Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw

by Mercedes Keyes

  “Come on girls, come with me, leave your mama. Come on…” she coerced not taking no for an answer.

  That worried Virginia. While she had the paper in hand, she felt apprehensive - deep in the pit of her stomach - she knew that she was not going to like what might be printed in that paper. Bonita had left the room with the kids.

  “Why you bring me this paper Clay?”

  “Read it.” He coaxed gently, “You need to read it.”

  Her hand shook. She took several deep breaths and went from looking at Clay, to rolling her eyes down to look at the paper, turning it around from being upside down to see the headline.

  Local Business Owner - George Marshall McPherson

  SHOT and KILLED!

  Virginia went weak and laid back in the chair, her head rolling from side to side in disbelief. Her arm, hand that held the paper flopped down by her side. With her eyes closed, she fought back the need to scream. Instead, she sat with her head rolling from side to side on the high back of the kitchen chair. It hurt so bad, she folded forward over her lap, head hanging, shaking so she couldn’t get herself to believe that headline. She rocked a bit and tried to sit back up, but ended up flopping back once more, head back on the chair.

  Clay reached for the paper, swallowing the lump in his throat, he went on to read what the story stated.

  That he’d been found by hunters Saturday evening in a secluded woods outside of Greenville, SC. No one knows why the business owner might have been in the woods. It appears he had been there for more than a day - dead - as it is believed he had been robbed and killed the Friday before. The business owner appeared to have been in a struggle where he was shot four times in the chest and then picked clean of jewelry and money. As Virginia sat listening, her mind buzzed with what had befallen him. Then suddenly, she sat up, her head no longer back as her mind played the request made of the couple who came to fetch her each Friday.

  The black woman and man, Pat and Leroy - had teased her about what it must be like to have GM fetching her each weekend. “Yes indeed,” Pat had muttered calculating, “He open up that ol’fat wallet, stuffed full and pass us limp lettuce - while expectin’ us to run fetch fo’im. Emmm hm, how much he give you?”

  Virginia had turned to look at the woman only briefly before turning away, shaking her head, ignoring her. She’d honestly never given them a thought. They were black, powerless and nobody against GM. He ruled a literal army of his own. Therefore, hearing them - fearing for him, was the last thing on her mind. Yet, now - Pat’s words sang true and strong in her head, “He sit in them woods all by hisself like he a king o’somebody, tossing us scraps… em hm,” she’d muttered resentfully. Virginia knew! They’d done this to GM. They’d gone to him instead of coming to get her. They took him unaware. They knew he carried a lot of money in his wallet. He wore a gold ring on each hand in addition to the wedding band on the left. The gold watch and chain that hung in his pocket. Yes, they took advantage of the fact that he was alone. They confronted him no doubt, maybe even held a gun on him and when he fought them, they shot him, killed him, robbed him and left him there to die.

  Virginia felt sick to her stomach. She could no longer hear what Clay was reading. Regret shot through her. She should have told GM they were no good. However, she never thought they would do such a thing. But greed - made a person bold. She didn’t doubt for a moment that it was Pat, the woman behind it. Leroy had never spoken a word about it, she probably had to talk him into it - he appeared to be the weak grovelling type, as if he might be too frightened to ever do such a thing.

  When Virginia looked up, Clay was done reading and watching her.

  She couldn’t speak, her throat was tight, closed to any words. She stood and slowly walked from the room.

  “Virg?” Clay called her name softly.

  She walked to where her expensive cape coat hung and slipped it on and went for a walk - alone. Her mind and the images playing there, rushed about in a whirlwind - and every one of the images had GM in them. What she saw, went as far back as when she first lay eyes on him. He was probably the most beautiful man she’d ever seen. Most certainly matching close to the description of the stunning and sinful son of God, the devil himself. It was easy to see why he - the devil got so stuck on himself. It was easy to see why fleshly men, as good looking, also ended up so stuck on themselves - wanting the best of everything - expecting the best. And doing everything within their power to get it. Not a humble bone in their bodies. Such pride and arrogance was ugly - a contradiction to be coming out of someone so aesthetically perfect. She’d known he was wicked - long before he’d shown himself to be. Long before he confirmed what she feared. That she - a lover of God - was attracted to him. Just as they do - the wicked ones, he did that and more to her - brought her down. Made her as sinful as they come. Made her like it. She’d given up the chance to be better, to fight for a good cause. She’d given up Jacob. He would have married her. Made her respectable - even if it was against the law of man, it hadn’t been against God’s law. All she’d had to do was tell him that she was divorced and that she didn’t want to be with his father, who was forcing her…

  She laughed out loud - and then heard birds fly. The sound made her stop and look around. She was in the woods. Suddenly, she knew where she was going - and it wasn’t long before she found herself there. In the woods where he always parked and waited for her. Afraid to take another step, she stood with her gloved hand against a tall popular tree.

  As if she’d stood as witness to it all, she saw them - Pat and Leroy - there, holding him up, demanding his money. She knew GM - yes, he would have fought such an indignity. Only thing left to wonder was who pulled the trigger? Which one had killed him?

  Suddenly her other hand went to her mouth and bursting forth from her with such power, a blood curdling scream that sent more birds - crows swiftly flying as she dropped to her knees wailing in such bitter anguish she felt faint. She never got to tell him that she in truth, loved him. She never got to tell him that it was in his arms, and his alone that she felt alive - electrified - and on such a high she feared she might never come down. Now all she had left of him was the child she carried, the home he supplied the materials to have built for her and the clothing on her back.

  It was a while before she returned to Bonita’s. Walking up her steps, slow and despondent she entered her house to see that Jacob Edward was awake and looking for her. She took him into her arms and hugged him close. Even he, was a part of GM. Yes, GM’s first grandson - and he had come from her, just as the child she carried would. That evening after putting the kids to bed, she asked Clay, “Will you take me somewhere first thing in the morning, real early?”

  “Of course - where you wanna go?”

  Before dawn and with her directions, they pulled up to the grand cabin that no one else knew about besides her and GM, and now Clay. He was blown away, as the look on his face showed. They stepped up the wide stairs - she went to where the key was hidden. GM had placed it out for her just in case she ever wanted to go there on her own. Entering, she stood in the center and couldn’t move for a few moments. Clay had no such problem.

  Despite her fight to resist him, there had been a few times when he’d gotten her to laugh out loud. Where he’d gotten her to play and love him in return, even though she never gave him the words he so longed to hear. As she stood there reminiscing, reflecting back - he had to have known that there was something within her heart for him, surely he knew.

  She needed to believe that.

  She covered her face once more fighting back tears.

  Taking a moment to snap out of it, she turned looking around and then found Clay at the top of the stairs looking down at her, “There are things I wish to collect from here and when my home is completed - I will be taking a lot of this furniture to fill it.”

  Clay nodded his head and then had to ask, “This… your house?”

  She was heading for the stairs, slowly climbing them, “I
f I wanted it to be, it could be mine.” She returned simply.

  He believed her.

  For the time being, she went up to the room that was hers and began collecting all of the clothing he’d bought her. All the oils and perfumes - everything. Clay helped her pack it all up. Because he had an old milk carton truck, he could load up almost anything she wanted. That day, she wanted her vanity and stool, the standing mirror and various trinkets he bought her as gifts.

  When they’d loaded that up, “You sure that’s all?” He asked.

  “For now. My home is almost done, I’ll get the rest then.”

  Sure enough, when the bathroom was complete all but the fixtures, she went and had the men remove the bath, sink and toilet - which were installed into her bathroom. For the kitchen, she took the stove and the icebox. After painting and wallpapering, she brought in the bedroom set for her room and all the furniture that would fit into her new home. Once she was sure that she had all that she wanted - she set to cleaning until it was immaculate. She locked up the cabin and knew that she would turn it over to Jacob. She thought at some point he would return to see her - but was perhaps in mourning still for his father’s death.

  As for the little community, most in Greenville accepted their success and began working with and trading with them. The death of the hooded men, seemed to set a lasting fear in them that was almost superstitious. Thanks to Rev. McPherson and Rev. Purde, they’d put the fear of God in them using the past incident as proof that it wasn’t the route to take being violent and covetous about them. Trying to stay busy, Virginia dove back into what she did before GM. Clay and Bonita were married in a smaller ceremony, and unfortunately, Bonita didn’t get the incredible gown she’d wanted, but she was on top of the world with Clay and all was fine in her world.

  Close to giving birth, Jacob showed up on the scene once more. He’d found out through the grapevine that she was with child and that was the real reason he hadn’t been able to come around, despite her trying to get him to let go. Once more, he showed up there when it was time to give birth again - this time to his little brother. It was Jacob that named him Paul Bartholomew. Both biblical names - Paul for his strength, integrity and loyalty to God once converted and Bartholomew in hopes that his life would be a long and happy one. That night, she gave him the key to the cabin and the directions on how to find it. He returned after viewing it, and agreed to put it up for sale. The money would be for Bart. Which the family ended up calling him - Jacob was determined to save for him as he would for his son. Unfortunately, Virginia had to have the talk with him again. He began showing up because of the boys, wanting to be a part of their lives. She wouldn’t allow it - she wanted him to get on with his own life. At no time - did either of them bring up his father. No matter what he said, Virginia was firm and Jacob reluctantly faded away once more.

  Peace seemed to reign for a while.

  As time passed, and it was clear that Virginia was without a man, more than a few tried to step up to court her. She left no doubt that she was not interested. Her children were growing up - happy - well cared for - with a nice home, nice things - showing to be better off than most. Need for a man, she was not feeling. What was certain, she and her kids were well liked by all. Bart came to be known as the small town’s little rascal - smart, precocious and into too much and all over the place. He was the one who began calling his older sister, Jojo. The nickname stuck and she was known and called that by all and oh did she have a job on her hands keeping up with him. He was nothing like his older brother, Jacob Edward - who stayed around the house helping his mother or Clay. It was already noted that Jacob Edward was the dependable responsible one of the two. As for his looks, he was clearly mixed - easy to see that he was of black and white parentage. Bart on the other hand was a blond haired, blue eyed white boy to any who saw him and didn’t know his mother. He was happy and carefree with not a care in the world. Not often, but there were times when it seemed he was Virginia’s favorite. She doted on him only because he was her last, the baby and he was GM’s - not to mention the spitting image of him. She couldn’t help extra loving him, doing so seemed to help her cope with not ever telling his father that she loved him - so she poured it all on Bart. However, she wasn’t alone. Jojo, Tara and even Jacob Edward doted on him as well. Even so there were times that he drove Tara up the wall - but she was quick to forget and forgive. Jacob Edward on the other hand, when he was rubbed wrong, wasn’t so quick to give into his little brother. Yet and still, his siblings, the town folks all loved him for the laughter and smiles he brought. He was a cheerful personality, full of adventure and taking off on his own, causing Jojo to tear into him.

  When he was found - bitten by the snake he’d killed laying not far from his hand - and rushed in his mother’s arms to the hospital, he could not be saved.

  It was the lowest time of all.

  As for Virginia, she would never be the same again. It would seem with the death of her baby, she’s lost part of her soul.

  She didn’t want to sew.

  Do hair.

  Speak at the town meetings.

  Cook or clean.

  Most of the time she sat in the high back winged chair she’d brought to her home from the cabin and stared into space - as if willing to be dead herself.

  Hearing about it, ripped into Rev. Jacob Paul McPherson as well - but he stayed away. Rev. Purde had passed away some years back. And at the age of 31, Rev. McPherson finally took a wife. People thought he would never marry. A year on, his wife gave birth to a son, he was named - Bartholomew. The white folks in his flock nor his wife, had a clue as to how heart-breaking it had been for him to lose Ginny, then his father and next the little boy that was his younger brother. There had been times when he’d encountered him in town because the boy could not be held back. Seeing him from a far, had brought him smiles, laughter and longing to be a part of his life, his brother’s life - and Jacob’s own son. To hear of his death, gripped him so that he gave his legal full white son, his name - hoping that he would be like Bartholomew, his younger brother.

  It was during those times that Jojo had no choice but to take over her mama’s home. She did everything. They’d given up trying to draw Virginia out. Time went by, Jojo got married and the very next day, her sister Tara - was the next of Virginia’s to lose her life. Found dead in the woods not far from home, it was clear that she’d been attacked. Raped and strangled. Virginia now withdrew into a shell of silence that was heartbreaking. It was so bad, she stopped bathing, stopped seeing to her personal hygiene. This put more on Jojo, so much so that she couldn’t leave her mother’s home to be with her own husband. This caused problems for her - but she would not abandon her mother and convinced her husband to move into her mother’s home. It was shortly thereafter that Jojo’s younger brother, Jacob came home holding his girlfriend’s hand. A girlfriend no one knew that he had. None should have been surprised, after all, he’d grown into a stunning young man. Tall like his father, handsome as could be - and sitting Jojo down - informed her that he was to be a father at 16. He was in love - and Dora Mae, 15 - a little bitty thing, barely five foot - gave birth to his son… Edwin Piercey. Who was 3 years younger than his white half uncle, Bartholomew Jacob McPherson.

  Bartholomew Jacob - never knew that across town he had a half older teenage brother, nor did he know he became an uncle to Edwin Piercey - McPherson.

  He never knew.

  Never knew that his rival for Gertrude’s hand was that nephew whom he was just a few years older than. That night - when he went to scare him away and others had gotten a hold of him instead, he hadn’t a clue that he was running and leaving his father’s grandson to a horrible death.

  Gert never knew that the two men she lay with were blood related and the product of one man - Rev. Jacob Paul McPherson. That birthmark that settled things, settled nothing. Because Edwin’s father - Jacob Edward - had the very same birthmark in the same place.

  Back to the future…
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  Mama Jojo was out cold and snoring.

  Gert stood in the family room - gazing out of her son’s double glass sliding doors. It was early - the sun was surfacing, the very tip top was just breaking the dawn’s fading blue - causing a splash of orange to spread a midst the sky. She hadn’t had much sleep, nothing more than to doze off - and to be awakened by a dream, or a flash back of her eldest son’s cry at birth. Back then, she’d been fearful as well anxious to see him. Would his hair be dark and curly, or show to be fair wisps of blond? Sweating, trembling, her teeth chattering, she’d stretched up from her bed to see him around the nurse that held him.

  “I wanna see - can I see’im?” She’d called out.

  “One moment young lady - let me get him cleaned up - he’s a handsome - strong one.” The nurse had stated.

  She’d had Shawn at home, in her father’s house. Wealthy as they were, he could afford to have the doctor and the nurse present. Ruthie was beside Gert, trying to push her to her back. “You jus’ be patient, you’ah get’im soon enough.” She remembered Ruthie saying. All she wanted right then and there was to see who he might look like. When he was placed in her arms, he’d had jet black straight hair, fair as could be, and later to see, hazel blue eyes. There’d been no sure way of knowing back then.

  Now, forty some odd years later - it was still a mystery - who - which man, had fathered her son. The past of Jacob Paul McPherson - blew her away. GM, his father blew her away. Bart had told her a long time ago that his grandfather had died long before he was born. All that his own father had told him was that he wasn’t a very good man. That had been all that he knew. Mama Jojo had learned so much from growing up in the midst of it, and from all the talk about it from those who lived watching it all unfold. The older folks had gone on and on about the hold that stunningly beautiful Virginia Piercey had on men.