SOUL SURVIVES
CHAPTER 1
Where do I begin? This road I travel has been long both past and present, with twists and turns, sorrow and tragedy, romance and love along the way. I only had two great loves in all my years.... And this is my story.
It was summer 1890 in the southern most depths of Georgia. The sweltering heat would just about pour off anyone's face who even thought to look out their windows. The hot humid air was so wet and strong it could almost make one drown with each breath they took. Jezebel one of our house servants was preparing for the day as she burst in my room. "rise and shine child" she said "you ain't never gonna get nothing done by sittin' round in your bed alls day long, now is you?" jezebel had a way with me. I could listen to her and follow her all day long. She was never short on commands or stories for that matter. Her skin was so dark, the darkest I'd ever seen. But she was never a slave. Slavery ended a few years back but daddy and momma never liked the idea much. Jezebel and her whole family have worked for us since before I was even here on this earth. And they were always well fed, clothed and sheltered. Daddy would never let another man lay a finger her or her family, ever! "oh why do you have to go about shoutin so early every morning? Cant you ever say anything nice?" I said to her as I let out a yawn. I was laying in my bed so hot and dying for a cool fresh breeze but not wanting to escape the comfort of my linens. "child I am being nice to you!" she barked as she threw open my curtains letting in the morning sun. it shined upon me with such fierce heat in the early morning. "this is the day you cant be behind, dear lord have mercy! I thought you said mister Sam would be courtin you tonight and that you hads a list as long as the Mississippi river to get done, and yous family is already down stairs eatin their breakfast without ya?" oh goodness I had completely forgot all about that? How could I forget about Sam? Oh how I miss him so already and it hasn't even been a full day since I last seen him. Sam has been courtin me now for some years. He in his early twenties and me 19, have been fast friends since birth. I don't ever remember a time in my life when Sam wasn't there. Our families are how should I say well to do and known around this town. His daddy owns the bank and my daddy has been the mayor for as long as I can remember. I rushed out of bed and ran to the bathing room. "Jez where is my hair brush? Have you started my.." she cut me off before I could even finish. "Hattie did you think I was gonna forget about your day today? Lords child you may forget things but my minds a steel trap. I already have your bath drawn and its waitin on ya, and for heavens sake don't forget to wash behind those ears and scrub your nails! I will get your dress laid out real pretty like and have it hangin for you by your dressin area when you get out" oh jezebel was so dear to me. I love her so and I always will. As I rushed to get cleaned up I was thinking about what tonight might have in store for me. Sams hinted around getting married and I so hope he will ask me. He came to call the other day and asked to speak to my daddy so I know something has to be goin on. that's why he would be talkin to my daddy. I thought to myself. I mean I know Sam is going to be taking over his daddys place at the bank, but why would he come here to talk to daddy if it wasn't about marriage? Maybe it was somethin to do with the bank? Oh I hope not. I dearly love that man and I so desperately want him to ask me for my hand in marriage! I washed up and brushed my hair and went back to my room to get my under garments on. And for jez to start her work with my hair. "honey your hair is the prettiest I ever seen. I love puttin curls in it and doin it up nice for ya. I sure hope when you have childrens runnin round that they get your beautiful long dark maine" she said as she was fixin it up. My hair was very long and dark. She had pulled back my hair only part way and tied it in the back and the long dark curls fell almost to my waist almost as dark as tree bark mixed with midnight. When she was finished with my hair I went to get dressed. My dress was beautiful. The prettiest crimson red color you had ever seen with touches of off white lace around the short sleeved arms, waist and the bottom all the way around and a beautiful off white ribbon that wrapped around and tied behind my back. I was so worried that the Georgia red clay would ruin its beautiful off white color at the bottom of the dress but that red clay never did. It was another shade of red that ruined it. But that's for later on in my story as you will read. I slipped on my hosiery and laced up my beautiful black boots and jezebel added touched of jewelry to my ears, neck and wrist that daddy and momma had given to me for my last birthday. The prettiest dark red garnet stones and black diamonds scattered all around. The earings were red studs of garnet with black diamonds around them, and my necklace was so tight it almost choked me but it had brilliant red garnets all the way around with smaller black diamonds on the top and bottom going around as well and the bracelet matched. Jezebel said I was a sight, and I couldn't help but think she might right. I hated anyone to gush over me so. It made my cheeks turn as crimson as the dress I was wearing. But I hoped so much that Sam would love me in it. I was yearning to see him and touch his face and to hold his hand in mine. My heart would not stop skipping beats until I saw him again. But for now I am off to eat breakfast with my family and there are errands that I must run in town. I was counting down the hours until I saw my Sam again.
