Chapter Two

I took a shaky breath, my mama placed a hand on my shoulder. 'Did he tell you why '?  Mary looked at her incredulously, mama sighed and shook her head at her. 'Never mind that. Naomi -' I turned around, ' I didn't do anything mama ', she raised her brow at me, ' I never said you did'. ' But -', she shook her head at me. 'Just go. But remember, answer them with a yes sir or no sir. Never say anything that might be used against you. Never ever look at them straight in the eye for long '!

I stepped into the main house to the parlour through the servant section.  The sun was streaming through the open window and Mr Stanley Jr was sitting backing it, his blond hair shinning golden against the setting sun. His green eyes so dark against the sun, I couldn't be sure what he was thinking. Beside him was his father, Mr Stanley, in all his white haired glory. He'd taken off his hat, and it was probably hanging on the cap hook - when Mrs Stanley had been alive, she couldn't condon hats or caps in the house and so her husband and son had continued the tradition of hanging their hats on the hooks just inside, by the door, and even Mrs Stanley Jr had adopted this mindset from her late mother-in-law and continued to badger both men. Mr Stanley's we're dark as well, and I was left wandering what this was all about.

' Come child ' Mr Stanley motioned me closer with a just of his chin. I took a step closer and stopped. The sun was in my eyes but I didn't dare move closer. I could almost swear his eyes twinkled and Mr Stanley Jr was smiling. My shoulders slummed down in relief; everything was alright, but still I had to be wary and careful, this were the people that had bought my parent and I after all, and probably my grandparents too.

I took several steps closer, the sun was behind me now and I could see their faces clearly.'Do you like it here child'? Mr Stanley asked, leaning back on the couch. ' Yes sir '. I replied. 

' Do we treat you well '? What was he getting at? ' Yes sir '.

'What do you think if we let you work in the house instead of out in the farm all day'? I jerked my head up, starting at him in disbelief. What did he mean? Was he trying to take me away from my few friends? What about my mama? She worked in the farm all day, didn't she? We're they trying to take me away from her? 

I folded my hands at my back and continued to gaze at him unwaveringly, my eyes narrowed in wariness. ' You see right there ', Mr Stanley Jr proclaimed. My eyes swerved to him. ' That is why I think she'd be a good influence for our Abigail'. Mr Stanley fingered his beard and stared intently at me. ' I know we had this conversation before Junior, but it's only now I'm really seeing what you've been talking about; her confidence, her loyalty to her people and her relunctance to come here because of them '. My gaze averted from one to the other, confused at what they were saying. 

' Well what do you think Naomi '? Mr Stanley Jr smiled at me, ' would you like to be our little Abigail's hand maid '? I dropped my eyes to the ground, contemplating. What had my mama told me earlier? I should never say anything that might be used against me. Well, what would she have wanted me to say?

I raised my head up. ' It'd be me pleasure sirs '.

°°°°°°°

When I went home that evening, mama was in the room as I had expected. She'd changed out of her work dress and into her practical sleep wear, a shapeless grey gown that reached over her knees with half sleeves and a rounded neck. Her brown skin shone like it normally does when she applies her nightly oiling and she was sitting on the old stool by the corner of the room, braiding her hair. 

That old stool used to be about ready to fall apart, constantly wobbling from any slight weight, that is, until daddy got tired and went at it with the hammer and some nails.

There was no mirror in the room, not even a piece of broken glass for one to look on. The walls bare apart from the hand-stitched  quilt strewn across the grey walls.

There were two other furnitures in the room, a small bed situated at the corner, which was mine and a larger bed for my parents. Both beds were slightly elevated above the ground but  I liked to sit on my parent's bed the most. It was not as soft, infact, it was rather lumpy but I liked to sit on it anyway, because it was higher than mine and I could swing my legs when sitting on it. Although my feet could touch the ground, it was much better than swinging my feet on my bed, where it felt like I was sweeping the dirt off the floor with my feet.

I sat on the large bed and mama turned to me, a bunch of black curly hair held in her hand. ' How was it '? She asked. I turned to her and shrugged. ' They wanted me to start work in the house as Miss Abigail's maid '. She stared at me for a while, the bunch of hair stuck in her hand still. ' And what did you say '? I jumped down, getting ready to change for the night. ' What do you think me said '? She shrugged, turning back to continue braiding her hair. ' No matter what we say or want, the final decision is theirs to make. Don't forget that Naomi. It is wisdom to k ow one's place '. She turned to stare at me again, her dark eyes boring into mine. ' Remember I other parts of the world, that knowledge will save your life's. She finished braiding her hair and walked up to me, I was completely changed into a pink, thread bare cotton dress that had buttons running down it's front. ' I'll wash the clothes you'd just pulled and add them to the others tomorrow '. She pulled an old, sturdy, light brown wooden box that was probably her's or daddy's and placed it on the bed. It was filled with most of my belongings, except the clothes I had on, which amounted to very few. I turned to her,my mouth hanging open in disbelief.

' You knew '?