I borrowed an old suitcase from Ginny and packed clothes. The night passed quickly. I spent most of it writing thank you notes to Ginny and Mrs. Gaines.
Before Ginny got up, I went into her bedroom and kissed her. It was the first time I had beat her getting up.
“Be safe, my dear,” she said. “I knew this day would come.” Then she smiled and kissed the baby.
I left the house with the baby on my hip. My pace was brisk, trying to get to my Momma’s house before the train came. The walk to Momma’s was hard. It was cold and windy. It was difficult juggling the baby and the suitcase, so I stopped at the school and left the suitcase behind the big tree, then headed on.
I stayed long enough to feed the baby and get warm, drinking a cup of coffee before I left. I did not want to miss my ride. I promised Momma that I would write and visit her. Her last words before I left were, “Promise me that you will go back to school and graduate.”
On my way to the train station, I saw the sign that said the Greater Providence Baptist Church, and slowed down. I stepped softly over the new graves in the cemetery, making my way to where my father was buried. His name was engraved in large letters above his grave, Robert Parker. I couldn’t leave without telling my papa good-bye. I kneeled down beside his burial place and told him my plans.
My last stop was at the schoolyard. By the time I got there, Hester and Anna were about to go inside. I assured them that I would write and that one day we’d all be able to get together again as friends.
When they went inside, I stood under the big tree, observing the heart that I had carved in the trunk: Carrie loves Simon. Then I stood there with the baby’s head resting on my shoulder. I prayed for guidance in my new adventure in Richmond. I picked up my suitcase and started to leave the schoolyard. I turned and glanced back at the heart carved in the evergreen pine tree. Even the tree knew all my secrets, I thought.
The train stop was only a few feet from the blackberry patch where Momma and I had picked berries. As I passed it, even though they were not in bloom, I yearned for the sweet days of summer.
I made it to the depot at 1:45, just in time for the two o’clock train. I had run most of the way. After the porter took my suitcase and assisted us in finding a seat in the colored section, I smiled down at my beautiful baby.
I never looked back.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ruth P. Watson has written for Upscale, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Lynchburg Area News Journal and The Minority Business Enterprise. She has a master’s degree in business and has worked as an adjunct professor. She is the recipient of a Caversham Writers Fellowship in Kwa Zulu Natal, South Africa, and a finalist in the Writers Digest Mainstream Fiction Contest. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., and attends Cascade United Methodist Church. She lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband and son. You can visit her at www.ruthpwatson.com
READER’S DISCUSSION GUIDE
1. Blackberry Days of Summer is the title of the book. What did the title suggest to you before reading it? It holds a great deal of meaning to Carrie in the book. What did you take away concerning the title after reading the book?
2. Were you surprised to learn about Carrie’s family background? How did it help you understand her story?
3. What effect does family have on the characters in the novel? How did Mae Lou and Pearl share similar dreams? How were their dreams fulfilled? Why is the Southern setting ideal for the formation of dreams?
4. What made Mr. Camm so appealing to the ladies? How did someone with his demeanor have such a mesmerizing attraction for Mae Lou and Pearl?
5. What kind of conflicts do you think Carrie struggled with after finding her extended family? How does that affect her relationship with Mae Lou?
6. There are many strong men in the novel: Robert, Carl, Simon, Willie and John. Each of them longed for a certain type of freedom of identity, so how do they obtain it?
7. World War I is a time of The Great War, so how did the black man fit into this war and how did that experience affect him once he returned to the United States?
8. Pearl is a woman with a lot of experience with men. She has everything: the looks, profession and a man who adores her, yet something is missing. What is she really yearning for?
9. Why is Washington, D.C. so important for the time period? Why are federal jobs so hard to find for the Black Dough Boys?
10. Mrs. Ferguson is a typical Southern belle, however, for a while, she appears to be sympathetic and caring. Why do you think the author included that in the novel? Mrs. Gaines, on the other hand, is in need, and color is not really an issue. Why is she different?
11. Were you surprised when Simon left Carrie? Did you think they would get back together? Were you rooting for Carrie?
12. When Pearl leaves Willie, did you think she would take him back?
13. Why do you think Mae Lou didn’t believe her own daughter? Why did she ask her to leave? Were you surprised by her actions?
14. Why is Ginny such a strong character? What is it about her that is so appealing to Carrie?
15. The church is the gathering place for the country folks, yet when Topsie is assaulted, no one would give her any help. Why do you think everyone was so judgmental? Why would she be considered edgy in the 21st century?
16. When an investigation is sparked by the murder, why is it that no one really cares?
17. Why is Ginny not considered a suspect in the investigation?
18. All of the main characters have histories that haunt them. How does the past become influential in the outcome of their futures?
19. How does Blackberry Days of Summer open the door to a world so mundane, yet so complicated? How do the lives of three women collide into a whirlwind of emotions? How quickly does the love turn into pain?
20. What does Simon represent in the story? How do Mae Lou and Carrie finally come together?
21. Who is the real heroine in the story? Do you feel it is Pearl, Carrie, Mae Lou? Or is it Ginny?
22. Through a keen use of dialogue, the reader is able to get into the characters’ heads. What concerns does the author leave you with at the conclusion of the novel?
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