Chapter 3
The country Baptist church was a continuous source of comfort for the small community of sharecroppers. Those who came in fresh from the fields sometimes dozed off in between fire, brimstone and crying babies. However, most were grateful for the opportunity to give thanks for making it through yet another backbreaking week. Even the most sinful person was forgiven during Sunday services which was why Eubie was made to sit directly in front of Preacher Hicks’ pulpit. Beryl had convinced her husband that Eubie would be more inclined to understand the significance of losing a hard day’s work by sitting in the front row rather than suffer the sting of a rope on his backside.
In order to appease his mother and evade his father’s wrath, Eubie pretended to be interested in what was being said. It was basically the same message every week - survival tinged with hope and he knew all the words before they came out of the preacher’s mouth.
Bored, Eubie tried to catch Henry’s attention. He had to turn his head around several times because Henry’s large family took up several rows. As the youngest, Henry was relegated to the back. So as not to appear too obvious, Eubie faked a loud sneeze which was his signal to let Henry know that he wanted his attention. Instead, he caught the disapproving glare of Miss Porterhouse. Preacher Hicks also noticed that Eubie wasn’t paying attention, and aimed the sermon directly at him. “I know the road to everlasting happiness is rough making it downright impossible for us to make our way to the Lord.” The only road Eubie wanted to take was to a place where he and his sister weren’t afraid to grow up; a place where his mother didn’t have to work so hard, a place that would put a smile on his father’s face; but most of all, a place where he could be free to roam the world with all of its splendor. “At times it seems too narrow, too rocky, and too steep. But let me remind you!” the preacher said shaking his fist in admonition. He paused just long enough to have everyone lean in to hear how they could once again be saved. It was so quiet that one could almost hear the angels sing if it wasn’t for the faint sound of calliope music off in the distance. Then with one powerful blow to the pulpit, Preacher Hicks said in his most energetic voice, “The good Lord will not let us fail!”
Eubie dismissed the eternal condemnation as a slight inconvenience when the calliope music was in full force and competing with the preacher for the attention of the entire congregation. When it became obvious who had won, Preacher Hicks resigned himself to what he referred to as such amusement being a traveling showcase for the devil. When the last Amen was said everyone hastened out the door.
Beryl was thanking Preacher Hicks for his fine sermon when Eubie spotted Miss Porterhouse headed in his direction. Their eyes locked and he remembered the note he was supposed to give to his father. As luck would have it, he was spared when several other parents clamored for Miss Porterhouse’s attention. Her mouth ran a mile-a-minute, but occasionally she would glance in Eubie’s direction to let him know that she hadn’t forgotten him. When the opportunity came to power her way through the crowd, Eubie immediately looked for an escape route. He quickly found Henry and they both ran in the direction of the music.
Far from the words that could possibly condemn him to a life in the fields, Eubie hatched a plan to attend the forbidden carnival. Henry didn’t need much convincing. He knew that life without Eubie’s adventures would be dull. They were just about to sneak away when Rosetta’s voice rang out of nowhere.
“Pa’s callin’ you,” she chimed from her hiding place by the bushes where she crept up and heard every detail of her brother’s covert escapade. Eubie looked up and saw Miss Porterhouse talking to his father. It didn’t matter that he was out of earshot; his father’s twisted mouth and raised brow let him know that his carefree life as he knew it would soon be over.
