Chapter Three

She nodded, her eyes trained on the scratched surface of the box. ' They called for me this morning, your daddy and I. I was so scared '. And I was surprised, this was the first time my mama had ever told me in plain words, exactly how she felt.

' I thought they were going to take you away from us and we'll be unable to stop them.

That's why you must be careful when you go to live with them. The Stanley's are different but be careful '. She turned and stared me deep in the eye. ' Never forget who you are and where you came from

Remember that it's just few more years to reach the 50th year, to be free. Know your place among them but know who you are '. She softly jabbed her finger against my chest. Then she smiled, retracing her hand away and pushing the box back under the bed. ' Now let's get you to bed, to -'

' But can me not stay up to see daddy'? I protested as she tugged me unto my bed and Drew up my things blanket up to my chin. ' Not tonight Naomi, you need your sleep. Tomorrow's a big day for you '.

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The next day was Sunday. On Sunday we always had service for as long as I remember. The Stanley's sometimes went to church and when they did we were usually there, somewhere up and out of the way with others like us. But when they didn't, we went to another church, filled with blacks and with a black preacher who didn't throw us scathing looks when his eyes mistakenly wandered upwards, and began preaching about redemption and hellfire. Neither did the congregation cling to their children when we passed, nor did they look down on us with disgusted faces and darkened eyes.

But not there where everyone is  boisterous and singing at the top of their voices. There was no upstairs or draft, the chapel was too small for that. It was a quaint old chapel that was nearly always filled. My friend,Mabel, goes on about how good out masters are to us to let us go to a different church. This was not the case most times, she said, most people never let their slaves stray from their side. They didn't want wild, unfettered ideas, preached into their heads. They were mean enough, she felt, to try and even control the thoughts of their bound. This was where my opinion and hers differed. I didn't quite agree with her belief that all white were mean; apart from the Stanley family, there was the grocer who owned the groceries store around the corner, his coming around is another story in the book, but suffice to say, he's a fine man and I quite like him 

That day, we went to the little church. When we came back, daddy had a spring in his step like he always had whenever we went there, and mama seemed at peace. I was happy too, excited to have seen my friends but the joy soon diffused away when I remembered what was to happen that day.

Mama faced me, hands on her waist, her grave expression mirroring mine. Daddy had not been able to extract himself from his work for just some few minutes, but it was not as if I was going somewhere far, I was only moving into the main house. ' You have to be quick on your feet when you get there Naomi. You're smart so learn. Learn all you can, learn their ways, do you understand '? I nodded, holding the box in both hands. She raised her brows, saying a lot with that gesture. ' Don't forget what I said okay ? Be on their good favour '. 

When I went out, looking for Mary, I thought to myself how I also remembered what she'd said the other night, although she never .mentioned it again, I remembered all of it.

Mary led me into my room, a separate room from the others and just for myself, across the hall from Abigail's room. I was thrilled and a bubble of excitement floated up my chest. I had never before had a room all to myself.                 I set about putting my few belongings in place. 

There was a part of the wall that was depressed,more curved in than the rest with nails driven into it, this i deemed fit to hang my clothes on. I have in my possession, seven clothes; three dresses plus the one I wore, making it four, a jacket, a shirt and a skirt. I owned one church gown, two work dresses and a night gown, all of plain colour.

  I was told that if Abigail needed me, I would be called but right then, she was with her family for lunch in the Parson's house. Until then, I was free, and Mary used that time to teach me some main things about being a young mistress's hand maid.

When Abigail finally called for me, I had, at least, a semblance of a notion about my duty.

I scratched at her door and waited, just as Mary had made me do. ' Come in '. I heard a voice call through the door. Creaking it slowly, I poked my head in, unsure of what to do next. ' You asked for me Miss '? What I saw was  the back of a girl, sitting on the edge of a bed, from what I could make out. ' Yes I did, because I wanted to talk to you. Now come and sit down so we can see each other properly '. I did just that, stepping cautiously into the room, conscious of my old, worn out work clothes in contrast with the bright girly room and the golden girl in a frilly dress. I remember then that I was afraid that the person I was to serve in such close proximity, would ba a snobbish, pretty fair head with nothing upstairs. But when she turned to me - probably standing there akwardly, looking like a frightened rabbit -, and smiled, I felt that if I had been a boy, I'd have been beguiled right then. ' Come and sit down here ', she pointed to stool facing her dressing table and equally facing the been whence she was perched. ' I had sent mother and my governess away because I wanted to speak with you without them preening down our necks. Well '. She appraised me just as I did her. Long nose, a bit too long, but that was the only flaw, the rest were to near perfection; big doe eyes, a bit of a brow and pert lips, a spattering of freckles and then her gloden crown of hair. ' Well ', her eyes were bright with what I'll later acknowledge as her playful glint. She shuffled more to the edge of the bed with her eye brows raised. ' Can you play pretend '?