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| From www.nairaland.com |
When young Fancy came to Master’s Big Place, his birth momma, Emma, had him all hugged up in a buttercup yellow blanket. They glimpsed each other sometimes after that. Emma sometimes found a reason to come up to the Big House and rest her scratchy palm on his head, for a second.
Betsy, the cook, took daily care of
him. At night, she would tell him ‘jump on
up’ to the lumpy soft mattress behind the kitchen. Emma slept cross the yard in
the Quarters with the hands.
Due to Master’s whim, as he grew,
Fancy learned to eat when James, the Master’s son ate, at the low blue table,
near him. He had to be finished whenever
James was, so he had to eat quickly. After
lunch, they played hoops and with the red ball.
Soon he was allowed to practice on his own slate, while Tutor Foster
lectured and examined James in Master’s study or in the screened porch, if it
was very hot.
