Flight of Fancy: Cora's Daughters (29 page)

It was the third day and Asiza focused on getting into the routine of things. She attended a full day of school and Asa part of a day. Della made sure of everything, including seeing that there was always someone in attendance to see to the children of the boarders. Asiza was happy to watch Asa romp, shout and laugh as if he was in wonderland. He had four other children to play with - another little boy and three girls. Feeling secure that he was being seen about, Asiza could focus on the classes she was expected to attend.

That first full day in class, one fellow free woman - student came to her attention, not to leave it.

Emma Byrd

Without anyone actually saying so, it was possible that Emma might be considered by some as one of the most beautiful Negro women ever to be seen anywhere - with features leaning towards a blondish European ancestry.

The color of her skin was close to being the most flawless, smooth, creamy Café-au-lait ever observed. A glorious head of hair that reached the shoulder blades of her back with an amazing blend of gold, blond, tawny and tan - which waved silky and shone to glisten. Big brown eyes, beautifully framed with long lashes and above, a full noble brow, naturally shaped to perfection. A gently rounded nose, some men would be tempted to kiss, above a full bow shaped, dark mouth and plump lips.

Yes, there were those who would have stated that as fact – that she was a raving beauty, especially Emma. She not only felt this to be true of herself - but felt the need to point it out to those slow about praising her good looks.

Asiza had never seen anyone so vain in all of her life - not even her older sister Isabel was so vain.

Isabel had a quiet humble dignity, she never once looked at herself as anything special, but all who saw her thought it to be so. She was more like their father than any of them - not quite as dark as his other daughters. Those that saw her - immediately noted that she had a regal, dainty presence and carriage. Her long graceful neck, reminded one of a swan and her features - fine boned and exact, seemed to have been sculpted with care.

Isabel had been born with a head to toe elegance often found among the Somali of Africa. She carried herself in a delicate ethereal, fairy like manner. Mesmerizing those she gazed at with her brandy brown eyes that dominated her heart shaped face.

Yet, Asiza watched this Emma posturing and turning her nose up at what was being offered to them, for free. Knowledge and information to make life better, but she treated it as if she had all that she needed for her world, her pretty looks. Seeing the way that Emma conducted herself, Asiza was proud of Isabel – her sister was a true lady.

Because Emma was also a runaway – seeking sanctuary at Ms. Della’s, it was a requirement to attend the classes – this was expected of all, paying or not. However, it was apparent to any who gave it attention - she was merely biding her time. She sat in the classes and made no effort to even look like she could be bothered to participate – to learn.

She answered no questions asked.

She asked no questions on the subjects being taught.

Asiza didn’t understand her thinking. Everything that was being taught, were things vital to their survival and if need be, so they could live independently – if forced to.

Concluding the last class of the day, and leaving one of the cabins, Asiza was surprised to see Emma approaching her – smiling brightly as if they’d known each other all of their lives. They were slowly walking through the yard towards the opposite side of the mansion. Asiza was enroute to search out Asa, heading for the area the children were free to play in.

“Hey, my name Emma.” She came alongside introducing herself, “You Asiza, right?”

Asiza nodded, carrying on.

“Such a pretty name. Me and you, got lots in common. We should be friends. Oh I wish I had yo’eyes. I know mine are pretty, but oh can you jus’ see me if my eyes was like yo’s? Yo’daddy white like mine?” She asked boldly.

Asiza couldn’t believe what she was hearing, “No, he African.”

“African? Hi’strange. M’daddy was m’masta’s cousin – he stay at his plantation all the time – get m’mama knocked wit’me. ‘Cuz the way I look, masta’ bring me in lettin’ me work in his house. Lawd, I was so pretty, he can’t keep his eyes off o’me. I jus’ know one day I’ma have to run – ain’t want that ol’white man puttin’ his han’ on me. I know I get away up north here - there gone be a white man want me fo’ his mistress. Not no any white man, min'you. No - a young one - rich – set me up. I’m gone have the bes’o’everythang.” She simpered, nose going in the air.

“Em, good f’you.” Asiza walked a bit faster, wishing to ditch Emma, the last thing she wanted, was this silly girl tagging along with her when she wanted to get Asa so they could wait and see if Broc would come to visit them. This might be the last day he would be in town before he took off to start building.

“Word tell, you gots you a white man. Heah he give Ms. Della money an’ she take you shoppin’ t’buy you all kind’ah stuff, ooh-wee! Mos’ here that ain’got no money, they be wearin’ the same’ol’thang. White shirt, black skirt, ha! Not you, you wearin’ fancy clothes. That say right off, you gots you a man wit’ money takin’ care o’you. Guess what? Gots me one too, em hm, shol’do. Can’ you tell - see what I'm wearin’? Ain’t it pretty? He buy it fo’me – he say he gone buy me the prettiest gowns ever made. He say I’m gone have hats fo’every day o’the week. Now ain’t that somethin’? That’s why we – gone be friends – ‘cause we got so much in common.”

“Where yo’chile at? I gotta chile t’see to.” Asiza thought hearing that would scare her off.

“No, no – not yet … I’mo’save myself – don’ wan’ no chil’ren. ‘Sides, how you get that white man anyway, when you got yo’self a nappy-headed-boy hangin’ on to you?”

“Ms. Della! Ms. Della! They fightin’! That new one, Asiza done punch Emma Byrd in her nose! She ‘bout to yank her bald – she so mad! She say she gone beat her ass so she never talk to her again! I thank she mean it Ms. Della, that Emma Byrd bleedin’ and screechin’ yeah! Lord’o’mercy, they fightin’ sho’nuff!!” One of the young, also new ones rushed shouting at the top of her lungs. By the time Della reached the two combatants, Bentley their driver had Asiza – and Newt was seeing to Emma. Humiliated, hurting and worried about her face, Emma took off running to her room to examine the damages. “Not m’face, Lawd no, not m’face!” She cried flying by.

“What is going on here!? Mrs. Wolf?” Della demanded, blowing and gasping to draw a breath from dashing out to them, now standing in disbelief that the two women had been fighting. With Emma gone, the two men struggled to hide their amusement.

Asiza stood trying to get her temper and breathing under control, she’d wanted to tear that Emma to shreds.

The kids and Asa stood by stunned by the violent scuffle. He wasn’t sure what to do, his eyes searching Asiza to make sure she was all right. Della took a deep breath to calm herself and then with her hand out gesturing towards the mansion she invited Asiza to join her, “Mrs. Wolf, if you would please… my office … please?”

“You gone kick us out?!” Asiza feared – cutting to the quick.

“I’m hoping there won’t be a need for that.” Della returned.

“An’ m’Asa?” Asiza asked.

“He can continue on playing if he wishes.”

Glancing his way, Asiza gave him a slight smile, even though her mood was anything but rosy. He was her child now, her boy – Broc went and saved this baby for her to protect and not even a pretty Ms. Byrd was going to hurt him, even with stupid words that he didn’t hear. Didn’t matter if he did or not, she heard.

“You go’on play, I’m all right.” She hated seeing that worried look on his face, but it couldn’t be helped.

Arms crossed before her, Asiza tromped her way towards the mansion, and then remembered her promise to Broc, that she wouldn’t be fighting. “Lawd, ain’ been here five days yet.” She fretted over it. Della followed along behind her to join her in the office.

As for Asa, he no longer felt like playing. He decided to go and sit on the front porch to wait on her to come back out or for Broc to visit them.

In the office, before Della could close her door, Asiza wanted to make amends, “Please don’ look down on me or tell my husband, I ain’ mean to hit’ha… I jus’-…”

“Calm down Mrs. Wolf,” Ms. Della walked to her desk by the chairs, “Have a seat,” Both ladies took a chair, one facing the other. After an audible sigh, Ms. Della began again with Asiza remaining quiet to let her governess speak.

“Mrs. Wolf, Asiza… first, let me say, that I’ve been around Emma Byrd – plenty. Yes, enough to know, that she can make you feel good and angry sometimes. Even so, you must control yourself. Physical contact of that nature is not allowed – not under any circumstances. Above all, consideration for each other is a must. You two are adults. I know that strong differences can try the best of us sometimes, however – if we cannot make it here – to get along with each other – outside, in that world where we must all go, we will not survive. Asiza, every single day of your life – there is going to be somebody who is going to say something to you – inappropriate – or just flat out ugly. Even as a free woman, you must learn to ignore, look the other way and go on about your day. No matter how hard that will be to do, it is something each of us must master. Now, it may not seem that what I’m about to say is right – and you don’t have to do it – but if you do, it will improve your inner person having done so.”

Asiza’s eyes came up to peer into Ms. Della’s with dread.

“You should go to Emma’s room, apologize and explain to her what it is that she said, that upset you. By doing that, you help her, as well yourself.” Ms. Della reached over and gently patted Asiza’s hand, gave her a gentle smile and stood, leaving her to whatever she decided to do. Asiza drooped in misery, “Ah lawd, ain’ no way I’mo make it.”

Outside, on the porch, Asa sat looking down the road he knew led to town. He could hear the clip-clop of horse shoes coming from up the road. He just wished he could see further, to be able to tell who it might be coming, but hedges and trees blocked him.

He stood leaning against the banister, his eyes intently watching and hoping that it was Broc coming to visit them.

Soon, joy went clean up his spine, clear to see, white fore legs of a horse. Broc’s horse Nik-Nik was white.

Next came the sound of clean pure whistling – Broc whistled all the time.

He went down a few steps, staring hard and sure enough, Nik-Nik’s head came bobbing as she walked and then Broc. Asa’s little face broke into a bright white smile with all his front teeth showing.

He jumped down the remainder steps and shouted out loud, “Mr. Broc – Mr. Broc… you back – you back!”

Broc laughed out to see Asa looking for him. He was dressed smart too, new clothes on –
that
made him feel good. Asa stopped with his eyes wide in surprise. Behind Broc, a long procession of horses pulling two wagons piled high, and two more larger wagons pulled by two oxen each, and men driving them.

“Mr. Broc, where you going with all of that stuff?” He asked right away. Broc climbed down from his horse, leading it forward as he took Asa’s little hand. “Going to our land, going to build us up a new place, for you, and Mrs. Wolf.”

“You sure do have loads to do it with.” He responded, still looking it, and all the men over.

The men present nodded, a few smiled at him – driving the wagons off the lane to sit and wait. Broc had informed them that he had to make a stop before departing and heading for his land.

He tied Nik-Nik to the hitching post this time, not bothering to take her in. Turning, he picked Asa up into his arms, “Where’s Mrs. Wolf?” He asked.

“Ms. Della talking to her about beating up that Ms. Emma Byrd. Don’t know why she beat her up, but she was mad let me tell’ya. Sent that Ms. Byrd off with a bloody nose and messed hair.” Finishing that, Asa shrugged his shoulders, palms to the sky because he didn’t know why. Broc groaned heading through the gate, Asa still in his arms. Up the stairs he went, about to knock on the door when it opened with Asiza smiling at him and coming out. Within that house of so many women, and children running about, there was no need to knock – someone will have seen him coming. Before she could say a word in greeting, he started right off, “Hear you been fightin’, you kicked out?”

Right away Asiza knew it must have been Asa, she sighed – giving up on smiling, she frowned, her brows pinched in the center, “I ain’t kicked out.” She grumbled.

Broc took her hand in his, leading her back across the porch and down, the three walked through the gate towards his men, with his whispering from the side of his mouth,

“Do me this consideration and let me get our home built first. You promised me no fightin’, I ain’t even left town yet an’ somebody got a bloody nose.”

Asiza lowered her head, feeling ornery – but nobody would ask what that Emma Byrd said to make her bang her in the nose. Not Ms. Della and now, not even her husband. This was going to be harder than she thought. Simply put, there were some folks, black, white or other, that needed knocking straight – their thinking needed adjusting, that’s how she saw it.

However, it wasn’t allowed.

They were building a new life in the north and she needed to learn to leave some folks alone, just stay clear and stay out of trouble. Asiza was determined to do it, even if it killed her.