"Ruin and Redemption"

School Lets Out Early

 Lizzie was in the school, teaching the alphabet, and reading a simple story to the slaves whom she had handpicked to take the lessons. Mindy had decided to come and help her. She still had some things she wanted to brush up on herself, and she wanted to help the kids who would be free soon.

Lizzie began to get a queer feeling as she was calling on Thomasina, the little girl who was her best and brightest pupil. Thomasina was speaking very clearly and articulately, but Lizzie couldn’t hear her. There was a roar in her ears, like the sound of the ocean, and Lizzie felt that she was in danger, that possibly her slaves and students were in danger. She stared transfixed at the little girl’s lips, not knowing what to do, or if there was anything she could do yet.

Josiah is coming for you, Lizzie. Go with him.

Lizzie didn’t know what to think. What about Mindy? Lizzie looked over at her, feeling very guilty about the kiss, and very guilty that Josiah was coming for her. What about Mindy? Could they all get on Josiah’s horse? Could he protect them both? Mindy was pregnant, for God’s sakes, and she was here helping Lizzie!

Go with Josiah, Lizzie. Mindy will be safe, I promise. It isn’t Mindy they’re after.

Lizzie could hear the faint sound of horse’s hooves, lots of horses hooves. Was Josiah among them? She couldn’t just run off and abandon her students could she? What was she going to do? If she could hear them already, it wouldn’t be long before they arrived. Her head was already starting to pound.

“Mindy, they’re coming. I don’t know what to do. What can we do, Mindy?”

“Derrick will come down, won’t he?”

Lizzie shook her head. Derrick would come down, if he could possibly manage. But it would take him forever.

“He’ll fall down the stairs Mindy, trying to make it in time. What are we going to do?”

“Josiah will be with them, Lizzie. He’s been keeping a lookout. He’ll get you out of here,” Mindy reassured her, taking the hands of two small girls, dressed in gingham skirts with sloth Patsy had recently purchased.

“What about you, Mindy? You’re pregnant!” Lizzie exclaimed.

“They’re after you, Lizzie. I don’t matter right now!”

“Of course you matter! You and the baby! Josiah married you, Mindy, not me. I can’t take his attention away from the one he really ought to be protecting.”

“It isn’t me they want, Lizzie. Children, go outside, go back to your cabins. Don’t sit there. Bertha, take your sister and everyone who lives on either side of you. Be a big girl,” Mindy extorted.

“Oh the children, what are we going to do? Children, school is over. Everyone get up, and lets go outside and get some fresh air, and older folks too. Please take a child, don’t worry about going to the fields, just go to your cabins and stay there until its safe. Everyone up.”

“Don’t want to leave you here Miz Lizzie. They be coming for you.” Said an older gentleman.

“My husband will talk to them. I don’t want anyone staying around and anything happening. You’re my slaves, and I have to protect you. Derrick and I will talk to these gentlemen who are angry with me. Everyone go to your cabins before they try and punish you for learning to read. In fact, light the fire, and everyone throw your books in. We’ll buy new ones later. Throw your books in and then be gone. I’ll deal with the gentlemen myself.”

“We ain’t leavin you, Miz Lizzie.”

The fire was lit, and the books burned. Lizzie had to snatch some of them away from the reluctant students who cried. She didn’t have time to offer them any comfort. Once she and Mindy had grabbed the books away from those who were clutching them too tightly, she pushed and shoved the students out, and towards their cabin. But many wouldn’t go far. They stood looking at her with wide eyes. How could she burn the books? Somehow she couldn’t bring herself to jostle the old men. She had told them to go. What good would old slave men do her? The mob that was on its way wouldn’t hesitate to hurt a slave that was trying to protect her. She couldn’t allow them to sacrifice themselves for her, could she? So close to Emancipation? Mindy was gone, escorting the confused children back to their cabins.