Donovan said, “you’re the best.”
Before falling asleep Theenda said, “our country came through for us. The President with his demented temper tantrums could have messed up everything, but he allowed the state to handle it. They did well,” Theenda said before falling asleep.
Donovan pulled the covers over her shoulders, he kissed her forehead.
*******
Donovan rented a room in the church to have a meeting, they all were present except Theenda. His brother John gave the update on the building construction, he said, “it should be ready the end of February.”
The freedmen and women applauded, they piled in the cars and others had to walk the nine blocks to the church, summer was okay, but they did not like the frigid winter. Donovan stood before the group and said, “thank you, John. I will be glad when the building is finished, all we’ll have to do is walk across the lot to the building.”
Many applauded and others said, “that’s right.”
Donovan began the meeting, he said, “now that we are settled, I felt the need to quote the words of a Civil Rights leader, Martin Luther King, I have a dream. He gave this speech in our nation’s capital, Washington D.C. Last year, I had a dream that one day you would be free from beatings, free from being owned by another human, free to live the way you choose, free to use your skills, free to express yourself, free to be you, free to experience your rights to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. Despite all you have gone through, you pressed forward, fought through the brainwashing you received. I appeal to you, believe that you have something to offer this country, yourselves, your families. Don't let nobody interrupt your course of action, your plans, your dreams, say to yourself I have a dream, be a dreamer, be a thinker, but most of all, be a doer.” He paused a moment before continuing, “you are religious people, let nothing or no one prevent the union and communion of your soul with Christ.”
When Donovan finished everyone applauded and cheered. Lee asked, “where you learn to talk like that?”
Glaidous said, “just thank,' a colored man talk like that, glory be.”
Lillie said, “glory ta’ God. That be mighty pretty talking Mr. Bright.”
Cush said, “Mr. Bright, you make me wanna be a Proud Black American when I’s grows up, I’s going to be just like you and my daddy,”
Sophie said, “Massa talks pretty likes dat.”
One of the slave women rolled her eyes at Sophie, then asked Donovan, “how come we's don't know ‘bout freedom? How we be slaves all des' years?”
While Donovan told them the history of Harry V. Brown and his H. B. Metropolis, his parents sat proud of their son, Haze said to himself, “I am honored to be his friend.”
Rita said to one of the women, “When we left the plantation, Lee and I talked about getting married. Now he’s free, he changed his mind, and married someone else.”
The woman asked, “what you goin’ ta’ do?”
“I can't stay here and see them, no more.”
Rita felt the pain of freedom, at first, she did not understand the reason free people got sad. In the end, Rita was feeling the reason.
XLIV
March 2018
Donovan and his brother John traveled to Seattle Washington, they found a construction company that built neighborhoods. They needed two separate areas, one to replace the trailers and one with million-dollar homes away from the freedmen and women. Donovan wanted them to become independent of him.
Paul and Timpkin’s son opened a Medical Clinic in town. They also worked for the hospital that was 1950's drab décor and equipment. The two doctors took over and updated the facility inside and out. The hospital electrical system was so outdated it could not handle a computer system. John was also a computer guru, he lived in Europe for two years, to work with a company that built smart homes. He returned home to New York, he taught history, design, and worked at a Computer Technology Company. John called CTC to lay the wiring for the hospital computer system, they worked closely with the electricians.
Philippa and Phillip moved to Washington; they had grown weary of New York and missed their new friends. Phillip went back to Ohio State University, met a girl and her family, they were good people. Phillip joined Paul and Timpkin’s son at the hospital, the three worked together to bring the hospital to the twenty-first century. Phillips wife was hired as a supervisor of the nurses. She put out a call for more nurses and doctors to move to the state of Washington, and work in the hospital. Phillipa met a man in New York, he moved with her to the state of Washington. He worked with James on bringing the local college curriculum to the twenty-first century. Later he and Phillipa married.
Donovan, his family, Haze, and the Paddleton’s purchased land to build their homes in an affluent community. Donovan’s brother, John Bright, was the designer of the houses. He hired the company in Europe to build smart homes. Haze started a janitorial service and named it Then & Now Janitorial Corporation. Sara hung her law degree up and became the Chief Operating Officer and Business Manager for Haze company. She grew the company in the State of Washington and South Western Canada. Donovan's dad became Vice President of the town college.
Most of the freedmen and women were employed in the factory, others worked for Timpkin or Haze. Timpkin did not want to go back to a 9-5 job, he started a lawn care service, he hired several of the freedmen and women. Timpkin hired a woman from town, Sara taught the woman how to grow the business. Timpkin named his company, Linwood Lawn and Garden Care. Lillie asked Timpkin if she could do gardening for him. Timpkin asked around, much to his surprise, several of the residents were interested. Lillie had lost weight, she wanted to get back outside because she felt healthier than ever before. Timpkin hired six of Lillie’s friends that were in their sixties to work in teams of two in the gardens. The woman he hired grew Timpkin’s company, there were fourteen homes that wanted a garden, and he landed the college and Statehouse lawn and floral contracts.
Sophie did not fare as well, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer, Paul had to put her in the nursing home in town. She had become violent, in the mobile home she broke windows, she scratched Glaidous, she threw pots, lamps, anything she could get her hands on. Glaidous visited her three times a week, Sophie became too violent for the nurses to handle. Sophie had bitten, scratched, kicked the nurses, she threw her bedpan at Dr. Paul Bright. She began to growl her demand to go back to the plantation. Paul sent her to a medical facility in Seattle that could handle her. He thought that Glaidous would be sad and forlorn. Instead, Glaidous beamed with happiness, full of energy, his health got better, Glaidous fell in love with life and his job. He stopped walking around like an old hundred-year-old man, he walked with a bounce in his step. Lillie said to Theenda, “Miss. Enda, I’s thank Glaidous is happier than he’s eva’ been. I’s told him not ta’ marry Sophie, she was never good fo’ him,” Lillie smiled before she continued, “Massa put a boy in a cabin, den’ put a girl in wid him, we be married. My brother didn’t have a chance.”
Every one of the freedmen and women attended Donovan and Theenda's Alternative school, though the adults only for six months. KayKay and her daughter opened a mental consulting area in Paul’s clinic. The government came through with the restitution, Donovan hired an accountant to teach the freedmen and women about spending and investing their money wisely.
On a weekend day, Donovan, Timpkin, Haze were talking inside the steel building. Donovan said, “Haze you seem happy as a single man.”
“Yeah, I've noticed that myself, I often wondered what changed,” Timpkin said.
“Don-man,” Haze began, “Tess is gone forever, I mean forever.”
Timpkin asked, “what’re you talking about.”
“She got in a fight with the wrong person, her boyfriend allowed her to hit him several times with a baseball bat, he ran in the kitchen with her behind him swinging the bat. She hit him in the face, he grabbed her and sliced her throat”
Donovan asked, “how do you kno
w?”
“The hospital called me about my last hospital bill, I sent a check, the envelope had my P.O. Box number. Tess called them looking for me, they gave her my box number.” He stopped and looked at Donovan and Timpkin and said, “can you believe she wanted us to get back together.”
Timpkin asked, “how do you know about the fight?”
Haze said, “her boyfriend wrote me a letter and sent a copy of the newspaper article with his picture. She beat him something terrible.” He handed them the article.
Donovan said, “I can see why he got off.”
Haze said, “yes he did, he sent a note that read, she’ll no longer fight anyone. He sent me the unsigned divorced papers, he wrote, no need for this anymore.
Timpkin chuckled and said, “she was a rough woman,”
Haze agreed, “Yes she was. Helen and I have been talking since we’ve met. I want to marry her.”
“I noticed that,” Timpkin smiled then continued, “she came out the woods looking innocent almost childlike. You gently took her to your bus. I wondered, what's Haze doing?”
“I sat her in the front seat, she's quite a talker. When Tess got on the bus she stopped.”
“Now we both have wonderful women.” Haze said to Donovan.
Donovan and Haze said together, “Happy life, happy wife. Although, Haze, you’re not married yet.”
Timpkin said, “that line does not work with Kay.”
Donovan said, “there's always an exception to the rule.”
Timpkin said, “she wants me to build her a million-dollar home where you’re building yours, if I don’t, she will leave me, she would be intolerable.” He scratched his head then continued, “she’s unbearable now, since we’ve moved here, she’s gotten worst.”
“I paid the five of us one and a half million, and divided Tess money evenly between us, use that money to build,” Donovan paused for a moment before continuing, “well use the little Uncle Sam left you.”
Laughing Haze said, “Yea, man.”
Timpkin said, “I refuse to live with that woman any longer. She gave me an ultimatum, build her a million-dollar home or she will leave me.”
Donovan asked, “what’re you going to do?”
“I packed her bags and put her out.”
The three men laughed, Timpkin continued, “we’re getting a divorce, the children said, it’s about time dad. I said, yes, it is. Since mom and dad died, something changed inside of me, I am tired of her bragging, nagging, gossiping, complaining.” He shuddered like a chill was in the air, and then continued, “she’s using her money to build over there on County Road 299, with those other houses.”
Donovan said, “you had me worried, I thought you was going to say next to our houses.”
Timpkin laughed and said, “I’m using the money you gave me to build in the mountains. I took a ride up there; the land and homes are beautiful.”
While they were talking, Lee, Jethro, Glaidous, and Saul entered the building, Lee asked, “can we join you?”
“Sure,” Donovan said.
Jethro said as he sat down, “I can’t shake this feeling that, there’s no gate.” He looked like he was about to cry.
Donovan and Timpkin got uncomfortable, still, Donovan said, “the gates are gone. You were there to see they are gone.”
Lee said, “no more gates.”
“Yeah,” Jethro said.
“It’s big out here. Inside the gate, we were protected.” Lee said.
Jethro agreed. “Out here we’re wide opened.”
Timpkin asked, “do you think you’ll get used to being in the opening?”
The four men answered in unison, “yes.”
Jethro said, “I’ll die trying.”
Glaidous said, “now that Sophie is gone, I am finally enjoying life. With her, I was still behind the gate.”
Haze said, “then it’s settled, no more worries.”
Glaidous said, “I don’t miss the gates, I like the open.”
Donovan began, “I read about slavery…”
Jethro said, “you read, Mr. Bright, we lived it.”
Glaidous said as he looked at Donovan, “Mr. Bright, I am learnin’ since I be free, a lot of folks hate me cause of my brown skin.”
Lillie said, “then there are others, me and a group of women, of multiple races, were makin’ quilt sets. I pricked my finger with a needle. A white woman said to another, if the nigger could sew, she wouldn’t get nigger blood on everything.” An angry look scrolled across Lillie’s face as she said, “I stood and said really loud, I am a proud black woman that taught you how to sew. If you don’t like me because of my brown skin, go tell our brown skin boss that own this company.” Lillie sat down.
Another white woman said, “you tell her Miss. Lillie.”
Donovan said, “good for you and her, standing up for what’s right.”
Glaidous said, “word got around about the incident, the woman was given a choice, leave on her own or get fired. She left.”
Lee said, “Mr. Bright we learn what to do at your and Miss. Enda school.”
*******
Rita returned to visit everyone; she was driving a canary yellow convertible mustang. She was wearing a long blond wig, she kept flipping it out her face, the way she had seen white women do at her job.
As Rita rolled up in her car, the men were coming out the steel building, Lee saw her first. He admired the car and was shocked when Rita got out the car, in only a few months she had lost weight, she said, “hi Lee.”
The men said, “Hi Rita,” and walked away.
Lee asked Rita, “that your car.”
“Yes. I came to see Helen and Faye. I’m going to take them for a ride.”
Lee said, “have fun.”
Rita said, “had we married, this would be our car.”
Lee said, “hum, that is interesting.”
Lee stood watching Rita strut to Helen’s trailer. He called out asking, “going to see mama?”
Rita replied, “I don’t have time today, I’m too busy.” She swung the hair off her shoulder.
Watching her, Lee said, “I made the right choice.” [RL122]
April 2018
The freedmen and women found a store in the local mall that sold the brightest clothes and shoes they could find. The men discovered that tennis shoes were comfortable, which was fine, though they chose lime green, bright orange or yellow, and the loudest red known to man. The women bought shoes of the same coloreds and hot pink loafers.
One-day Donovan and Theenda took a stroll in the mall, Donovan was pushing his twin boys in a stroller for twins. They named the boys Thaddeus and Moses, James said, “two strong names.”
On their outing, they saw the store where the newly freedmen and women shopped. They paused for a second and quickly hurried on their way. When they returned to the trailer park, they saw Lee, his wife, and Cush exited their trailer. Cush was carrying several popsicles; he ran to share and play with the teens. Lee, his wife, and their baby were out for a walk, Lee looked at Donovan and gave him a huge happy smile. Donovan nod and smiled back. Ben walked past holding his wife's hands, they gave a friendly waved and each said, “hello.”
He watched the young men in their twenties looking at the girls. Donovan wondered if any of the twenty-year-old were the Janitor’s son. He had called the janitor, Donovan purchased tickets for them to fly out. The Janitor said, “my wife is bringing pictures, it may be him, it may not.” He thanked Donovan for trying.
Haze and Helen went to the justice of Peace and got married. Theenda taught Helen secretary skills, office administration, and typewriter skills. Helen could not grasp how to use the computer; however, she was a whiz on the typewriter.
EPILOGUE
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Saul and Jethro had a double wedding, they got married in the black church in town. It was a big production. Their reception was held in the steel building. They wanted the wedding to be held on Easter Sunday, but a
nother wedding was booked in the church. Donovan explained having their wedding on the fifteenth would put them closer to the date they met. Saul said, “that’s right, it be the sixteen-last year.”
Jethro said, “in freedom, Easter Sunday be on the first.”
Donovan wanted to explain the date change but realized he would confuse them even more. The men changed their wedding date to the fifteenth.
One cool day in March, Lillie visited Donovan and Theenda in their trailer. Only Donovan was home, Theenda was out shopping with Sara and Rita for the wedding. Lillie said to Donovan, “Mr. Bright, I want to show the Essence you gave us slaves.”
Confused Donovan asked, “show it where.”
Lillie answered, “at Saul and Jethro wedding, we can celebrate our one-year freedom, because of the Essence Magazine you put in the gate.”
Donovan said, “you want to showcase the magazine. Okay, I’ll make that happen.” He went to an art store and purchased a gold painted easel.
For the reception, Glaidous had drawn on six-feet paper a picture of Donovan, Haze, and Timpkin. His drawings were close to how they looked. Written underneath the drawing read, Easter Sunday 2017 we met Mr. Bright as slaves. Easter Sunday 2018 we are free.
Lillie wanted to write something, she asked Sara to write it for her. On four-feet paper Sara wrote a sign, Lillie chose a thick red marker, it read, All us slaves thank Donovan Bright, Haze Day, Timpkin Linwood, and their wives, for their unwavering courage and tenacity, despite death threats to emancipate us, slaves. From slave to Freedmen and women. Thank you.
Theenda had the men to hang both signs on the wall.
Sitting under and between the signs on an easel, was the Essence Magazine and the freezer bag that Donovan had left between the gates prong. As they were putting the signs on the wall, KayKay asked Theenda, “does it bother you that our names are not on the list. We helped; we were there.”
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