The Slave Master's Son (37 page)

“Why of course!” She left and returned with a goblet of water, handing it gingerly to John. He gulped it down, smiled and handed it back to her.

“Thank you kindly for your hospitality,” he smiled as he tipped his hat and headed out the door. There was the wagon, as promised. John climbed inside. A white man in his thirties with thin, light-gray skin and even thinner hair was driving. He did not say anything, not even “hello.”

“Hello,” John said, clearing his throat. “Thank you for taking me to my destination.”

“Um hmmm,” the man grunted, obviously preoccupied with other thoughts. After a few minutes, the coach stopped in front of a small, dismal house with slight old trees crowded around it. A garden on its last leg was at the entrance. John was taken aback at the opulence of Sarah, Graham and Mary’s house and the deep contrast of this one. John nodded to the driver, got out, and walked steadily up the path, overgrown with weeds. He cleared his throat once more and knocked on the door. He waited. After a few minutes, he knocked again. This time, he heard shuffling around and a few muffled expletives.

The rickety door swung open, exposing an avalanche of papers. A tall, slender man with pale yellow skin and wavy, black hair stood there. Jonah’s cheeks were sunken, his fingers long and knobby, and his Adam’s apple prominent. He was the remains of what was once an aesthetically pleasing individual. His eyes were dark-gray and dull, their luster long gone.

“John,” Jonah said, coughing harshly into his handkerchief, “come inside.” John walked into the fog of pipe smoke and dust. Two oversized chairs were obviously freshly cleared away.

“Please, have a seat.” Jonah pointed to one of the dilapidated chairs and tended to the diminutive fire, casting two additional sticks into the small flame dance.

“Thank you for having me, Jonah,” John said as he cautiously sat down. “I don’t know how much Sarah told you but…” John watched Jonah limp to his chair.

“She told me the gist of it, John. Old Man Stewart’s on his way out and wants to suddenly see us. Isn’t that just rich?” Jonah laughed harshly as he poured himself a hot cup of tea. “Would you like some?” he offered.

“Oh, no thank you,” John snubbed.

“He didn’t ask nothin’ about me when he heard I got injured in the war. He sent some money but no letter and no visit. I spent my life taking care of everyone else. I never had time for anything else. He sent us away and that was the last I saw of him. He’s a monster.” Jonah spat while relighting his pipe.

“I can’t say I totally disagree with you,” John sighed, looking at Jonah through the fog of swirling, grey smoke and dancing dust particles that sparkled in the filtering sunlight. “The more I hear about him, the more I detest him due to the harm he’s caused. Sometimes I didn’t think it was possible,” John explained.

“I tried to tell Sarah that, years ago,” Jonah said nodding his head. “She always thought ’cause you was white, you was bein’ treated like a King. I told her I thought we got the better end of the stick! I couldn’t imagine being under Master Stewart’s thumb. Mama told me all about him, but she didn’t know she was makin’ him look bad. To me, he was corrupt from the top of his head to the end of his big toe. He’s the most selfish man on God’s green Earth,” Jonah chuckled.

“He has random acts of kindness on his side, however, unfortunately, I agree that he’s lived his life ruthlessly,” John agreed.

“Has he had a change of heart at the last minute?” Jonah laughed sarcastically. “All of the sudden he misses his poor little Nigger children? That man has a lot of nerve sendin’ you out here. He knew never to come himself. I would’ve beat him into the ground with my bare hands,” Jonah responded eerily calm. “I would’ve stomped him into wine,” he added. Jonah leaned back in his chair and smirked as he extended his good leg slowly in front of him. He and John shared the same smile and facial structure.

“I ain’t goin’. It has nothing to do with my leg, either. I want him to writhe around in Hell being chased by his own nightmares and misdeeds. I want him to see my face then, and only then. I’d never give him the satisfaction of saying goodbye to me so he could drift off and die peacefully. I never had any peace, so he ain’t gonna have any peace.

Now, I have my wits about me, John, despite what meets the eye. I’ve had a rough time of it, but I’ve had my share of smilin’ moments, no thanks to Master Stewart, of course. I also don’t take any ill will towards you. You’re my brother and didn’t ask to be in this position. If the situation were reversed, I imagine I’d do the same as you’re doin’ right here right now, but he should’ve known he was sendin’ you on an impossible mission. You’ve left your wife and children to run after a goose you’ll never catch, all for the likes of that pathetic human.”

“Jonah,” John looked around the house and winced. “Why do you live like this?” John asked, changing the subject.

“Because I ain’t too much into housekeeping, and I don’t want to be married, so ain’t nobody here to make it right. I refuse to live with Sarah though she brings it up ’bout every week or so. I like being on my own and left alone. I’m a recluse, I guess you could say,” Jonah smiled. John nodded as he watched Jonah stand up and pour himself a tin can of liquor.

“You want some?” he asked with a grin a mile wide on his face.

“No, thank you,” John responded as he readjusted himself in the chair. “Why do you want to be all alone? I need, for my own self, to understand and to know you. You’re my brother, and my last memory of you is you’re running in the water and giggling, with only a few teeth in your mouth. I didn’t know you were my brother then,” John said reflectively.

“I know. I knew you were mine, though.” Jonah took another puff of his pipe. “That’s just how things were back then, John. It was customary. To Master Stewart, we should’ve been thankful he did anything for us at all. Many slave women who bore their owner’s children have never seen a penny and he knew that and felt like he was somehow above the others based on that alone. I guess also the fact that he didn’t force himself on anyone, he felt he was better. My mother was young and naive. She thought your father really loved her. She died still believin’ that crazy notion.” Jonah moaned as he straightened his back.

“I don’t remember your mother,” John admitted. “Do you mind telling me a little about her?”

“She just passed away a year ago.” Jonah briefly drifted into thought. “She kept to herself. She’d just work and keep quiet. Mama never wanted any trouble. She was a small woman with a beautiful smile that would light up the whole room. She didn’t go out much, so I’m not terribly surprised you didn’t know who she was. She was only fifteen when she had me. My mother was syrupy sweet. She usually tried to see the bright side of things. She was always tired but never admitted it. She told me Master Stewart loved us. That’s why he sent us away.” Jonah sighed and shook his head in disbelief. “I guess when he sent that paperwork to New York after me, she saw that as a sign. It wasn’t a sign. That man was more concerned about himself again, as usual.” Jonah shook his head.

“Wait a minute, what paperwork?” John asked, leaning slightly forward in his seat. Jonah looked at him intensely and raised an eyebrow.

“You don’t know?” Jonah questioned.

“Know what?” John asked.

“Master Stewart sent a bunch of money for me, asking me to move back to Virginia and manage his investments!” Jonah spouted. He looked at John even closer then started laughing. “Well, would you look at that? The sneaky bastard didn’t even tell you. Hold on a second.” Jonah got to his feet and slowly descended upon a pile of papers. He sifted through, seeming to know exactly where what he was looking for resided. A few minutes later he exclaimed, “Here they are!” He grabbed the stack of partially moth-eaten papers and handed them to John.

“Now, you sure you don’t want a drink? I think you’re going to need it after you read that.” John hesitated then nodded. Jonah smiled and poured his brother a tin cup of liquor, handing it to him affectionately. John took a long swig of the alcohol and bawled his face up as the strong drink snaked down his throat. He held the letters and papers, reading through them in disbelief.

Jonah, I’m certain that this comes as a great surprise to you, however, your eldest sibling, John Jr., and I haven’t being seeing eye-to-eye. I’d like to give you an opportunity to take care of my affairs. You and I can have a fresh start whereas I’m afraid John Jr. and I have too much history and bad blood. He’s my first born, but has disappointed me so…

The letter went on in great detail to explain what Master Stewart wanted tending to, where to reach him, and the amount of money Jonah could expect to inherit should he agree to the terms. John slumped in his chair and grinned. He took another thick gulp of his alcohol and shook his head in disbelief.

“Did he promise you everything?” Jonah asked with sly satisfaction.

“No, he didn’t. He and I went over his estate before my departure so obviously it was altered after you didn’t respond to his request,” John informed.

“My mother wanted me to do it of course. She felt it was Master Stewart tryin’ to make things right with me. I told her it was clear as day that I was second choice! His beloved John had been causing him trouble,” Jonah chuckled, “so he comes to me, his only living son that we’re aware of besides you and asks that I help him. I’d rather have my teeth kicked in!” Jonah’s voice rose. “I didn’t care how much money he was offering and please rest assured, I could’ve used it and so could my sisters. But I didn’t say one word to either of them about it, and I suggest you keep this under your hat,” Jonah warned.

“I will,” John agreed as he folded the papers in half and handed them back to Jonah.

“Sarah was in dire need at the time and would’ve tried to convince me to just agree to it to get a little money, and Mary would’ve been like my Mama, believin’ Master Stewart had turned a new leaf. He didn’t turn anything. The man didn’t even ask if I was married, if my mother was OK or anything. He didn’t bring her up at all. It was all about him and his interests,” Jonah grimaced. Jonah and John sat in deep silence in the room. The burning logs and sticks, smoking pipe, and dust created a blanket over his eyes, leaving his irises surrounded in deep fog. Everything seemed so surreal. A couple of times John tapped the tin cup with his index finger to ensure he wasn’t dreaming.

“Jonah, why did you not ask my father why he did what he did to you and your mother?” John finally asked as he leaned back into the chair, closing his eyes.

“Because he either wouldn’t have answered or came up with an extravagant lie. Either way, I wouldn’t have wanted to hear it. I wouldn’t have wanted to hear the truth either, quite honestly. No answer would’ve sufficed. His actions gave me all the information I needed. I didn’t crave him yet hate him the way Sarah did. I didn’t make excuses for him the way Mary and my Mama did. I feel nothing for him at all. I do want him to get what he deserves, and that’s death without laying eyes on our faces. It’s befittin’,” Jonah frowned.

“Could it benefit you, however? Is there a way, seemingly, that it could work in your favor?” John inquired, opening his eyes as he cupped his hands together.

“Not without givin’ him redemption as well. I can’t even go to him, tell him I wish him a painful death and leave without it also serving him, John. He’d still see me and be able to apologize. Whether I accept it or not’s no longer important to him. He just needs to say it, so he can somehow feel exonerated and then for the rest of my life, I’ll know he said it and have to live with that while he got to die at peace. I can’t give him that. It’s the only thing in my favor right now, and I can’t let him have it,” Jonah said angrily. John sat and thought in his chair. He had no idea what choice Sarah and Mary had made and Jonah seemed fairly adamant about his position.

“Thank you for comin’ anyway, John. Believe it or not,” Jonah smiled, “I’d like to get to know you and spend more time with you in the future.”

“I feel the same way, Jonah.” John rose from his sitting position. His knees creaked. He’d been there for over four hours and the strong liquor was starting to work on him. “I’ll be keeping in touch with you and your sisters. Sarah, Graham, and Mary have been very hospitable.”

Jonah nodded as he stood up and walked unsteadily to his front door, escorting John out. The open door allowed fresh air to bathe John’s face, which he greatly welcomed by exhaling and inhaling deeply. John was on his way down the path when he stopped in his tracks. He walked briskly back towards Jonah and hugged him. Initially, Jonah was taken off guard and stood there, his facial expression staunch. He then slowly wrapped his long arms around John and squeezed. He closed his eyes and smiled. The two tall brothers held each other tightly then released one another, not exchanging another word. John heard the door close behind him as he rounded the walkway on his way back to Sarah’s house.

* * *

“Aren’t you going to stay for dinner?” Mary asked as she watched John descend down the steps with his luggage.

“I’ve already inconvenienced you enough as it is,” John remarked as he came closer. Sarah hurriedly ran to him. She placed her soft, delicate hand over his.