The Book of Common

I Wanta Talk

Yep, let's talk Folks, ever been Atlanta ways? The border town, with Bama and Carolina. Fine city it is now. Well, back about this time I am speaking about it was just a town. Line drawn down its center marking Carolina and Bama. Weren't really a line you knows what's I mean.

Met this sweet lady, she was about my age. Thinkin I was about seventeen at the time. One of those from the Mid Americas. Copper colored skin, big brown eyes, why theyed look right through ya.

Her name was Anna, sweet pretty why get ta sweatin lookin at her. Small dance was goin on at the Station house, both Lands run it. Town Folk Rangers whomever wanted to attend. Small group a fellas playin music had a banjo, fiddle, and a harmonica. Square dancin slow dance sing along.

No guns allowed even Rangers checked them in. Made for nice evenin and night. Anna on track Common. Sorry Folks, the dance ain't the real story. Just the leadin up part. Anna, she was from a small Island can't remember its name Folks. One those off Mid America. Her English wasn't the best, she talked it slowly. Hell, far as I knows could be the way they talks down that aways.

How we met. I had just checked my guns in, she was lookin at me smilin and such. I wave and nod at her. Smile back, say I am Common who might you be. Lovely lady? In a very low voice, she said, my name is Anna, gently touchin my hand. Folks that sent tingling within me, all over.

Asked if she would like ta dance, they was a square
dancin. She shook her head, slow dance when it slows. We found I place ta sit I got us a drink. Her a tea myself an ale. Folks we danced two slow ones. The end of the second one we kept dancin. I was still hearin music. We both laughed about it. I was a touch embarrassed, not her. She leaned in close like, whispered we made music. We danced few more times.

She never stepped away with another man or just ta talk ta other ladies. That night, hell that few days. We were like attached, best ways ta put it. Think that's what happened ta Pa. Momma just hooked and pulled him in. Lan sakes, what a woman can do. Folks it was more than a few days.

I worked the Station House a spell, Station Masters wife was with new child. That fella didn't want ta leave her. I took it just well, Anna was around. Folks this was just a spell, after Maggie. Anna filled an empty place, that needed fillin was all. That is hindsight folks, at the time lust, some love was what I felt. On track Common, we left after about three hours. I asked if I could walk her home. She smiled, said be pleased if ya did. Maybe sit a bit have a drink.

I must tell ya now, her place wasn't much small. One room did not fit the way she was dressed. I don't judge a person on they home. Just tellin ya is all. Oh, the way she was dressed. The top was a red with black stripes, the bottom of the dress was black with red lace, that started about the hips stopped little ways past them. Most ladies they dresses are about ta the ankle well past the knee.
Hers only ta the knees. Wow, talk about an eye catcher.

She asked me ta sit, poured us a rum. Folks rum is ok, I prefer Corn licker or good old whisky. She told me, she came up here ta find ladies. Willin ta work in Mid America. Likes I said before, those down that way prefer our light and darker skinned people. Don't know why, hell any woman can look good, no matter the skin color.

I asks, now they will be paid? We ain't talkin Slavery, right? She looked me straight in the eyes.
They will be Pleasantry workers, high-class House.
I am staying here because the ladies that live this part of town. Need away ta get out of here. My offer is the best they may gets. Havin any luck I asks.

She said I have close ta twenty. I figure when we leave only have fifteen. Least five will not go, change there mind. One that wants ta leave is only twelve she must be thirteen to leave. Her mother wants to come. Folks this one I didn't want ta ask.
This one means I might have ta be a Ranger.

Before I could, she pulls out her writ. Signed by the Constable and the Ranger Station Master. That she was here to recruit workers. I smile at her, sorry job gets in the way sometimes. Told me if I hadn't have asked. She would have ended it, right on the spot. Well, I stays the night. We tumble in the sheets. I head off ta the Station. Anna says she was goin ta recruit some.

Folks, now ya know, Common doesn't always have common sense. Anna was a fine lady, smart nice ta look at. Why I let her slip away like that is, plum stupid. Gettin ahead of myself. On track now.

I gets back, why theys still lined up wantin ta see her. Ladies wearin the best they have. Wantin ta look good. I smiles at them, stay outside so as not ta intrude an all. Anna steps out, then young feller follows her. All smiles ear ta ear Folks, like wow happy. Ya know excited. Anna looks over at me says Common my guy had ta leave. About finished up can ya help with these last few?

Help, thinkin how do I do that. Sure I says. She pulls me inside, the ladies have ta be able ta undress in front of man. So you are him. I says they any touchin involved? No, she says, if they can't undress in front of a man. They more than likely can't do the rest. I kinda smile nod, guess you are right.

Folks most all of them were a bit hesitant about it.
Made it through ok. Anna gave them each a straight copper. The one's she signed on got two.
Folks that is not the best pay. For just gettin undressed can't beat that! About two months I had ta head out. Folks want ya ta guess, so guess what? Come on guess.

If ya thinkin I tried ta stop her, well ya be wrong.
If ya thinkin she didn't go. Nope, that's wrong too.
Well, both those are wrong. What happen ya say Common. Well, she left she invited me ta come along. I turned her down, Mid America turned down goin. Must of been a fool, ya are a sayin.

Probably, was a fool. She told me few days before she left. She was with child, folks don't know ifin it were true. Never saw her again. She didn't use that ta get me ta go. She smiled after tellin me. Common she says. Only reason I am tellin you. Man should know is all.

Well, could put that one, in the Regrets story. Folks what if I do have more children, running around than Liz. Lan sakes, that could be possible. Many ladies that I've met along the way. I know, ya sayin Common no action. Rangerin ain't all action Folks.
Hope I didn't bore ya ta death. Till next time.