Flight of Fancy: Cora's Daughters (32 page)

“How you say that t’me, when she jump on me – scar me? You jus’ bitta’ ‘cause I’m so pretty. No man want you, 'cause you jus’ some’ole maid!”

Even though talk about Boaz made that not to be so, Emma Byrd was not impressed, it was all just wishful thinking as far as she was concerned.

For Asiza, hearing her words against Della ignited a sensation to pop her again. Not since her mother had she looked up to and respected a woman so much as she did Della. Before Emma even took that gown, she felt the need to wallop her once more. Della could see it. She held her hand out to block Asiza from moving forward.

“Emma Byrd, that just may be. Regardless, as I said, when he - your man returns – you should depart with him.” 

“I can’t wait to!” Emma blasted, sensing the change in Asiza. She stomped towards the door, angry that Della ruined her chances of getting two gowns. Holding onto the one she was given, she stopped to look back at Asiza. “Bring the res’ t’my room please.” And she was off. Della turned back to Asiza, shaking her head, “I feel awful Asiza, Mrs. Wolf - that you gave her your gown – she does not deserve it.”

“Ms. Della, like I say to Millie, i’s just thangs. ‘Sides, what else ugly people got – but thangs to make them feel better ‘bout they self.” She murmured, collecting the other things that went with the gown, “You right Ms. Della – havin’ me say, sorry. An givin’ ha’ what she want, I feel good again.”

“Don’matta she ungrateful – don’matta at all. All that matta’ is how the Lawd see me.” Imagining the Lord smiling down at her in pleasure, brought a smile to Asiza’s face, for the time being, that’s all she wanted.

Della smiled, shaking her head once more, she left Asiza’s room.

Chapter Twenty-One

After delivering the rest of the things to Emma, Asiza focused on her new found joy of learning. All the things she discovered was like someone turning a light on she never knew was off. Reading, writing, numbers – all of it fascinated her. She couldn’t help but wonder if her sisters were finding out about this part of life that could be. Did Suga know these things? Was she too getting an education? Asiza hoped so, she couldn’t imagine anything more wonderful than growing the way she had since Broc brought her to Ms. Della’s boarding house. If she wasn’t reading along with her friends from Clover Grove – she and Asa sat in their room, taking turns reading to each other.

She found it a bit embarrassing that he helped her figure out more than she could help him. For that reason, she was motivated to try harder and learn quickly to catch up and pass him by.  

She wasn't the only one wanting them to get caught up, Ms. Josey gathered her, and those like her who hadn't been there that long, to coach them on their speech. She brought them together during the evenings – after class, had them line up – posture erect repeating after her. She paced back and forth before them, giving them proper terms to recite. From the simplest greetings,
“Good morning, and how are you this fine day?”
to the acknowledged return,
“Very well thank you, it is beautiful isn't it?”
And all the variations that could be, depending on the time of day and weather. There were moments of giggling and fun – when they were to turn and have proper conversations of normal everyday things using correct terms and verbiage. They learned the proper terms for the words - ain't – can't - I's – sa' they often used, among others and were not permitted to use them anymore. After five days of the instruction which continued, no one in the house or classes were allowed to respond to them unless they spoke correctly.

Most all within the boarding house, eagerly assisted, whispering to the one speaking how better to say it so they didn't have to ignore them. Everyone ignored Emma Byrd – because Emma Byrd felt no need to play the - as she put it, “silly game”. Standing with the others, she kept a closed mouth, and declined repeating the words as they were being instructed.

Twice Emma tried to back out of her schooling. Della wasn't having it, and informed her she was not allowed to live in the boardinghouse, if she would not attend classes, and make an effort to better herself. That, was part of the agreement for staying there, along with the chores all were required to do... something else Emma Byrd was neglecting.

Idleness was not allowed.

Nonetheless, as bad as she was, Della could not bring herself to turn Emma Byrd out into the street at the start of winter. She was simply a cross they all had to bear as long as she appeared to follow the rules. 

Most of the boarders hoped and prayed, each day that passed was the day Emma's beau would come for her. She only had until summer to get her act together. If he didn't show up for her – or there was no improvement by then, it was good-bye Emma Byrd.

As for Asiza, Asa was her private tutor.

Many times the little boy had slapped his own head while shaking it from trying to correct Asiza on her speech. His serious manner had her laughing so that there were moments she messed up on purpose just to get him frustrated with her. Asking him, “Na' gimme 'dat, one mo'time.” 

It wasn't long before he caught on and cracked up laughing along with her. Joking aside, Asiza was serious about her learning. More than anything, she wished to show Broc what she was made of. Thanks to Newt, who gave her some tools – no questions asked, she quietly made a hiding place in her room for their gold, land map and deeds. Considering the possessions her man entrusted to her, that act alone told her loud and clear, Broc put her and Asa first. Because he had full faith in her, full faith in them - that they were better than a bounty hunter and a fancy – she was determined to back that belief with proof. Her time at Ms. Della's boardinghouse would not be wasted time.

As the season deepened, the winter and cold that Broc would not let them be subjected to, came upon them.

Finally, after Newt and Bentley worked their tails off to get all the school cabins and the main house ready - it was close to the end of November when the first snowflakes fell. This snow was different from the bits she’d seen before.

It was piling up - quickly.

Falling at first sporadically, until finally it was coming down by large snow clusters that had the ground quickly covered.

At first, Asiza and Asa had been thrilled by the sight of it, but as it fell, blanketing everywhere they looked and realizing it had only just begun, dread and fear took over.

Her husband was in that snow.

She prayed that he was all right. After all, he had known how bad it could get – thus – she and Asa, were safe, sheltered, warm and fed.

With the days, weeks, and now - months they were apart, her heart and love for him grew ever fonder. All around her, her fellow boarders felt the excitement of the holiday season drawing near. The air always smelled of baked apples, cinnamon and nutmeg, fresh bread and other food delights. Asa was in heaven. He was constantly loved on by the other moms and young women boarding there - surrounded by delicious pies, cakes and candies. Ever near to lick the spoon, the bowl or taste test anything they wished.

As for Asiza, she couldn’t wait for the day she would be able to do the same in her own home, for Broc. She found herself drifting often into daydreams and fantasies of their reunion. The time when she would become his wife in the fullest and truest sense of the word.

In the meantime, there was still so much to learn.

She longed to make her home as cozy a home as the boardinghouse was to them all. Rich with its smells of home cooking, filled with laughter and talk, and run with the efficiency of Ms. Della.

For now, keeping him from her, was the weather.

In the meantime, her goal was to learn to be as perfect for him as it was possible to be.

He said he wanted her to learn so she could keep up with things when he had his business up and going. From watching Ms. Della, she knew that it was bookkeeping – and bookkeeping was very important in running a home or business.

They all admired how clever Della was in keeping the boardinghouse. She saw to the needs of all.

That is who Asiza wanted to be like and so, went to her pleading for permission to sit with her when she did her books. Della smiled bright and pretty, happy to hear the request.

“You know, of all the women to come through - none have asked to sit with me to learn what I do here. I don’t know, maybe they didn’t think they could.” She shook her head in thought. “Perhaps, watching you sit with me, others will ask as well.”

Ms. Della's smile was a delight to behold. She eagerly did everything that she could to see to it that freed black women had a good start in their lives toward living free. Asiza didn’t want only to be Ms. Della’s boarder or student - she wanted to be her friend. Asiza realized she didn’t have any friends like Ms. Della, who could read, write, plan and organize. Who did things it wasn’t necessary to do, but did – because she loved her people. Rather than see about her own life, her own happiness – her focus was on helping them. If that were not enough, she worked hard to find other philanthropists and teachers to help her – help them. White and colored.

“When would you like to start?” She asked Asiza, eyes glowing and a smile as bright as the sun. Asiza answered Della in the way she knew would make her proud, “I’d like to begin…” Asiza paused, trying to find the right words, and tried again. “I’d like to begin, when… it is most – uh – most
con-ven-ient
for you.” Hearing her carefully formed words, brought a twinkle to Ms. Della’s eyes, “Asiza, Mrs. Wolf, hearing you - listening to you – reminds me why I’ve done what I do. I am blessed – and nothing fills me with a sense of right – than seeing different ones embrace the blessings of knowing, understanding and showing appreciation by practicing what we try to share here.” Della beamed, nodding, “You are going to do all right Mrs. Wolf, you gone do just fine.”

On their land…

Before the cold, wind, rain and snow hit them, they worked heavy and hard to get things setup so the building could begin. Each of the men set out to put their backs into the way they hoped might keep them in a job from that day forward. All except for the young man Rory. Not that he didn’t pull his weight and then some, but all could see he was there for a spell to learn and experience life and to enjoy it to the fullest.

Unlike the others, he wasn’t trying to stake a claim of permanence - this was an adventure for him. As for the others, their days of youthful nonsense and messing around was over – their focus was on stability. Even in the north, while all men were indeed free – it was not freedom without a struggle.

A life and job struggle.

A challenge to be one of the few to permanently establish a place for himself. This, for black, Indian and Mexicans was made to be even more difficult. Too many slaves at that time believed going north not only meant freedom, but a job at a fair wage. If not north, then south-east to Florida, there was word of a settlement for escaped slaves there, among the Seminole, under the protection of Chief Osceola. A few went there instead, but many, doubted the wisdom of trusting the Indian. Mainly, because it was known, that within the tribes, there were some who turned in escaped slaves for rewards.

When the time came to decide, more chose north, than Florida.

Fact of the matter, one place was just as much a gamble as the other. They arrived north only to find, that there was no such thing as complete freedom, safety and jobs at a fair wage.

Not for them.

The soul destroying truth that met them was going up against many whites for those very same jobs. This caused an increase in the division already existing – provoking acts of violence. That bit of truth, which was important information about the north, did not often travel to the slaves in the south who chose there to escape to. Too many of them had no plan in place, no one they knew up north to start them off and so, most ended up broke, homeless, hungry and disillusioned – sadly, also - dead.

Basically, they still had to watch and be cautious about the toes they might step on. Only aid that might see them forward was being highly skilled in a heavily sought after occupation. One had to be the absolute best at his trade, or else they were stuck in a place that showed little mercy to them.

The hardcore truth of the matter was – the north didn’t
want
runaway slaves. The ones they accepted had something specific to offer. Thus, if and when one, or two – or more – or many ended up snatched, clubbed on the head and shipped back down south, few made a fuss of it because the law was not on their side.

Even those who had always been free – ran the risk of being snatched if targeted.

It was not unusual to hear about frequent acts of violence towards those known to have been a slave. Most could tell by the way they spoke, carried themselves, or their nervous disposition. Besides that, many could not read. The fuel or spark that often set off various attacks, was due to lack of jobs.

Few white men handled the competition they were faced with in a dignified manner when competing for a position that might possibly go to a black, Indian or Hispanic man. Facing the prospects of failure, starvation and homelessness – meant that there was no room to play fair. Too many did not.