Treasure in a Tin Box (Wall of Silence Book 1)

by Dorey Whittaker

  Although I was well-educated, I decided to swallow my pride and stand in line for day labor crews. Twenty months had passed since the Great Atlanta Fire, and now that the war in Europe was over, the rebuilding was in full swing. Physical labor was not something I was used to, but I knew my Grandpa Samuel would have been proud of me for doing whatever it took to earn a day’s wage. I learned how to lay foundation forms, pour concrete, frame walls, and shingle roofs. Of course, because of the Great Fire, the city banned wooden shingles, believing they were the cause of the quickly-spreading fire. Like my grandfather, I had to get over my fear of heights. Climbing up the tall ladders with a stack of asphalt shingles over my shoulder wasn’t so bad, but swinging my body out over the edge of the roof and taking that first step back onto the ladder just about killed me. I did not dare freeze in fear. The foreman was looking for any reason to get rid of me, and I was not going to give one to him.

  I came home every day utterly exhausted. Ms. Ruby would always have a basin of warm soapy water and a clean towel waiting for me. She also had a hot plate of biscuits and honey ready for her boy. No young man, striving to prove his manhood, ever felt more loved than I did.

  In early spring, I had just polished off my plate of biscuits when a knock sounded at the front door. Knocks on our front door were never welcomed. Friends always came to the kitchen door at our house, so this meant it was not going to be a friend. I made my way into the living room, steeling myself for whoever it was at our door. When I opened the door, to my surprise, a smiling Private Karl Carter stood there and held out his hand to greet me. Taking a quick assessment, I noted that he had both arms and legs, and I was glad. We had been separated the day I was assigned to the motor pool, and I didn’t think I would ever see him again. “Karl, what are you doing here?”

  Still standing there in the doorway with a smile on his face and his hand out to shake mine, he joked, “Well, Private Bascom, you going to just stand there, or are you going to shake a fellow soldier’s hand and invite him in for a visit?”

  I did not shake Karl’s hand that day. Instead, I grabbed hold of him and gave him a huge bear hug and said, “I am so happy you made it home in one piece, Karl. Come inside. I want to introduce you to my Aunties, Ms. Pearl and Ms. Ruby. They know all about you.”

  As Karl took a seat on our sofa, it dawned on me that this was the first white man ever to be seated in our living room, and I could not think of a better person to break that line. “Karl, how did you find me?”

  With a twinkle in his eye, Karl confessed, “Well, I remembered your telling me what church you went to, so I stopped by there yesterday. I asked a lovely young lady who gave me your address, “You wouldn’t happen to be Tobias’ girl, Ruth, would you?”

  Beaming with pride, I said, “So you have met my Ruth; quite a lovely young lady, right?”

  Karl grinned, “I thought you were going to marry her as soon as you got back home, Tobias.”

  “I wanted to, Karl, but I have to be able to support her first. Day labor is about the only work I can find, and it pays the lowest wages in town; but work is work, and I am getting along. How about you? Have you found any work?”

  “Actually Tobias, that’s why I am here. My father was friends with the man who owns a big warehouse down in the Fourth Ward. It was one of only three that didn’t go up in the fire. When all the others were burned to the ground, his warehouse became overrun with orders. When I returned from the war, a job offer was waiting for me. I was given a crew of men, and we manage all the loading of the 10:00 and 2:00 freight trains. We started out with just the ten of us, but there is so much work, the foreman told me to find two more able-bodied men to add to my crew. Naturally, I thought of you. Would you like a job, Tobias?”

  Uneasiness settled over my excitement, “Karl, how many blacks work at that warehouse?”

  Karl frowned, “Nothing much ever changes, does it, Tobias? I find it is sad that you have to even ask that question, but I understand. Nothing will ever change until we change it. You went to war and did your part. Why shouldn’t you have a chance to earn a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work? But to answer your question, no, there are no other blacks on my crew—yet. Several are on the midnight freight crew, so you won’t be the first. So, Tobias, how about it?”

  I stood up and took hold of Karl’s hand, “I accept. If it doesn’t work out, Karl, I won’t blame you. I can always go back to the day labor lines. When do I start?”

  Karl put his other hand on my shoulder, “Welcome aboard, Tobias. Who knows, maybe someday, this won’t be an issue. At least I hope so. Do you know where the Sutterhill Warehouse is located?”

  “Yes, down on Cloverhill Road and Court Street, right?”

  “Right, are you free to start tomorrow? If you take Cloverhill, come through the second gate away from Court Street. Then come to the third loading dock; I will be waiting for you at 7:00 a.m. That will give us thirty minutes to fill out your paperwork before our shift starts at 7:30. Be sure to bring along a thick pair of gloves and some hard-toed boots.”

  After this matter was settled, Karl walked over to the sisters and said, “You have reared a good man. While we stood watch, I heard all about your family. It is truly a pleasure to finally meet you both.”

  I could tell that Ms. Pearl was skeptical—as she usually was. Her distrust of white men ran very deep, and it would take more than an oil-slicked tongue to take down her guard. On the other hand, Ms. Ruby was all smiles. Any friend of mine was a friend of hers. “Karl, our Toby told us all about you when he got back. I wish I had known you were coming because I would have loved to share a dinner meal with you. Maybe we can do it next time?”

  As soon as Karl was gone, Ms. Pearl climbed all over Ruby, “What were you thinking, Sissy? It is one thing for that white man to offer our Toby a job; it is quite another to ask him to dinner. Do you realize that is the first white man ever to step foot in this house, and you went and invited him to sit at our dinner table? What if that had offended him? You need to be more careful, Sissy.”

  I knew there was nothing I could say to relieve my Aunt Pearl’s longstanding fear of white men. I understood where it came from, but I trusted Karl. I knew he had a good heart and would not betray me. I smiled at Ms. Ruby and said, “Just give her time. Karl will win her over—just as he did me. Not all white men are bad, and at least we can now say that we have entertained one good one in our home.”

  That evening I walked over to Ruth’s house to share my good news. I was not concerned about Karl, but I was concerned about all of the others with whom I would be working alongside. Nothing much had changed since the days when my grandfather, Samuel, worked the railroad loading docks. I would be lying if I said I was not worried. Everyone in the city was scrambling for work. If one of these men on Karl’s crew had a brother or a friend who had been turned away, I would be a target for their frustration.

  Ruth joined me on the front stoop while her father remained in their living room. Her eyes twinkled with excitement as she said, “I’ve been praying that you would find steady work, Tobias.”

  I couldn’t resist teasing her, “Why? Because now I might be able to pop a certain question?”

  Ruth grew very serious, “Tobias, you could have asked that question a long time ago, and I would have said yes. Don’t you know that I have loved you ever since the day in first grade when I watched your kind heart reach out in friendship to Sulley?”

  “Ruth, there has never ever been anyone else for me but you. I cannot imagine living my life without you by my side. When I am with you, I am a better man than I could ever be without you.” Turning directly toward her, I pledged, “I am not in a proper position to ask for your hand tonight, Ruth. You know that I love you, but I want to be able to care for you and provide a home for you. I am not there yet; but I promise you, Ruth, it will not be long.”

  Kissing me with a passion I had not yet experienced, Ruth pledged, “I know you are the man I am supposed to marry, T
obias. I will wait, but please,” she giggled, “don’t make me wait too long.”

  I walked back home that night, thinking about my earlier fears that evening. None of those white men were going to scare me away from that job. Every time that concern arose, I thought of Ruth’s passionate kiss and her plea to not make her wait too long. By the time I reached our kitchen door, I was whistling with pure joy.

  CHAPTER 30

  Pushing the Color Barrier

  I WAS STANDING at the loading dock at 6:45 a.m., gloves in hand and ready for a hard day of labor. Just in case they might help, I had tucked my honorable discharge papers in the top of my lunch bucket. I could see Karl inside the large bailing door, talking in earnest with someone who was obviously his superior. The man kept thumping the middle of Karl’s chest with his finger, and I did not have to hear his words to know it was most likely about me. As soon as he stormed off, Karl gave me the signal to come on in.

  “Karl, are you sure this is a good idea? I don’t want you getting into trouble on my account.”

  “Don’t you worry about him, Tobias. He is just mad that I didn’t give his son-in-law the job. That guy can’t read, he has been fired from two other jobs in the past year, and he was dishonorably discharged from the Navy. I don’t care if he knows the governor; he is not working on my crew. I told Guilford it had nothing to do with you. My crew must be able to read. We have manifests, bills of lading, shipping confirmation forms—none of which his son-in-law can read or fill out. When I told him that, he pointed at you and said, ‘You gunna tell me that black boy can read?’

  “You should have seen his face when I rattled off all the novels you have read. I don’t think he believed me, but it sure shut him up.” Karl then confessed, “You have read more books than I have. Let’s go into the office and get your paperwork done before the rest of the crew shows up.”

  The first few days were uncomfortable but quiet. Even though none of the men liked my being there, it helped that Karl was respected by his men. He and I agreed that, just like any other new crewman, I would be assigned the tasks that everyone hated—not because I was the only black crewman, but because I was the newest crewman. I had no problem with that.

  Whenever possible, I tried to offer a helping hand to anyone who needed it. The large pallets of Georgia bricks were the most unyielding and getting them down the warehouse ramp was a two-man job. Most of the crew accepted my help without comment, but Sammy staunchly refused any help from me. I gave him a wide birth, letting him struggle with his loads, and made no comment when he finally had to ask one of the other crewmen for help.

  About two weeks in, we were loading three boxcars with pallets of bricks. We were under a deadline to get all of the pallets loaded so the freighter could pull out of the yard before dark. At first, every man took his own pallet and manhandled his way down the ramp, across the yard and up into the freight car all by himself. By noon, everyone’s body was so fatigued, we started doubling up and helping each other. I stood at the top of the ramp, waiting for the next pallet so I could help that crewman control it down the steep ramp and push it across the yard. Then I would head back to the ramp and help the next man. Sammy would refuse my help, so I would step back and let him head down the ramp all alone. Karl yelled at him once or twice, but Sammy was obstinate about not needing any help. We were on the last boxcar and had about six pallets left. Everyone was exhausted from the hard day’s work, but Sammy still refused any help. I came back up the ramp and offered one last time, “You must be tired, Sammy. You are the only one who has worked all day without any help from anyone. You sure you don’t want help with this last pallet?”

  “Don’t need no help from the likes of you,” was all he said.

  I shrugged my shoulders and moved on to the pallet behind him. If he didn’t want my help, that was fine with me. Just as Luther and I maneuvered our last pallet of bricks to the top of the ramp, Sammy lost control of his pallet. He could no longer force it into the middle of the ramp and when it began to shift, he had nothing left to fight the load. The front right wheel of the dolly dropped off the side of the ramp, and that was all she wrote. No one was able to stop that dolly from plummeting over the side. The load shifted as soon as the wheel dropped, and bricks began sliding everywhere. Sammy just stood watching the disaster his pride had caused.

  Every crewman ran to help. First, we needed to get the dolly back up on the ramp and clear away any bricks that were still on the ramp. We had four more pallets that needed to be loaded onto the boxcar. Once those were loaded, we would all try to salvage as many unbroken bricks as we could. We managed to save about half a load of bricks and got them loaded onto the freight car before the whistle blew. When the train pulled out of the yard, Karl told Sammy to count the broken bricks and to write out a short-load manifest for the office. All the crewmen knew that Sammy would be docked for all those bricks.

  The whole crew was quiet as we walked into the office to sign out for the day. Sammy sat down and began writing out his paperwork when Karl walked up and said, “Sammy, are you ready to join this crew?”

  Sammy put his pencil down and glared at Karl, “What do you mean?”

  Karl stood right in Sammy’s face and said, “I know Tobias here thinks it’s because he is black that you refused his help all day long.” Then turning to me, he said, “Isn’t that right, Tobias?”

  I simply shrugged my shoulders.

  Karl then said, “Sammy, we are a crew. What one man does; so do the others. If you don’t stop trying to prove you don’t need anybody’s help out in the yard, you are not going to last very long. We expect you to accept help when it is needed, and we expect you to offer help when you can. Do you understand? I try to be a fair foreman. You might have to pay for the loss of those bricks, but I am the one who will have to answer for that short-load. It didn’t need to happen if you would have been a team player.”

  Sammy hung his head and said, “You are right, Karl. I just hate to admit it when I need help. I’ve never been much of a team player, but I promise I will try.”

  “Okay then,” Karl thundered, “this is what we are going to do. Twelve of us were on the crew today. To show you how a good crew pulls together, we are going to divide the short-load between all twelve of us. That is what a team does. The work is lighter when we work together. The loss is less when we all share it. Do you understand now, Sammy?”

  From that night on, we were a team. We quickly earned the reputation of having the fewest number of errors and losses of any of the freight teams, and this record kept the big bosses off Karl’s back. You cannot argue with success—at least we were counting on that.

  Most of the men settled into having me on the team rather quickly. A monthly bonus in their pay envelopes for being on the top-producing team certainly helped. My being on the team did not necessarily assure this ranking, but because they all knew that Karl would not stand for any race baiting and they did not want to be moved to another team, they tolerated me. We were all treading on new territory here. They did not trust me and I did not trust them, but as the weeks went by, our banter became more lighthearted as we were forced to work together. They learned that I was not stupid, shiftless and lazy, and I learned that not all whites were standing at the ready to beat me down and string me up.

  Karl worked hard at making us a cohesive team. Most teams would do this by going out for a beer at the end of their shift, but there were no places around the loading dock that would allow me to join them. Karl decided to start a team family collection. Every Friday he passed a hat and asked for a donation equal to how much each man would have spent on beer. At first the donations were skimpy, but Karl kept at it. This practice went on for several months before the men realized the benefit of their contributions.

  One Monday morning, Luther McGillus, one of the team’s most respected members, showed up for work completely undone. That Sunday, his little boy, Jackson, had run out into the street to retrieve a toy and had been struck by
a passing car. Thankfully, his only injury was a broken arm, but even that expense was more than Luther could manage, and he said, “Living hand to mouth, payday to payday, I don’t know how I can make up for this. Either the doctor gets paid and my children go without food, or the doctor sends the collectors after me, and we all know what they will do to me.”

  Karl walked over to his locked desk, pulled out the envelope where he kept the donations and handed it to Luther. “We are a family, Luther. Just like at work, what happens to one happens to all, so it is with our families. You take this money and pay Jackson’s doctor bill. None of us are willing to let your children go without food.”

  After that, the hat was never returned empty. When someone was in need, the team stepped up to help.

  For the first few months, I made sure I did not intrude during lunch. Everyone had been stretched enough, and pushing them to sit with me during their lunch break was asking too much. I found if I went to the washroom and took my time, everyone was already seated and halfway through his lunch by the time I came over. I would sit quietly at the far end of the table and focus on eating. I did not try to join in their conversation. As long as I respected their boundaries, we got along fine. Karl was bothered by this ostracism something awful. I asked him not to push the point, but just as in the Army, his sense of justice would not be quieted. I knew he was just trying to change the long-standing rules, but I was the one who would eventually pay the price when someone felt pushed too far.

  This was no exercise in social justice for me. I needed this job. I was on a mission and did not want to make trouble because trouble would mean I could not ask Ruth to marry me. Finally, Karl agreed to stop pushing me into everyone’s face. He understood my concerns and wanted to respect my wishes. I appreciated Karl’s heart, but the issues that threatened me were not going to go away simply by sitting at a lunch table with these men. The color barriers ran very deep and were going to take more than I was honestly willing to sacrifice at that time.