Untold Promise

"What did you say your name was again?"

 "Hoke, Ma'm, Hoke Colburn," I readily answered, not mindin' at all that that very same question had just been asked for the hundredth time. The lady didn't seem much interested in learnin' my name. She was seein' me as something just a bit annoyin', like a tot or a pup, a present from her son that she done thought easier to take in than return.

"Start the car, Hoke. I need to pick up a few things."

"Yes'm."

You be lucky to be employed in the South, they said. And if your employer tried their best to treat the negro right, you try your dang hardest to keep the job.

And Miss Daisy was...doin' just fine.

It sho' was ain't easy. Not at first.

I started the car, a maroon 1949 Hudson Commodore. A beauty, she was.

Miss Daisy had been driving herself for decades before I came, so I'd heard, right until she was seventy-two. Seventy-two! I knew many folks, younger folks, who turned senile and helpless right when their first grey hair done appeared.

She was one stubborn old lady, this Miss Daisy.

"Would you please hurry? I want us to be back before dinner, thank you."

"Right you are, M'am."

Thank Lord Almighty she now woulda get in on her own. Though it was downright amusin' playin' catch up wit' her when she tried ta walk to the store on her own and finally got in after those nosy neighbors looked at her one time too many.

But mostly it just didn't feel right to sit aroun' all day in the house.

Well, Mr. Werthan – bless his heart – paid me without falter even during all those early empty months in the summer. As the man himself said, 'she can say anything she likes, but she can't fire you. You understand?'

Now that the weather turned chill and the leaves red, our talks had gone from nothin' to short and all polite-like. Amazin' progress, if I do say so m'self.

"It's a beautiful day today, Ma'm."

"Well, it's rather chilly."

"I heard the winter won't be gettin' too bad this year."

"Did you have the air-conditioning checked? I told you to have the air-conditioning checked."

"I had the air-conditioning checked. I don't know what for. You never allow me to turn it on."

"Hush up!"

She scoffed, but only done frowned for not too long before she cracked that smile of hers when she thought I wasn't lookin' at the rear mirror. I grinned.

===

It was a splendid summer day, the weather just be right, not too hot. I done loadin' the last of her baggage in the trunk before closin' it. Miss Daisy kept a wrapped package to herself, the paper shiny and decorated wit' fancy patterns. Miss Daisy herself was lookin' neater than usual, puttin' on a nice white summer dress for her brother's birthday.

"It sure is pretty. Is that Mr. Walter's present?"

"Yes. It's fragile. I'll put it on the seat."
Before we coulda took off, Mr. Werthan appeared wit' Miss Florine. They gave a gift for Mr. Walter to Miss Daisy, who was somewhat offended they weren't gonna go wit' her. After their usual banterin', we departed. Mr. Werthan had slipped me a fifty for my troubles.

"It's 7.20! We won't make it to Mobile on time!"

"Yes'm. We will."

"I just don't want to be caught in the rush hour."