exception to that rule. He might go on to change the mindset of somebody important who then goes on to stand up and fight in our honor. Or betta’ yet, he himself could end up bein’ that one brave person that fights on our behalf. Or, just like his mama, he might be born with a beautiful God-given gift that touches the hearts of thousands and contributes to destroyin’ all the ugliness in the world, fadin’ it all into a distant memory. Nietha’ one of us will know for sure what this baby goes on to do in life, but I can guarantee that when you finally hold this little one in your arms, it’ll be just as precious to you as you were to me.”