All But One

by Sandra LaVaughn

  Donovan yelled, “will you people be quiet!” he was watching TV, there was a picture of Becky Lou on the screen, Donovan said, “Baby Girl, Becky Lou is dead.”

  They all got quiet, the reporter on television said, “Another body was found at the feet of Harry V. Brown's statue, this time the dead body is an offspring of Harry's, Miss. Becky Lou Brown. She was a troublesome woman; the Brown family will be saddened from this loss.”

  “KayKay said, “she was nothing but a trollop.”

  Donovan looked at KayKay and said, “they are killing people left and right.”

  Tess punched KayKay hard in her arm. KayKay tried to cry but no one was paying her any attention.

  “Wasn't Becky Lou supposed to escape with us?” Timpkin asked.

  “How do you know that Timpkin? you never told me,” KayKay asked her husband.

  “You can't keep your mouth shut long enough,” Timpkin replied sharply.

  “Becky made several mistakes, she did not deserve death,” Theenda said.

  “Mrs. Paddleton told her to be careful,” Donovan replied. He looked at Theenda and ask, “are you going to be okay Saturday with those people. I can cancel this.”

  “No, you won’t. All they want me to do is be a cook and clean the dishes,” Theenda answered.”

  “No wonder they asked for a cook, they knew…” Tess stopped talking, then asked, “didn't Becky Lou cook for them sometimes?”

  Theenda turned to Tess and said, “you know you're right, they began looking for a cook about three days ago. Becky was still alive.”

  “Baby Girl be careful,” Donovan said with great concern.

  Tess looked over at KayKay and asked, “how ‘bout you take Thee's place, she has to carry a heavy sack, stand on her feet for a couple of hours, or you take my place and drive the bus, while I take Thee's placed as a cook.”

  KayKay looked stunned that Tess would make such a suggestion, “you hit me, my arm is sore. Besides, I portray a common domestic? My intellectual persona will beam through, there is no way the Brown's would believe that I'm a maid.”

  “KayKay,” Timpkin yelled disgusted, “they will see a brown skinned old fool, better still, what if they put you out with the slaves.” He folded his arms shook his head and said, “yeah, there’s a good thought.”

  Donovan looked at Timpkin and said, “it's okay man.”

  Theenda said, “I'll be fine, I stand all day teaching and running after my students.”

  Donovan looked around the room and said, “everybody ready?” He looked at Theenda, and said, “Do you have the instructions on how to get to the house.”

  “I put them in my car, so I wouldn't forget.”

  “Good girl,” Donovan said to his wife. To Timpkin he said, “when you get there, cover your car, then wait. Haze and I are going to the junkyard to get the buses, when we join you at the plantation, we'll park next to you.”

  Theenda said, “park the bus, Sweetie, you’re coming up to the house to get the kids and me.”

  KayKay said, “when are we going to get food.”

  Theenda answered, “how would we explain buying enough food for over one hundred people?”

  Tess said, “she only thinks of herself, no one else.”

  Timpkin still mad said, “Amen to that Tess.” Then asked, “why is there a road that lead to the back of the house?”

  Donovan said, “that was the original road before highways were built, Tom and one of his son’s had a street put in the front of the house, the road in the back they stopped using.”

  Ignoring Timpkin and Donovan, KayKay asked, “how's it going on the plantation?”

  Donovan answered, “Mr. Brown allowed Glaidous to hold midnight church services, all the slaves attend, except Bo. Mr. Brown is preaching Sunday morning service, the slaves and us will be gone.

  With a confused look on her face, KayKay asked, “what night are we leaving.”

  “Saturday,” Tess answered still angry, “where were you when he said that a second ago?”

  KayKay sucked her teeth and rolled her eyes at Tess, as she held her arm like it was in a sling and constantly rubbed it.

  “Well I need some rest,” Theenda said as she yawned, she looked at Donovan and said, “Sweetie let's go, I'm sleepy.”

  “Aren't you dropping me off at Mrs. Paddleton.”

  “Yes,” Donovan said to Tess.

  “Wait, my car.”

  Theenda said, “I forgot we have gone around in my car today.”

  Donovan said, “Tess ride with Thee to our place, get your car, I’ll text you the address, click on it and…

  “Yea-yea,” Tess began, “my phone will tell me how to get there.”

  *******

  Lillie went to her brother's shack and banged on the door, and softly yelled, “Glaidous.”

  Sophie came to the door, “Lillie what's wrong.”

  Lillie asked, “is Glaidous in.”

  “I's' fetch ‘em,” Sophie said as she went up the narrow stairs that led to the sleeping loft.

  Glaidous came to the door and asked, “what Lillie?” He stepped outside, even though he was barefoot, so they could talk in private.

  “You see Lee, Ben or Saul? I's' knocked on Ben and Saul's door, I’s git’s no answer. And Jethro ain't home.”

  Glaidous said, “those knuckled head boys be at the church digging. I's fetch’ em.” He started to walk with Lillie.

  Lillie stopped and looked at Glaidous and said, “thanks Glaidous, put some shoes on.”

  It took Glaidous five minutes to get dressed, as he was leaving out the shack Sophia asked, “whar’s you be goin’?”

  “I’s be back when I’s gets’ back.” He left walking in the direction of the church, with only the moon and stars as his guiding light. Glaidous walked inside the church and found all four men sleep on the church pews. Glaidous yelled softly, “you boys better wake up, change clothes, Massa knows these ain't clothes he gib' you.”

  Lee, Ben, Jethro, and Saul woke up from a sleeping stupor, they had worked all day in the field, after they finished in the tobacco field, they went straight to the church and dug to four o'clock Friday morning. Lee woke up yawning, he rubbed his eyes and face, then said, Massa need ta’ leave me alone.”

  “Amen to dat,” Ben agreed.

  Glaidous said, “y’all git' up, go home, and clean up, Massa be lookin' foe’ you in da' field, bout an hour.”

  Jethro said, “Massa be full of da' devil.”

  “Amen to dat,” Ben agreed again.

  Yawning and stretching Lee said, “unk, my first Sunday morning out of here I want to go to a fee’ church.”

  Ben said, “old Massa sang loud “Bringing in da' sheep. Naw' I won't miss dat.”

  The men took their slave clothes out of the bookbag and began to get dressed.

  Saul scratching, and wiping his eyes ask, “why da' sheep gotta' join' da' church?”

  Lee quickly said, “sheep, hum, I's thanks' cause’ white folk take dey' sheep ta' church.”

  Jethro agreed, “now dat' make sense?”

  Saul said, “we can't cause we be slave.”

  Glaidous being the preacher answered, “Jesus be our shepherd, we da' sheep.” Glaidous looked around to make sure that everything was in place, once he was satisfied, he said, “let’s go.” Then asked, “how far did you dig?”

  “All the way up,” said Jethro.

  “Unk we been on freedom ground under the outer gate. We even went up on the top of the ground, it be real big on da' other side of da’ gate.”

  Jethro grabbed Glaidous arm and said with a big smile on his face, “da' air smell clean.”

  Glaidous asked, “did it feel different? did the dirt smell different?”

  “Nothin’ we's smell afo,” Lee explained. He reached in his pocket and said, “we been by a big forest where trees grow bigger dan’ the whipping tree.” He handed Glaidous a big leaf and continued, “look at this.” Glaidous smelt the leaf. He cried, “you’
s been on feedom’ ground. Da’ leaf be biggest my hand.”

  Lee laughed and said, “Jethro took off runnin’ to da’ trees, we follow behind him. We’s picked lots of leaf’s.” Lee said as he handed Glaidous another leaf, “I’s git some foe’ mama.”

  Jethro said, “it feel good, and I’s knows why nobody can see us. Past da’ grass, is lots and lots of trees, all ova.”

  “We's cover da hole back ova',” Saul said.

  Ben said, “I's gonna' likes feedom.” He looked at the guys and said, “it be big, don't it?”

  Lee said, “we’s bout ready ta’ go.”

  Glaidous said, “dat’ be ta’morrow night.”

  As they were leaving, Glaidous went in the backroom and look down in the hole and said, “feedom, glory be.” He put the leaf in his pocket and closed the curtains to conceal the backroom’s secret.

  In Lillie's cabin, she sat down and said, “that med-dee-cin' Mr. Bright wife gib' us is powerful good. My stomach ache be gone, my hands stop hurtin,' my back, and knees stop hurtin.' Lee look at my knees,” she pulled her skirt up to her knees.

  Lee said, “mama, I don’t won’t ta see yo' knees pull yo’ dress down.” He handed her a bouquet of dandelion.

  Lillie asked, “whars’ you git dis? Dey’ be pretty.”

  “I’s been on feedom ground mama.”

  Lillie jumped up and said, “glory be ta’ God, we’s gonna be fee soon.” Glaidous entered the cabin, Lillie said to him, “Lee be on feedom ground.” She showed him her bouquet of dandelions.

  Showing Lillie his leaves, Glaidous said, “I’s know old woman. Dey’ were in da’ church sleep.”

  Lillie said, “iffen da’ ovaseer seed dem.”

  Lee said, “dey may not tell Massa, dey’ wonts’ ta’ leave too.”

  “I believe Lee be right,” Glaidous said.

  Lillie sat down, she folded her hands in her lap and said softly, “den’ we’s cain’t leave.”

  Glaidous asked, “sis, you’s got dat’ whiskey Mr. Bright gib you.”

  Lillie brighten up and said, “sho’nuff’ do.”

  Lee ran up the steps to his room and returned with the Essence Magazine and Cush, he laid the magazine on the table. He got a chair and sat at the table, Lillie, Glaidous, and Cush did the same. Lee said, “a few months ago we sat around dis’ table and said, we’s neva be da’ same.”

  Lillie said, “glory be ta’ God the Highest.”

  “We’s learn der’ be no moe’ slave, we be agin’ da’ law. Ta’morrow, we’s be fee.” Lee said.

  Lillie said, “no moe slave, Glory be ta’ God.”

  Glaidous said, “let us bow down and worship God and tank’ Him fo’ our feedom.”

  The family bowed down on their knees; Lillie prayed a prayer that she didn’t know was within her.

  God can hear the prayers of His people, generations away.

  XXXVII

  The Day Before

  Friday June 16

  The Juneteenth Committee had planned a humongous dynamite celebration. When the Government in Titleburk and MacCall, in addition to Charles Brown, and Mrs. Paddleton heard about the jubilation being held in Ogville, their donation was included with the funds raised by Ogville's citizens and its Government. The committee raised five million six hundred thousand dollars, mostly due to Charles and Mrs. Paddleton donations. No one, in either of the towns had ever raised so much money, Charles was impressed with the committee and wanted to meet Donovan.

  Mrs. Paddleton gave three million dollars, she told Donovan, “use some of the money to make Saturday programs big and eventful, everyone including the officials will be worn out.”

  Donovan said, “Yes ma’am, I will.”

  Charles donated one million, a friend of Donovan’s dad, James, in New York, donated one million, James told the man the money was for a good cause. James donated two hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

  The committee on their own raised three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. Which would have been enough for a one-day celebration without the parade, they would have given Ogville schools a little bit of money. Donovan had the committee to agree to give each town, Ogville, Titleburk, and MacCall a portion of the funds for the renovation of their schools. The committee members thought the young handsome man from up north was a godsend. The Mayor of Ogville said, “what a brilliant idea, all the schools are old and dilapidated in our three towns.”

  The first day of Juneteenth was about to begin, the opening for the celebration was an immense parade. They had Clydesdale horses dressed regally, the horses pranced in unison as they led the parade, from New York Donovan had an African choir to perform in the parade, along with African drummers and dancers, there were floats, bands, singers, there were dancers and their musicians of all nationalities, and cartoon characters. Several schools from around the state, elementary to college, performed or marched in the parade. Committee members were working on different projects, others were assigned to a performer or performing group. Many of the musicians were in the parade waving, the crowd went wild when they saw the stars in person.

  KayKay and her six church friends and the women that attended the first committee meeting was at the opening of Juneteenth. A woman from the first meeting said, “I don’t think we’ll get bigger than this.” She was excited and proud; her son was playing in the college band.

  KayKay rolled her eyes at the woman and walked away, she wanted to talk with Theenda, who was busy setting up the outdoor stage, and everything needed for the different performances. Timpkin was helping Donovan and some of the committee members with the parade. Timpkin said to Donovan, “this is hard work but fun,” he ran off to tell the band from his college alma mater, it was time for them to begin their march. Timpkin was having the time of his life.

  His wife, KayKay on the other hand, was angry and jealous, she heatedly said as she violently walked to her car, “how could those country bumpkin idiots, Thee, and Don do this.” KayKay drove off, she seethed out loud in the car, “next year it’ll be bigger, I’ll plan in secret, I’ll do Juneteenth all by myself. Only losers need a committee.” She smiled pleased with her decision.

  Saturday, June 17, 2017

  Donovan got up early, he was meeting with the committee members to review that day’s itinerary and go over the following year’s Juneteenth program. He said to Theenda, “Baby Girl rest today, we have a long night ahead of us.”

  She sat up and said, “okay. What time are you coming home?”

  “Around one. I am so nervous for you.”

  “I’m going to be okay; I may need help getting the children out. Are you still helping me?”

  Donovan thought for a moment and said, “change of plan, I forgot about the kids.”

  “What do you mean.”

  “You see the slaves are closer to the forest, the children are closer to the house.” Donovan sat for a moment and said, “too many plans gone wrong can create our death.”

  Theenda said, “give me the keys, they are to the divider gate and children gate. When I finish at the house, I’ll go get them.”

  “Hum,” Donovan said, then continued, “I’ll drive the bus up, while you’re in the house I’ll get the kids.”

  Theenda said, “still, put the keys in my purse.”

  Theenda looked at the clock, it read 6:30. She laid back down and said before going to sleep, “God knew this day would come. He needed you, a modern-day Moses to save his people.”

  Donovan stood with a confused look on his face, he went over to thank her for the compliment even though he was not buying he was Moses. He said, “Baby Girl.”

  She was fast asleep. He kissed her on the forehead and left.

  Forty-five minutes later, Theenda was refreshed, rested, and ready to start her day. She was excited about the challenge of unraveling adult minds, from a slave mentality and introduce themselves to who they were and could become. As for the children, she planned to develop a curriculum to replace good with evil, an
d really get them ready for their new life.

  That morning around nine thirty, all kinds of vendors had a booth, there were two or more selling similar products and twelve food trucks. Long lines had formed around the booths and the rides. The vendors sold books, purses, toys, clothing, art, watches, scarves, wigs, cancer awareness had a booth, a medical booth where people could get their blood pressure taken, quilts, architects, real estate agency, and two different banks from other counties had a booth, the vendors came from far and near. The committee had commandeered professional singers from Tennessee, California, and Oklahoma[RL107]. Friday night Faith Hill and Tim McGraw were performing with their backup singers and band, it was standing room only. There were so many people that had attended, if the concert was not outdoors, the fire department would have put the people out. Everybody stood except for seventy VIP seats in the front.

  The spirit of Ogville was over the top, the celebration was the biggest ever. Titleburk was the largest town among the three, their mayor asked Donovan to host the celebration in Titleburk in 2018. Ogville committee insisted to accompany Donovan to Titleburk and be a part of the planning committee. Ogville had over twenty thousand people to show up for the Friday event, the little town was not big enough to host such an event.

  Saturday morning the crowd was growing, Ogville had to hire police officers from other cities. People were showing up to hear, country singer, Blake Shelton, and attend Sunday morning church service, which was going to be held in the park. Thousands wanted to see and hear four famous TV preachers speak, services began at seven o`clock and ended at 12:30. That evening finished the three-day festivity on a high, a gospel concert with three well-known choirs, and five top gospel artist performed.

  In order to make room for the massive crowd, the police had people park their vehicles in Titleburk and MacCall. The Juneteenth committee rented shuttle buses to transport everyone from the two towns to Ogville. The first two days of Juneteenth began as an entertainment for the public, it ended celebrating God.