My favorite story is how Uncle Heb and Aunt Tee got married.
Uncle Heb starts the tale, but Aunt Tee puts in along the way. When Aunt Tee got to Belmont, Uncle Heb was livin’ here over the kitchen where she was put to live. She caught his eye right away, she bein’ so fine-lookin’ and all. “She put me in the mind of you, Spicy, but she was real skinny. Didn’t weigh more than one hundred pounds soakin’ wet. I says to her for fun one day, ‘How can you be a good cook thin as you is?’”
Aunt Tee took one look at Heb, and says to Mas’ Henley, “I aine gon’ live in sin with no man, never-you-mind how old he is.” And she just wouldn’t cook for a day or two.
Uncle Heb picks up the story again. Miz Lilly was put out. In her mind, slaves stayed where they was put, and that was that. Left up to her, Aunt Tee woulda got a good beatin’ for havin’ the nerve to rebel. But Mas’ Henley is particular ’bout who fixes his food. Aunt Tee done been with him for years. When Miz Lilly tried to get one of the women from the Quarters to cook, he wouldn’t ’llow it.
Finally, Mas’ come upon a perfect salvation that was good for everybody — ’specially Uncle Heb. One Sunday mornin’ durin’ the Christmas Big Times, the preacher man come to Belmont. “Mas’ announced that Aunt Tee and me was to jump the broom.”
“Didn’t ask us. Just told us,” said Aunt Tee. “I wouldn’t have chose this old man, myself,” she always say, smilin’. “But over time, I done warmed to the idea of havin’ him ’round though.”
“Come Christmas it will be our sixteenth year together,” Uncle Heb say. At that point, Aunt Tee always pats him on the back of his hand. That’s the way the story always ends, everybody smilin’. Them smilin’ at each other. I love that story and the way they tell it. It makes me feel good all the way through and through.
Friday
The days is gettin’ longer, and that means we have to work longer, too. In the summer, Miz Lilly bath almost every day. This evenin’, Spicy and me carried water up the steps in buckets and poured it in Miz Lilly’s bathin’ tub. Then when she got through, we had to drain the water into buckets and take them down the steps and dump it. Spicy spilled water all up and down the steps comin’ and goin’. I got tickled at her, and she got tickled at herself. ’Fore you know it, we was laughin’ so hard. It felt fine to laugh. And it felt even finer to see Spicy laughin’. I didn’t think she knew how.
Next night
It’s a clear night. Good moon. Good night to write.
The upper room was too stuffy to sleep, so I brought my mat outside. We sometimes do that. Spicy followed me. It was just the two of us girls. We just laid there, lookin’ up at the stars. We had laughed together, so it was easier for us to talk together.
Come to find out, Spicy is motherless, too. And, just as I thought, she been mistreated somethin’ awful — beaten and yelled at by her ol’ mas’. Say he’s meaner than Mas’ Henley. I cain’t demagine.
“If I could, I’d run away from this place so far they’d never fine me,” she blurted out, lookin’ like a cornered cat. “You won’t tell on me, will you?”
“None of us is tattlers,” I told her.
“I aine either,” she said. I believe her.
Fourth Sunday in April
Sunrise will be here soon, but before startin’ the day, I want to write “freedom” again. It is such a strong word to so many people. F-R-E-E-D-O-M. Freedom. No picture comes to my mind. It just aine got the magic. It shows me nothin’.
I’ve looked at the drawin’ of the one-eyed man over and over. His face don’t show me nothin’ neither. One thing for sure — if the one-eyed man is doin’ somethin’ that makes Mas’ Henley mad, then I figure he cain’t be all that bad.
Monday
Miz Lilly favors her daughter Clarissa and I see why. She’s all growed up and married with children of her own near ’bout the same age as William. Aunt Tee say Miz Lilly thought she was through havin’ babies, when along come William. She almost up and died tryin’ to get him borned. If it hadn’t been for Aunt Tee they say Miz Lilly would have done died. The fancy doctors from over in Richmond had done everythin’, but Aunt Tee fixed up a potion and the next mornin’, little William come into this world feet first.
“The tree with all its won-won-won …” William was tryin’ to read a poem and got stuck on a easy word. His face turned all red. “What’s it say, Mama?”
Miz Lilly is short tempered and quick to hit in good times. Today wasn’t one of her better days. She whacked William’s knuckles with a stick. “Wonderful!” she shouted. “Wonderful. That’s a plain English word used by millions of people. Wonderful. Look at it. Say it. Won-der-ful!”
William threw the book over his shoulder and stomped away. Miz Lilly followed close behind, threatenin’ to skin him alive. The lessons ended on that sour note.
I looked in the hedges and found the book William had tossed away. I’ll give it back to the Missus in a bit, but not before I’ve had a chance to finish readin’ the rest of that poem.
Tuesday
Wonder what a new pair of shoes feels like? It’s warm enough to go barefooted now. My feet are glad to be out of William’s old throwed away shoes. The ground feels good comin’ up through my toes all soft and cushy-like. Maybe that’s how new shoes feel.
Wednesday
Mr. Ben Tomson’s Betty came to Belmont to finish fittin’ a dress for the Missus. Betty is a good seamtress. Her mas’er hires her out to make clothes for people far away. Makes weddin’ dresses, fancy party dresses — everythin’. Good as she is, though, Betty cain’t hold a candle to my mama when she was the seamtress. Here at Belmont. Everybody say so.
The ugliest dress in Virginia is bein’ made right here at Belmont for Miz Lilly. It is a shade of light green that looks washed out — no color. I’d rather wear this little plain cotton shirt I got on, with nothin’ underneath it, than all that grand mess she’s havin’ made.
After Betty finished in the Big House, she stopped by to speak to Aunt Tee in the kitchen. I listened, careful not to jump into grown folk’s talk.
Betty say Jasper and Naomi from over at the Teasdale Plantation runned away several weeks ago! The dogs was on they cents, when all of a sudden, they got all befuddled — went to howlin’ and carryin’ on.
“Heared red pepper will do that,” say Aunt Tee.
Then Betty say somethin’ that make me listen real close. “Word tell, it was a white man that helped them get ’way on a railroad what runs under the ground — a one-eyed white man, they says.”
That set me to thinkin’. If the one-eyed man helped Jasper and Naomi run ’way then he must be what they calls a abolistine.
Day later
I cain’t stop thinkin’ ’bout the abolistines. Seems some white folks don’t want slavery. They be the abolistines. I can hardly demagine that — but it makes me happy to know that them kind of people is out there somewhere. The white folks that is mas’ers wants to keep slavery. I know ’bout them. I want to know more ’bout the abolistines. Where do they live? How many is it? Do they all wear patches over their eyes? Are they all men? One thing for sure is that the abolistines is helpin’ slaves to get to freedom, and knowin’ that is good for now.
Friday evenin’, April 29, 1859 (I think)
Spicy and I was dustin’ the large parlor. Spicy broke a vase and Miz Lilly gave her a bad whuppin’ — ten hard swats across the back with a switch — look more like a tree limb to me.
Aunt Tee rubbed her wounds with a paste made from powdered oak leaves and rain water. Takes the sting out and keeps the sores from festerin’. It almost made me sick when I saw Spicy’s back. It wasn’t the new cuts, but the old scars. She done been beat many, many times before — and hard, too. Now, I see why Spicy is so deep down hurt — been beat on so much. I aine never come under the lash like that, and I don’t want to either. Miz Lilly beat Spicy bad just for breakin’ a vase. What would she do to me if she knew I could read and write? The idea makes me tremble.
/> Sunday — after last meal
I almost died of fear when Spicy spilled gravy on a guest’s dress, broke a plate, and chipped a cup while servin’ dinner. I thought Miz Lilly was goin’ to kill her. Miz Lilly promised her guests: “She’s goin’ straight to the tobacco fields tomorrow.” I saw Spicy smile. She wanted to get sent to the fields — to get away from bein’ ’round Mas’ Henley and Miz Lilly. That was a silly way to go ’bout it, and I told her so, later on. Anyway, Spicy’s plan didn’t work. ’Cause just to spite his wife, Mas’ Henley took sides with Spicy. Say all Spicy needs is to be trained.
“Why do you care what happens to me?” Spicy asked me later.
“I saw your back and I wouldn’t want that to happen to you again — not to nobody! And I like you —” Spicy looked real surprised — like nobody had ever said that to her before.
So for now, Spicy stays with us in the kitchen. And I’m glad. I think she might be, too.
First Sunday in May
Cooked and served three meals. Two house guests. Toted waters for baths. Helped with the clean up. I am so tired. No spirit to write. I’ve still got to wash out my dress, so I’ll start the week clean.
Monday night
Aunt Tee sent me down to the Quarters to take a ointment to Aggie. Spicy went ’long. Wook tries to be nice. But for some reason, Missy done took a dislikin’ to Spicy. That Missy is really changin’. I showed her Little Bit, and she laughed at me ’bout still playin’ with dolls. Later, Spicy told me not to worry ’bout what Missy say. “People teases you sometimes ’cause they know it’ll make you mad.”
I asked her why she let Hince’s teasin’ make her so mad then?
“I hate my name,” she say. “Spicy! Whoever heared of such a silly name? My mama was all set to call me Rose. But our ol’ mistress say no, and named me Spicy. Mama had to do it — couldn’t say nothin’ ’bout it.”
The more I learn ’bout Spicy the more I like her, but the more I hurt deep down for her, too.
Day later
Hince hardly ever comes to the kitchen since he and Spicy had that bad fallin’ out. So, I been goin’ to the stables whenever I get a chance. “Is Spicy mean to you?” Hince asked me.
“Not at all.” I told him Spicy is just totin’ a lot of hurt from the way she been treated. He nodded a understandin’. I really do like her a lot. I think she might be my friend. I wrote F-R-I-E-N-D-S. This time I seen Hince, Wook, and now Spicy. Missy aine even now in the picture.
Wednesday
Hince and Mas’ Henley been goin’ to horse races most every week. They rode off last night, on the way to Southampton. Hince is a mighty fine jockey — wins a heap of money for Mas’ Henley.
Wednesday evenin’
I can smell the word K-I-T-C-H-E-N and see it, too. It always smells good — herbs hangin’ from the eaves, dryin’. Hickory chips slow-burnin’ on the back fire. A pot bubblin’ or boilin’. Aunt Tee loves her big, four-hip fireplace where four grown women can stand side by side and cook together. She’s truly the mistress of Belmont’s kitchen.
Miz Lilly was in the kitchen today chatterin’ on ’bout what she wanted fixed for a special dinner. Aunt Tee just say, “Yes, Miz Lilly,” but in the end, Aunt Tee cooked what she always fixes on Wednesday.
I had to tell Spicy how Aunt Tee and Mas’ Henley get along. Mas’ Henley be real particular ’bout what goes in his mouth. He don’t trust nobody but Aunt Tee to fix his food. I once heared him say, he wouldn’t eat behind a cook he had to beat — scared of bein’ poisoned, I s’pose. Aunt Tee know just who she cooks for, and it aine Miz Lilly. “Mas’ ’spects to have fried chicken and whipped potatoes on Wednesdays and that’s what I fixed.” And that’s what we served to the guests tonight.
Next day
Tellin’ Spicy the way things work here at Belmont is fun. Last night I ’splained to her why Mas’ Henley favors Aunt Tee, but all the time ’gainst Uncle Heb. The best way for her to get an understandin’ was to start at the beginnin’ — back when Mas’ Henley first come to Belmont.
Uncle Heb was here at Belmont when Mas’ Henley married Miz Lilly who was a widow-woman with one child. Uncle Heb ran the place, keepin’ the orchards goin’ and all.
Word tell, Uncle Heb was once a tall, handsome man. Even now, all crippled from hard work and age, he still look good. First thing when he got here, Mas’ Henley wanted to sell Uncle Heb. Miz Lilly wouldn’t have it. Uncle Heb had been born here at Belmont. Him and Miz Lilly’s daddy, David Monroe, was boys together. Miz Lilly likes to brag that presidents and governors have ate here at Belmont.
Uncle Heb loves to brag, too. “Been all over this ’Merican land,” he say, callin’ up memories of when he traveled ’round with David Monroe. He say he been everywhere. “Take the time me and the Mas’er went to Richmond … Norfolk … Jamestown … even been to Mount Vernon. Been everywhere, all over this big ’Merican country.” I would give anythin’ to see just one of them places.
Hince is the onlyest one of us who done traveled further than Uncle Heb. I remember once, William told me there were ghosts in the woods and a big snake lived there. It ate up all slaves who dared to leave Belmont. It was Uncle Heb who taught me better. Everybody young and old loves the old man — everybody ’cept’n Mas’ Henley — and that’s ’cause he’s part of Miz Lilly’s family. “Mas’ Henley aine nothin’ but white trash who married into a fine Virginia family,” say Uncle Heb. He’s never had no use for his new master.
Saturday
There was a gatherin’ down in the barn tonight, ’cause Wook jumped the broom with Lee — a man from the Teasdale Plantation — near ’bout twice Wook’s age. Mas’ Henley came down to the party and said a few words ’bout wantin’ them to have lots and lots of babies.
I cain’t believe Wook is married. She’s only a few years older than me — and I aine near ’bout ready to be married. And by the look on Wook’s face she aine ready neither. I didn’t even know she was lookin’ at boys. Now, she’s married — and I didn’t even know it. Why didn’t she tell me?
All of us from the kitchen were there. Spicy came, even though she didn’t want to. Uncle Heb cut roses for each one of us to put in our hair. I took the red one, and Spicy liked the yellow one. She looks happier than when she came here, but her eyes still hold a lot of sorry.
Hince got back. He was there, dancin’ with all the girls. The only man that aine married here at Belmont is Hince. Everybody’s wonderin’ who will Hince jump the broom with? The way Missy been lookin’ at him, I think she’d say yes to him today. But Hince can do better than Missy. I sure hope so.
Hince does know how to have a good time. Ever since I can remember he’s danced with me first. Tonight, he passed right by and asked Spicy to dance first. I was surprised and a bit put-out. I ’spose it was his way of makin’ up to her. I didn’t think Spicy would dance with him — but I was wrong.
When she stood up, everybody started gigglin’. Everybody knows how clumbsy Spicy can be. But she fooled us all, kickin’ up her heels and pattin’ the juba better than anybody ’round here had seen before.
I saw a side of Spicy I didn’t know was there. She was happy, smilin’ big, light-footed, free as a bird. Spicy wasn’t clumbsy at all when she was dancin’. Lookin’ at Hince and her turnin’ together, made me forget that I was mad at Hince for not dancin’ with me first. It was all right.
After that dance, everybody was askin’ Spicy to cut a pigeon wing, or shoo fly. Nobody asked me to dance. Even if they did, Aunt Tee wouldn’t let me, ’cause she say I’m not courtin’ age yet. Just Hince, ’cause he’s like a brother.
It was such a good party — but I don’t think Wook enjoyed one minute of it. She just sat with her arms folded, lookin’ sad. If she didn’t want to get married, why did she?
Sunday
Hince came to worship service for the first time this mornin’. Only ’cause Aunt Tee made him.
He sat between Spicy and me and made faces, tryin’ to make us laugh. Aun
t Tee pinched me on the arm to make me behave. All the time Missy rolled her eyes at us. Then afterwards, we all had to hurry back to get supper on the table. But Missy jumped in front of Spicy. “Jus’ ’cause you up in the Big House with the white folks, don’t mean you gon’ get to marry Hince. He gon’ jump the broom with me, so don’t you be lookin’ at him, you hear?” And she strutted away.
Hince aine thinkin’ ’bout jumpin’ the broom with nobody. Missy just wanted to say somethin’ mean to Spicy. But I cain’t help but think — Spicy and Hince? Now that’s a match I wouldn’t have put together. But the more I think ’bout it, and remember them dancin’ together — the better I like the idea. Spicy and Hince.
Monday
I been learnin’ a lot durin’ study time. I know the seasons, the days of the week, the months and the order they come in. Mostly, we tell time by the sun, the moon, and what’s happenin’ on that day. The rains have set in and it’s hard to tell one day from the next — just grayness. No sun. Everythin’ I touch feels dampish.
Tuesday
Wook waved at me from the fields. I waved back. Aunt Tee say I cain’t keep company with Wook any more, ’cause she’s a married woman. “Girls and women ought not to mingle.”
When I write Wook’s name, I sees her bein’ a growed-up woman with a husband. A part of me wants to be round and full like Wook, or maybe a little bit wild and pretty like Missy, or even tall and strong-lookin’ like Spicy. But I aine none of those things. But if I could be — I’d like to be just a little bit pretty.
A Picture of Freedom Page 3
