Several times, as he made his way forward to get his assigned boxcar orders, he had gotten a swift kick in the shins or a punch in the back. One time he even had a knife drawn against him. Brother knew these men were scared and hungry, but the real truth was that they were not used to being ousted by a black man. The hardest Saturdays were the ones when he found himself partnered with someone who did not appreciate working alongside of him. He not only had to work twice as hard, he had to make sure he never allowed himself to get caught toward the back of the boxcar. He had learned that lesson the hard way.
One Saturday he was busy pulling down large wooden crates that had been stacked three high toward the front of the boxcar. He would strap a leather loop around the crate, toss the strap end over the steel harness that lined the ceiling of the boxcar and use all of his own weight to lift the heavy crate while trying to swing it free of the stack so he could guide it down to the floor of the car. That day he was busy bringing down one of these crates when someone climbed into the boxcar right when he had the crate fully suspended. Without warning, the man grabbed a crowbar and hit Brother right across his lower back. Losing his grip, Samuel let go of the leather strap, causing the crate to crash to the ground. By the time the yard boss got to the boxcar, his assailant was long gone, leaving Brother to pay the losses from his day’s wage.
This harassment went on for months, but every Saturday Brother was back at the railroad yards ready to work. Within a few months, his hands became strong and sinewy. His youthful frame had filled out, and his arms showed the result of months of hard labor. The men began to cut a clear path for this strong young man who stayed to himself, did his work and went right home at the end of the day.
Samuel would seldom talk about what went on during the day. He said, “It is hard enough living it; I don’t want to come back here and live it again in the telling.”
But on the days when he got hurt, he would have no choice. Ruby and I would not be set aside. We would badger Samuel until he told us what had really happened. Brother said, “There is nothing I can do about some things. No one cares if a black man is tossed around, but you let that same black man defend himself, and there is sure to be a hanging. It ain’t fair, but that is the price tag for working side by side with these white folks.”
I remember arguing with Brother, “Is there no one you can tell? That boss picks you to work. Doesn’t he care if you get hurt and can’t work?”
Always the most level-headed of the three of us, Brother said, “Pearl, what do you think he can do? You think he is going to side with a black man against his own? He really tries to keep me away from the four worst ones. Most of the white men are only interested in getting a day’s wage for a day’s work. They don’t mind sharing a boxcar with me because I work hard and do more than my share. When Boss puts me with one of them, I know I am going to have a good day. When he has to put me with one of the bad ones, I try to keep a safe distance between us. They don’t feel safe coming directly at me, and I don’t dare fight them. Even if I would win, I would lose. It is hard work for fair pay. I need to be careful and watch those four. What else can I do?”
I remember screaming at Brother, “Samuel, it is not fair!”
I remember Brother’s response to me, as if it was yesterday. “When has life ever been fair, Pearl? I still won’t surrender. These four men are not going to rule over me. Sure, I have to be careful around them. I can’t let them get me so mad that I get myself hung. I am going to get back in that line every morning, do my work, be smart about where I am and where they are, do my job and bring home my wages. I will keep learning how to read and write so someday I can pick my work. That someday is not tomorrow; but someday.”
CHAPTER 19
Ruby Remembers How Love Changed Things
LOOKING OUT THE window of this northbound train, Tobias struggled with the same frustration he had felt the first time he had heard Aunt Pearl’s story, but just as quickly he remembered Auntie Ruby’s warning, “Don’t you hold onto bitterness, Toby! Never let bitterness rob you of your memories. My big brother, Samuel, was so much more than those injustices. He was the best brother Pearl and I could ever have, so today, let’s leave all the injustices aside and focus on some wonderful memories.”
Remembering her warning, Tobias returned to one of his favorite stories—how love came into his family. Ruby was the one who always told this story, because, as she put it, “I was the brave one, Toby. Can you imagine that?”
Tobias smiled as he returned to that memory, “Yes, Ms. Ruby, I can truly imagine just how brave you were.”
But the real truth why Aunt Ruby always wanted to tell me this story was because Aunt Pearl never like my Grandma CeCe and could let her temper get the better of her in the telling of it. Aunt Ruby knew that I would side with my Aunt Pearl; so instead, she would tell it and try to help me understand my Grandma CeCe’s reasons for being who she was.
The year was 1875. The business owners in Darktown began to organize social gatherings. It had been ten full years of freedom, and everyone wanted to celebrate. We had spent the first four years of our freedom living above the livery, and the next six, feeling the pride of renting our own house. We worked hard and lived day to day. None of us ever talked about marriage or moving out. If Brother thought about such things, he never shared it with us. Pearl and I were now twenty-six years old, and although we were happy, I was not content. I wanted to experience love, children, and all the things any young woman desires. We had spent six long years focused on Estée, but as thrilling as it was to see her beginning to blossom, I longed for more.
Samuel and Pearl were in no hurry to marry, but I was. I begged Brother and Sister to come with me to the Greeting Parlor, which had been opened that winter by the black business owners of Darktown. They believed they would have a better stock of employees if they were married and settled. They advertised the Greeting Parlor as a place for black people to meet, chat, get to know each other and hopefully meet someone else with the same intention—marriage. Because Brother and Sister were not interested in going, I went alone to the Greeting Parlor. After several failed suitors, I asked if I could invite Arthur Beachum to Sunday dinner. Pearl liked him right away. Arthur held down a steady job, had big plans for his future, and treated me well—everything Pearl respected.
Seeing me so very happy with Arthur, Pearl began to rethink her position. I no longer went to the Greeting Parlor since me and Arthur were now walking out together. Pearl wished she had not made her decision so hastily. Now, like me, she would have to walk into the Greeting Parlor all alone. She knew the kind of man for whom she was looking—someone just like Samuel who was hard-working, loyal, ambitious, and clean. Pearl went about it much like she saw Mr. Washington go after a new employee. She scared off most of the suitors right away, not realizing how aggressive she was being.
Pearl was like bull in a china shop at the Greeting Parlor. She scared off lots of good men, but then she took Mr. Washington’s advice and did what she thought I had always done best—let the man talk. She decided to give it a try, and men began to respond to her. Of course, she always joked, “I couldn’t act just like Ruby, but I did tone it down, a little. I looked around, found a decent-looking man and went after him.”
Pearl had never been the romantic type, unlike me. As long as the man was well-mannered, hard-working, and was willing to improve himself, that was all she wanted. Joseph Lagolaei possessed all of these attributes; he simply did not realize how determined Pearl could be. For several weeks they sat together talking. She did her best not to pressure Joseph, and her plan was working. He finally asked, “Would you like to go out walking with me?”
Joseph had now declared himself, and Pearl was happy. She invited him to Sunday dinner, and he accepted. She was sure Samuel would like him. One month later, the Darktown owners’ celebration party was on. Both Pearl and I had suitors, but Samuel only planned to tag along.
Joseph and Arthur were getting along well, a
nd we were happy being on their arms. There was ample food, thanks to the generosity of the business owners and the local black churches. Several bands were playing, and people were dancing and having a great time. Everyone enjoyed themselves well into the night, and we came home exhausted, but happy.
The next morning I was the first to broach the subject. “Did you notice the young woman that Brother was sitting with last night? He seemed quite taken by her. I had even noticed that Samuel was actually smiling.” Pearl had not notice her. I guess she was having too much fun with Joseph to pay attention.
I don’t think that was the first time Brother had talked to that girl. He seemed too comfortable with her for last night to be the first time. I thought her name was CeCe, but I didn’t get a chance to speak with her that night because I did not want Brother to feel like I was meddling in his business. Pearl and I realized that Samuel was almost thirty years old and had not even talked about stepping out with anyone. We wondered if Brother was afraid to step out with someone because of us. We knew he felt responsible for taking care of us.
Pearl and I agreed that we needed to put a plan together, but Pearl being Pearl, she wanted to get things done. She wanted to invite CeCe over for lunch, but I put a stop to that idea by warning Pearl, “Samuel would not appreciate our taking over his life. Brother has taken care of us for fifteen years. You have a good job, and I have enough customers now that we could manage on our own. We both have suitors, and I don’t want Brother to feel like he cannot move out on his own because of us.”
“But, Ruby,” Pearl protested, “If one of us gets married, what will the other one do? I’m not so certain that Joseph is going to ask me to marry him any time soon. You and I have only been walking out with Arthur and Joseph for a few weeks. It’s too soon to be thinking of marriage.”
I smiled and announced, “Well, Arthur and I have been talking about marriage.”
Shocked, Pearl gasped, “Ruby, you need to go slowly! You don’t know Arthur that well yet.”
I knew Pearl was right, but I was twenty-five, and I wanted to start a family. I did not argue with Pearl, I simply remained quiet—but still quite determined. Seeing my dejected look made Pearl realize she had again stomped on my dreams. “Ruby, I don’t want you to turn down the chance of marriage because you feel you must stay here to help me out. I want you to be able to dream of a future with Arthur. I want to be able to make plans with Joseph without having to worry about you or Brother. Saying that, I’m sure Brother will have thought of this too.”
We agreed that if we ever want to give Brother his freedom, first we each needed to have our life safely planned out. Since we both had a beau, we could get married so Brother would feel free to do the same. It was the only way we could convince him that it was all right for him to move forward with his life.
We didn’t know that Brother was even thinking in terms of marriage. We didn’t know anything about this CeCe. We were running way ahead of ourselves. What we did know was that we would have to do something in order to give Brother permission; he will never do it on his own, and keeping him here would be so selfish of us. Pearl offered to ask Mr. Washington if he knew anything about this CeCe. He was meeting and greeting everyone at the celebration. She thought if we could find out where she lives, we could call on her.
“Pearl,” I cautioned, “I don’t think we should do that. What if Brother does not like her well enough and gets angry at us for meddling? Maybe we simply need to talk to Brother. We need to be honest with him and tell him what we have talked about. If he feels like he is standing in our way because we are worried about him, maybe he will see things differently, and I should be the one to open the conversation. Pearl, you tend to be too abrupt, whereas I can usually slide into a topic with Brother without making him want to run.”
After an hour of Brother’s denying any interest in CeCe, he finally realized we were not convinced by his arguments, confessed that he did like CeCe. He thought she was a nice person, but she has lived a very hard life. He assured us that he was not ready to think of marriage, but he would like to get to know her better. I suggested, “Why don’t you invite her over for a Sunday dinner? That way Pearl and I could get to know her and you could spend more time with her.”
Just to clarify what he was agreeing to, I asked, “Samuel, do you want CeCe here alone, or can Arthur and Joseph come to dinner also?”
Brother smiled. “Let’s invite all three of them.” The plan was set and Brother wasted no time inviting CeCe to Sunday dinner. They both knew this invitation represented more than just a Sunday dinner. Samuel was asking to walk out with her and was bringing her home to meet the family.
Sunday Dinner with CeCe
Arthur and Joseph had been to dinner several times already, and the conversations were always pleasant. Joseph was easy and quiet, willing to listen to others, whereas Arthur was filled with plans for his future. But the first dinner with CeCe was quite different. CeCe had no problem giving her opinions or telling her story. Poor Joseph, who, in trying to be friendly, asked an innocent enough question, “CeCe, what is your name?”
CeCe glared at him as she replied, “It is CeCe.”
Joseph had no way of knowing his was stepping into a firestorm when he clarified, “I know that, but what is your last name?”
Samuel tried to change the subject, but CeCe would not be redirected. “Joseph, I will never use, or even say, that name ever again. My momma named me CeCe, but the Master gave my momma her last name, and I do not want anything to do with him ever again. I don’t need a last name to get by. I would think the rest of you would think twice before using those names that were put on you by whites.”
Samuel again stepped in and tried to soften the moment. “CeCe, I get what you are saying, but for some of us, there is another side. Take the Sisters and me, for example. Yes, our daddy was given the name Bascom by the first owner who bought him at auction, but we loved our daddy. He was good and kind to us. If I did as you say, I feel I would be throwing away my daddy—not the Master who named him. I am proud to have my daddy’s name.”
CeCe softened—but only a little. “Samuel, not all of us were lucky enough to know our daddy, so that is not my problem. I’ve been on my own since I was eight years old. My mother was sold away, and I was put to work as the nanny for her Master, just outside of Decatur, Georgia. I was thirteen when the Civil War ended, and I was turned out on the street without money, family, education or help.”
Over several Sunday dinners, we learned that CeCe did not talk about her first three years of freedom. I suspected CeCe had been forced into something she was not proud of. Eventually, she found work cleaning floors at a big hospital in Montgomery. It was obvious to both of us that CeCe was a survivor. We could also tell that CeCe had strong opinions and was not afraid to voice them. Although both of us appreciated what CeCe had endured, we worried about Samuel. CeCe had a strong personality; yet she was also a broken, lost, little girl. Pearl was convinced that Samuel was drawn to this brokenness of CeCe. He ignored how she would hatefully argue with all of us when she was challenged about her opinions. Pearl felt like she would go crazy when she would try to tell CeCe that things were not always the way she looked at them. CeCe would simply shake her head and say, “You can think that if you want to Pearl, but I never will.”
Every Sunday afternoon for the next year, nothing changed. CeCe was nothing, if not consistent. She had no interest in learning anything new. She had no interest in rethinking her opinions. She had no interest in changing anything.
Many a Sunday, Pearl and Joseph left the house so she would not say what she was thinking. Neither of us wanted to put Brother Samuel in the middle. He had always sacrificed for us, and we wanted him to have a chance at love; we just did not think CeCe was the right one. The truth was, Brother Samuel was well aware of how stubborn CeCe was, but it was clear to us that he had no intention of walking away from her. Brother Samuel was free to choose the woman he loves. We had done our
best to help him see what we saw, but once he made up his mind, we had to accept CeCe as one of our own—for our brother’s sake.
CHAPTER 20
Joseph Tells His Story
BEFORE ANY OF the three couples dared speak of marriage, they spent many a Sunday dinner sharing their stories together. Estée especially loved hearing everyone’s story. As they learned what each other had survived, their deep friendships became unbreakable bonds. One Sunday even shy little Estée shared her painful story. When she finished, she added, “It feels good to tell my story to people who have shared their painful stories. I don’t feel like you are judging me because you understand my pain.”
Joseph, on the other hand, seldom volunteered information about his past, but Samuel could see his sister Pearl was growing rather attached to him, which concerned him. As a young boy, I loved hearing Joseph’s story, which was one of my most requested stories. I heard it so often, I felt as if I was sitting at that dinner table listening to Joseph himself tell his story to me.
During one Sunday dinner, the question was finally posed: “So, Joseph, why don’t you tell us your story?”
Unaccustomed to being the center of attention, Joseph was noticeably uncomfortable. Pearl spoke up, “I don’t think it is fair to put him on the spot like this. Joseph, is there anything in your past that Samuel should be concerned about?”
Joseph quickly responded, “No. I’m not hiding anything. I just have a hard time talking about such difficult matters. My emotions might get the better of me, and I don’t want to break down in front of all of you.”
Treasure in a Tin Box (Wall of Silence Book 1) Page 16
