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The day had finally come, Sadie had to make the long trip to Alabama, to meet her father, for the first time. The more she thought of the stories on top of stories her mother told her about life before she was born. She was overwhelmingly and afraid of going back into the States.
You see, before Sadie was born, her mother had to make a very tough decision; which was “Was she going to stay with the love of her life and have her child grow up under the same conditions that made her want to do away with her life and possibly her child’s life?’ Or ‘Was she going to put her feelings and love to the back burner for this baby she was about to have?’ At first she really didn’t want to, but her husband convinced her otherwise.
Sadie filled with fear of the long trip a head turned to her mother and asked, “Momma how you know I’m gonna be okay?”
Her mother looked her baby in the eyes, and felt fear take over her for a brief moment. But knew she had to snap out of it; because if she didn’t, Sadie might’ve changed her mind and never got the chance to meet the other part of her.
“Baby, I don’t. But I have faith, God will watch over you and bring you back home safely. Besides, you already know that there was no way I was going to send you on this long journey by yourself.”
Who’s coming with me?” Sadie was pleasantly surprised to know she would have someone she would be able to lean on when times got rough; and it took away a little of her anxiety.
“You remember Sarah?”
“Yeah…. Isn’t she white? What reason would she have to go down to Alabama? I thought all her family lived here.”
“Most of them do. But she has an uncle who still lives in the south. It just so happens your father was sold to her uncles plantation, a little over 10 years ago. So she’s doing this as a favor to me.
“Momma you sure she can be trusted?” Sadie was filled with distrust for anyone who wasn’t black; something her mother taught her early on.
“Baby, I’ve known Sarah for a really long time. She was the one who helped me get setup when I made it here. She played a huge part in helping ‘us’ to become free.” Sadie could see in her mother’s eyes, she trusted this woman with her life; because of that she knew she could too.
“Okay, as long as you have complete faith in her, I will too. When is she suppose to get here?”
“She should be coming around the corner any moment.” As her mother said that, Sadie saw one of the most beautiful horse and buggies she had ever seen in her life.
“Please don’t tell me that’s her.” Sadie was a little embarrassed, because she was sure that her attire wasn’t up to par.
“Yeah. I’m pretty sure it is.” It was like she was reading Sadie’s mind. “Don’t worry about your clothes; Sarah is going to take you shopping before you all get there….. Another thing: the story is; You and Sarah are cousins through marriage. And you asked to go because you’ve never been to the states before.”
“Okay Momma, I understand that part, but how am I gonna get the chance to see my Daddy? It’s not gonna look good having a young ‘white’ girl walking through the slaves quarters.”
“Don’t worry about that. I spoke to Sarah and she has an idea that’ll give you all the time you need with your father.”
Sarah finally emerged from the carriage, wearing very Southern attire. Sadie hadn’t seen her since she was a baby. So technically she didn’t know her.
“Hey Sadie Baby. How have you been?”
Sadie was a little thrown off by Sarah’s warm aura. She knew her mother trusted her, and she would too; until she gave her a reason not to. She felt she had to be this way, because her mother already explained how things were between the races.
“I’ve been really good Ms. Sarah.”
“Baby, call me Auntie. After all, I have known you since a baby.”
“Okay, Auntie?” Sadie was a little apprehensive, but she wasn’t going to miss the chance to go see her father.
After greeting Sadie, she walked up to her Mom and gave her a very warm emotional hug.
“”How have you been Olivia?”
“Sarah I’ve been great. I can never ‘Thank you’ enough for what you did for me and my baby.”
“Don’t mention it. I was just happy that you’ll got her safely.”
“Ms… Auntie. Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“Sadie, how ever I can help, I will. Besides, it’s been a while since I saw my Uncle.”
“If you don’t mind me asking; Are ya’ll on good terms?”
“Now we are.”
“Why weren’t you before? Not trying to be nosy, just need to know.”
“I understand.” Sarah knew exactly what Sadie was leading up to; she need no explanation. “Well…. we had a falling out because I feel in love with a black man. And he doesn’t believe in mixing the races.”
“What happened to that man you feel in love with?”
“Well at the time I was in the South. I didn’t tell my Uncle who the man was, because I didn’t want to take the chance of him trying to harm him. So I took my lover to a safe place, with people I could trust. Those people then helped him to escape to freedom here in Canada and now he’s my husband.” Sarah said as she lifted her finger to show Sadie the ring.”
Check in next week to see what happens Next!
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Bio Of Fredi Washington-
Shads Short Stories 