21 of 46

Write now Article Tools

Page 2 of 3

went to find herself "Find herself"! She exclaimed. "What cha mean find herself, did she get lost."? In that very moment, for the first time in my short life, I had found someone I could tell anything to without fear of reproach or even shame. I felt so lighthearted. We both just start laughing uncontrollably. The burden of the disappearing mother was lifted. We continued to chat mostly about things of no consequence or meaning. She told me about her vegetable garden. I told her about my favorite doll. She didn't ask me about my family again, and I was glad for it. I inquired about her family. "Oh lord child, my kin's been dead and gone nearly seventy years now, I's the last of my kind round these parts." I may have only been seven, but I new what she meant. You see, down here in the south, was good old boys, that's what my Papa always said. The old woman began her story when she was a child like me. "Oh lord child, My Mammy used to tell me stories of long time back. " "Her Mammy, her Mammy's Mammy," and so on. "My mammy used to say, we's lucky to be with these folks. " They let us stay together, and being together with your own was what was important. As she spoke of mother and her siblings, she had a gazed look in her eyes, as if it was just yesterday. I could tell she missed them all painfully, and not just her family but the family in the big house as well. "They was nice folks" she said, "Sure they's holler every now and again, cause they catch us napping,"Ooohowee"! She said giggling. You see, we's had to get up and started befoe those roosters even crowed. Yesiree, child. My mammy she had to get us fed first so we's get started with the chores of the day. And then's she had to get to the big house and get cookin for them, well by then we's all ready for a nap, oohhoo wee shore was. Tired as hell. But we kept going. As I listened to her story, I was confused. My Papa always said niggers were good for nothing, and they should have never been freed." I thought colored people didn't belong to anybody anymore," I said carefully. "Child, you's right about, I was born free, but what's I gonna do with freedom, it sure don't feed me, oh no, I stayed with my Mammy and Pappy and earned my keep in the big house. Long after my folks were gone, I took my Mammy's place and cooked and cleaned worked the farm. Lordy mercy I out lived them all. Ya know child, after talkin to you, I thinks I's free now. I's got me vegetable patch over yonder, I's can fish real good, my

• << previous page
• 1
• 2
• 3
• next page >>

Add your voice

Know something about Reflections: Childhood?
We want to hear your view. Write now!