The Dark-Thirty (2010)
“There is no greater horror than a system that allows parents to sell their children—or, as in this story, brother to sell brother.
The plantation bell summoned everybody to the big house. About fifty slaves, including the inside help, gathered in front of the white mansion. Among them were Henri and his wife Charlemae.
Harper McAvoy, looking pale and weak, stood beside one of the big Doric columns that supported the second-story porch. After nervously clearing his throat, he announced in a not-...so-steady voice, “I’ve sold Henri.”
One of the slaves screamed, Charlemae perhaps, Harper didn’t know for sure. As he hurried back inside the house voices called after him: “No, not Henri.”
“Massa! What about Charlemae and the baby?”
“Who will see after things round here?”
“What will become of us all …?”
Harper raced to his study, where he barricaded himself against the onslaught of questions. “I sold Henri!” he said, giggling foolishly. “I did it! Now I’ll be rid of him.”MoreLess
The plantation bell summoned everybody to the big house. About fifty slaves, including the inside help, gathered in front of the white mansion. Among them were Henri and his wife Charlemae.
Harper McAvoy, looking pale and weak, stood beside one of the big Doric columns that supported the second-story porch. After nervously clearing his throat, he announced in a not-...so-steady voice, “I’ve sold Henri.”
One of the slaves screamed, Charlemae perhaps, Harper didn’t know for sure. As he hurried back inside the house voices called after him: “No, not Henri.”
“Massa! What about Charlemae and the baby?”
“Who will see after things round here?”
“What will become of us all …?”
Harper raced to his study, where he barricaded himself against the onslaught of questions. “I sold Henri!” he said, giggling foolishly. “I did it! Now I’ll be rid of him.”MoreLess
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