Read Online Princess Ces'alena by Mercedes Keyes - Free Book Online
Authors: Mercedes Keyes
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I should sell the lot of you… startin’ with you! Never did me no favors bringing you here! Should’ah rid myself of you after Royal left me.”
“She be the lucky one.” Kayleen added mumbling, grabbing an apple to chop, her eyes on him with the cleaver in hand as she made the first split in two…then turned from him continuing to grumble about spiteful old white men. Morris shook his head, catching much of what she’d said, but he neither had the energy or the inclination to follow through on getting rid of her.
Making his exit, re-entering the dining room, his eyes fell on his son who was standing before the fire place with his arms stretched out on the mantel. His head hanging between them…his body in position to look as if he were pushing against it with all of his might. He was trying to collect himself. With closed eyes, he steadied his breathing for what he felt he had to do, and the first part was informing his father.
Morris took a seat at the head of the table in the dining room…and for a few minutes more…silence reigned in the room. As he sat staring at his son’s back, he couldn’t help but think back to when she’d first arrived, ‘I knew it, I knew the minute I laid eyes on that fancy Negress she was gone be trouble. I’ll be damned if she ain’t just that…the minute she come into my boy’s life…she cast some kinda spell on him. He ain’t never been the same since.’
Manny took a deep breath and rose from the mantel turning to see his father’s eyes intently on him. Silently he walked over to the table and took a seat at his father’s right. For the moment, neither spoke. Morris could feel that something was wrong by his son’s manner…he just couldn’t squelch the overwhelming dread that was compounding the growing silence between them.
Readying himself for what he had to say, Manny leaned forward placing his elbows on the table, entwining his fingers, he brought them to his chin. He turned to his father, and after a deep breath he began. “I need to talk to you. But for what I’m going to say…I can foresee a shouting match ensuing. So, I ask that you hear me out before you interrupt. I’d like to think that we can discuss this civilly. I do grow bored with the arguments that have yet to settle a thing. After today’s little event, I can see a need for us to come to some kind of understanding as far as Mikey and Lena are concerned. Now…will you at least hear me out, please?”
Morris stared at his son with true fear washing over him. ‘Royal, I get a feelin’ our boy is headin’ for hard times if I don’t turn him around. Why’d you have to make him believe black is human like us? Now with that nonsense in his head, I can’t get it out. Couldn’t get you to treat the Negroes like the slaves they was suppose to be, and your son I fear going one worse.’ Morris sighed, he had loved Royal, heart and soul…had tried his hardest to show her, her place in society…but she had always preferred the company of the slaves to anyone else. He shook off the memory of coming in from the fields looking for her, only to see her barefoot, of simple dress with her red hair down. Hanging out in the slave quarters, on the porch laughing and gossiping with Kayleen, Ma’Nicey and Ruby. At the same time that sight made him angry…it turned on his desire for her. Royal Sun had been a natural beauty…on the inside, as well out. But things were different for their son, the son she gave him. The son he would gladly die for…but somehow he had inherited his mothers liking for the Negroes.
Somehow, he’d gotten off track and now he wondered how he might get him back on it.
“Well father, do I have your attention or not?” Manny asked noting his father’s thoughtful hesitation. “I’m listenin’.” Morris shot wanting it out and over. “Without interruption?” Manny pressed.
“Yes, yes, yes, just like you said!”
Manny decided to get straight to the point, there was
“She be the lucky one.” Kayleen added mumbling, grabbing an apple to chop, her eyes on him with the cleaver in hand as she made the first split in two…then turned from him continuing to grumble about spiteful old white men. Morris shook his head, catching much of what she’d said, but he neither had the energy or the inclination to follow through on getting rid of her.
Making his exit, re-entering the dining room, his eyes fell on his son who was standing before the fire place with his arms stretched out on the mantel. His head hanging between them…his body in position to look as if he were pushing against it with all of his might. He was trying to collect himself. With closed eyes, he steadied his breathing for what he felt he had to do, and the first part was informing his father.
Morris took a seat at the head of the table in the dining room…and for a few minutes more…silence reigned in the room. As he sat staring at his son’s back, he couldn’t help but think back to when she’d first arrived, ‘I knew it, I knew the minute I laid eyes on that fancy Negress she was gone be trouble. I’ll be damned if she ain’t just that…the minute she come into my boy’s life…she cast some kinda spell on him. He ain’t never been the same since.’
Manny took a deep breath and rose from the mantel turning to see his father’s eyes intently on him. Silently he walked over to the table and took a seat at his father’s right. For the moment, neither spoke. Morris could feel that something was wrong by his son’s manner…he just couldn’t squelch the overwhelming dread that was compounding the growing silence between them.
Readying himself for what he had to say, Manny leaned forward placing his elbows on the table, entwining his fingers, he brought them to his chin. He turned to his father, and after a deep breath he began. “I need to talk to you. But for what I’m going to say…I can foresee a shouting match ensuing. So, I ask that you hear me out before you interrupt. I’d like to think that we can discuss this civilly. I do grow bored with the arguments that have yet to settle a thing. After today’s little event, I can see a need for us to come to some kind of understanding as far as Mikey and Lena are concerned. Now…will you at least hear me out, please?”
Morris stared at his son with true fear washing over him. ‘Royal, I get a feelin’ our boy is headin’ for hard times if I don’t turn him around. Why’d you have to make him believe black is human like us? Now with that nonsense in his head, I can’t get it out. Couldn’t get you to treat the Negroes like the slaves they was suppose to be, and your son I fear going one worse.’ Morris sighed, he had loved Royal, heart and soul…had tried his hardest to show her, her place in society…but she had always preferred the company of the slaves to anyone else. He shook off the memory of coming in from the fields looking for her, only to see her barefoot, of simple dress with her red hair down. Hanging out in the slave quarters, on the porch laughing and gossiping with Kayleen, Ma’Nicey and Ruby. At the same time that sight made him angry…it turned on his desire for her. Royal Sun had been a natural beauty…on the inside, as well out. But things were different for their son, the son she gave him. The son he would gladly die for…but somehow he had inherited his mothers liking for the Negroes.
Somehow, he’d gotten off track and now he wondered how he might get him back on it.
“Well father, do I have your attention or not?” Manny asked noting his father’s thoughtful hesitation. “I’m listenin’.” Morris shot wanting it out and over. “Without interruption?” Manny pressed.
“Yes, yes, yes, just like you said!”
Manny decided to get straight to the point, there was
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