The Promise Between Us by Naomi Finley

Author:Naomi Finley [Finley, Naomi]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Novella Three
Publisher: Huntson Press
Published: 2019-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

MASA CHARLES LAY PASSED OUT for the good part of a week, only leaving his room to return moments later with another bottle of whiskey. Each day I set a tray of food outside his door, and each day it remained untouched.

I worried what friends and neighbors were going to say of the masa if he didn’t find it within himself to exist in a life he no longer desired to be part of. I’d listened in on social gatherings hosted by the masa and missus, and though the folks of Charleston prided themselves on being God-fearing folk, their abundant churches and talk of faith couldn’t blot out their loathing and common belief that my kind were like animals without souls. No matter what the Good Book states, they twisted its words for their own personal gain. The masa was right; their tongues would wag, and if they found out about the missus’s doings, Livingston and the family would suffer.

As days melded together, my growing concern reflected on Thaddeus’s face and scattered throughout the plantation. Some of the slaves ran off, and the white workers of the estate went out looking for them. They returned some time later with a few of the runaways, but while they were out hunting others took their leave and ran off. The runaways caught were punished as Masa Shaw had done while he’d been alive: a brand of a cross was burned into the middle of their forehead, warning others they were runaways. Second offenders had their ears cropped. One man whom slaves had named Dimwit Johnny had been fool enough to try a third time, and with Masa Charles indisposed, Winston and Davis severed his hamstring. Dimwit Johnny wouldn’t run anymore, and if he were dumb enough to try, he’d not make it far before the hounds would chase him down.

They’d strapped a man to the whipping post, and each crack of the whip drew forth agonizing cries. I sat in the library with Mary Grace and Miss Willow on my lap, their faces buried in my bosom, tears dampening my blouse. Anger surged in me. It was time for the masa to drag himself out of that bed and get control of his place.

Miss Willow’s hands muffed her ears, and her sobs grew louder. “Stop. Stop. Stop.”

The house folks jumped at the sound of each lash, and worried eyes turned to the windows overlooking the work yard. Some huddled in corners, whispering, looking at the little miss like she was the cause of all that was happening.

Something snapped in me, and I rose to my feet and sat the girls on the settee. “Thaddeus,” I called out.

“Yes, Miss Rita.”

“Stay wid de girls. I’m gwine to git de masa.” I strode by him, but he seized my arm and hauled me back.

“I wouldn’t do that if I were you.”

“He can’t stay in dat bed. He’s got to git up and run dis place or et will be de end of us all.” I jerked my arm free and hurried from the room before I lost my courage.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.