All But One by Sandra LaVaughn

Author:Sandra LaVaughn [LaVaughn, Sandra]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: LaVauri Publishing House
Published: 2019-04-21T22:00:00+00:00

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On the plantation in the early evening, the sunset turned the sky into multiple shades of pink, purple, orange, and blue. Several slave teens sat under a tree discussing the hopelessness of their future on the plantation. Cush was with the group of teens, he fought against all that was in him to keep his mouth shut about the walk-about. He squirmed around like he had to use the bathroom, one of the teens asked, “whad’ be wrong wid’ ja’ Cush?”

Cush answered, “nothin.”

One of the girls spoke up and said, “yesta'day old Massa say it be time that I's' git married and start havin' babies, cause I's' turn sixteen on ta’morrow.”

Another teen asked, “what yo' mama say?”

She said,” I's' guess Massa right.”

Cush said in anger and deep intensity, “we have da' babies’ den Massa take da' babies, he say slave too dumb ta' raise babies.”

Another slave teen said, “I's' sick and tired of Massa yelling at us every other Sunday.”

One of the slave girls said, “Cush I's' like it when yo' uncle preach.”

All the teens agree with a unanimous, “me too.”

A seventeen-year-old male teen told the group about his beating that he received a few weeks ago. He said, “I's' memba' like it was yesta'day da' overseers beat me likes' dey' won’t’s me dead. Den' dey pored salt on my back where dey' beat me. Ohh dat' hurt powerfully bad.”

One of the female teens said, I's' memba dat,' nobody could help you not even yo' mama, not until the sun had set.”

Cush said, den' we all come out da' house to get you, likes' we did when dey' beat my daddy last week.”

“Dis week my last week livin' wid' mama, cause it be time I's git' married.” The teen that was beaten said.

“Whars’ dey' gonna' put you?” Cush asked.

“Ova on Charles Street.”

The sixteen-year-old girl asked, “who you be' marrin?”

The young male teen said, “I'd don't know, who eva' dey' put in my house, we be married.”

The sixteen-year-old said, “I’s wonder if it be me?” she looked around the group and asked, “anybody else be told dey’ need ta’ have babies?”

Silence swept over the young group. Cush said, “iffen sixteen be da age, I’s got two moe’ years.”

A female said softly, “I’s turned sixteen yesta’day, Massa ain’t said.”

Cush asked, “I's' wonder iffen' it be easier on other pantation?”

One of the other teens replied, “I's' wonder dat' meself, do you eva' wish you could leave here and walk and walk...”

Another teen cut in, and said, “I won't ta' ride a horse likes' da’ overseers.”

Cush looked at the teen and said, “I's' neva' thought ‘bout dat, ride a horse sit up high, I's' wonder iffen' dey' see ova' da' gate.”

At that moment Bo stormed across the field, he looked like an angry rhino charging towards the teens. Undisciplined hostility ignited deep within Bo's soul. He yelled to a degree that was unreasonably loud at the teens, who peacefully sat under a tree on a quiet evening. Bo pulled out his whip and yelled,

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