In My Dark, Blue Hours

1

Fall 1949

I was 7 years old. I lived in a small town of Moresville, North Carolina. I went to school when I was younger but to help pay the bills with my family, I was in the fields with my mama picking cotton, indigo, etc. while my papa was working on a railroad. It was so hot, it felt like God put the sun right near our noses. We worked from sunrise to sunset today. With all honesty, work wasn't even that hard when me and mama talked on the future and how things'll change for the better. When it got dark, me, my mama, and my friend Omar and his mama walked home from the fields. We were neighbors, so I used to go to his house everyday after work but tonight my mama making me something special for my birthday. We lived in a small shack in the negro district of Mooresville. When I got home, papa was sitting on the chair in the kitchen. I ran to give him a hug then I went outside to play with Omar. We were playing tag behind our homes. After tiring each other out we sat outside my porch and talked. "Boy I ran circles around your jive self", I said. "Freddie, you taller than me that ain't even fair", Omar said. "Even if I was short like your short self, you'd still lose", I said before laughing. Both of our laughs were soon short lived as a car pulled up to our home. The sheriff got out the car and walked to the screen door. My mama opened it and asked,"Yes sir, how may I help you?". "Does Mickey Davis live here?" he asked. "Yes, that is my husband, why, did he do something wrong?" she asked. "We just need to take him to the station for questioning." he said. "Please give me a second, sir," my mama said before closing the door. As the time passed, the cop tried to talk to me and Omar. He was trying to be pleasant but I knew he ain't like black folks. He always be over here terrorizing people to make them feel like they'll never be nothing. A minute later my papa came out and said,"Yes Mr. Officer?" As soon as he said that, the officer put him in cuffs saying,"You are being arrested for stealing parts from the railroad company you work for," the sheriff said. "Sheriff, you got it wrong, I would never do something like that," papa said. "People said they seen you done it, now why would they lie on you sir," sheriff said. "I don't know, sheriff," my papa said. "Alrighty then, lets go to the precinct. I swear you niggers always getting into shit," sheriff said while walking my papa to the car. I was hysterical. I ran into the home to ask my mama where they taking my papa. "Is he coming back mama?" I asked. My mama was over the stove cooking caramel and she said,"I dont know baby, I just dont." she said. My mama wouldnt show me her face, but I knew it was because she was crying and in pain. Me and my family ain't never done nothing wrong  to folks. I just hugged her and told her everything would be all right. "Yeah, you right. Thanks baby, now go sit down at the table," she said. We ate dinner then we went to bed. I thought about my papa all night. If he's ever coming home or tonight is the last time I'll see him.