Good Morning All! I wrote this fic because I really loved the movie. All the characters were wonderful. Now being a Leo fan, I just adored the way he portrayed his character. I thought there wasn't enough of him in the movie. So I am writing this fic, which is going to delve deeper into Sheba and his relationship, and of course straying away from the plot We can't have that crazy mess in the movie repeat itself here now can we? (Calvin's Death). I hope you guys enjoy and if you do, please Review, Follow or Fav the story so I know whether to continue updating it. Thanks for reading! :D
Narration is bolded. Character thoughts are introduced with the (').
Chapter 1
A strong breeze sweeps through the fields releasing little tufts of cotton. Each and every little tuft swept away by this unexpected gust known as freedom rejoices! There is a ceremonial dance held in the sky, bouncing and twirling as freedom carries these little puffs of cotton far away from the clutches of that little shrub, and out of foreign hands that send chills down their fibers. Those little puffs of cotton will not be harvested. It will not be changed. It will always be cotton.
Cotton ain't cotton if it isn't put to use. Everything as a purpose and those little bits of cotton drifting in the wind aren't free but lost. When the wind settles an the lost cotton lands, it is alone and out of place.
It's a double edged sword. Freedom has that way about it. If I leave where do I do? Is there a place where a nigger won't feel out of place?
"Jim...you..you th-think she made it?" A young field hand stutters, crouched real low, whispering hot gossip about master's play thing.
".." The old man before him is hesitant to answer. His head turned sideways. One eye on the cotton and the other on a brawny white man and his mascot; a loaded double barrel shotgun. He waits till the overseer march over that hill before whispering: "Nope...she lost."
A WEEK EARLIER
"I know about you...niggers like you. Ya little devil the way you got him wrapped. Sugar coated sweet thing the way you got him twirlin', feeling good, but under all that suga' is a rotten little nigga up to no damn good."
"SHEEBA!" that unmistakable voice booms from the parlor, followed by a series of mutters about a daft, vain and spoiled girl that travel through the walls, but that don't distract the uppity nigga from his own ramblings.
"It don't got to be much. A turnt up face, anything you to do make him sour-"
"Stephen what in the world are you doing to my nigger?" You don't got to hear his voice to now he coming. Calvin got that way about him. He got that strong spirit that make its presence known long before his body enter the room.
It's his energy that sends sparks down the back, clinging on to you, drawing you into his world. He like hot tar, once you get stuck, ya stuck for good.
"Ah it ain't shit Calvin just talking to the girl. You know ya got to keep talkin' to these creatures, keep they mind sti-sti- Calvin what's-
"Stimulated..."
"Yea that's right stimulated. Got to stay sharpening them or they just go dull on ya."
Sometimes I wonder who talks to him, who keeps him stimulated? Then it hits me. The devil don't need no stimulation.
"Why Sheba, talkin to Stephen got you looking a little under the weather. A short pause as he twirls his daddy's tobacco pipe between his fingers.
There ain't no rest for the weak and weary. Sheba a testament to that as Calvin grabs her arm twisting it as he yanks her into a standing position. She wobbling and it's obvious this girl can't stand on her own. Calvin brace her using his one arm. He eyes her with a certain curiosity, looking her up and down. He being none too impressed sucks his teeth, while at the same time releasing his grasp, he know she gone fall, and right before she hit the ground he drawls, "Stephen call Cora. I think my Georgia peach done gone sour."
"Lay her on the floor, poke and prod her, and don't stop till she speak. that's my method cuz there ain't nothing wrong with that girl. Got massa breathin down my back about a healthy nigga.
"Maybe she just tired, don't want to talk."
'Oh that Mary that dumb dumb Mary always saying something stupid.' Cora thinks to herself. Half her mind set on telling that girl she ain't pretty enough to be so damn stupid.
"Tired? What she got to be tired for, laying on her back? Shit... I wish someone lay me on my back. Move aside I fix this gal."
Hot water on her face and back, dribbling and boiling as it roll down her skin. She going to have to work to stay quiet. Cora got another bucket, her legs spread, arms raised up high. Mary in the corner hands over her eyes, peeking through the slits between her fingers. She ain't slick.
A threatening stance to tell that stubborn girl there ain't no mercy here.
So she lets it drop, right on that ass. A tender spot, and that gets her moving and talking too.
A few screams and a jerk got her upright and focused. Eyes all big and doe like.
"Now you know I on't like this harsh treatment, I don't like giving it and I sure as hell on't like taking it."
There's a mumbling and a moaning, but no direct response. She can't help but weep about what may happen now that she is forced to see.
"No,no,no,no, I can't ...he kill me. Oh God...shit! Barely audible whispers smothered by her rocking back and forth. Clenching those hands real tight, little fist threatening to hit somebody.
"Are you alright Miss Sheba?" Little Mary concerned, and rightfully so, because nothing could prepare them for what is to be said.
"Sheba what gotten into you girl. You scaring me?" A comforting hand from a childhood friend comes etching toward her. Them fingers spread reaching for her, closing in on her. She backs away don't want nobody touching her, but Cora grabs her face, a soft but firm hold forcing this gal to find her mind.
"Come on Sheba tell me what's wrong. Why you shaking like you just saw the devil?" Sheba lean in closer pressing her cool wet forehead to Cora's smooth dry one.
"Promise you won't tell?" You can hear the desperation in her voice. "You can't tell nobody." Her voice barely above a whisper.
"Mary imma need you to go get Sheba a nice clean dress to put on. You know where Bess keep the fresh laundry right?"
"Yes ma'am."
"Alright, now hurry before Sheba catch a cold."
Cora wait till Mary out of sight.
"Come on steady yourself gal and tell me what's wrong."
"I'm pregnant."
There is a thick and heavy silence present throughout the makeshift slave quarter. A silence so strong that it stings and chokes the women, forcing one to make a move and Cora does.
"You damn idiot! Look at what you got yourself into! She got Sheba by the shoulders shaking the life out of her."Oh shit you in some deep trouble!" Cora has a hard time biting her tongue.
"What good am I? When he find out, he'll toss me aside. Call me a useless nigger. He'll sick Marsha and her bitches on me!"
"There are many things Calvin is capable of, as a matter of fact, I'd agree with ya. I'd say you got damn right Calvin a'feed ya to Marsha and her litter, if you was any other nigger, but you ain't just and nigga, ya his. I tell you right now if it was a toss of between you and Stephen, kill on keep one, he'd send that old cotton head to meet Jesus! Now regarding this thing here it ain't Calvin that should get you so worked up its Miss Lara. You know she a snake. A snake in that boy ear, but I don't think that enough to get him moving."
Cora gets moving, pacing back and forth, pointer finger tapping against her chin. She start mumbling to herself and quickening her pace. As funny as it look that girl really thinking, churning that brain of hers to cough up some idea to help her friend.
"Ooh I know, I know what to do, but it ain't easy. It gonna cost you a pretty penny!"
Sheba staring at dirt can't bring herself to look at Cora. She shakes her head, "you act like I got pennies."
"Oh now hush! I know you got something. Everyone know Calvin shits gold... and the way you all up in his ass, I know you caught a few coins."
With a smirk on her face Sheba replies, "you and the rest of those damn niggas don't know shit. Everybody who AIN'T stupid knows that men like Calvin don't carry cash!"
"You know? I think I've had my share of looking after uppity niggers. I think you should whistle for Stephen. He probably has great advice and can help you lots; y'all both two peas in a pod anyway."
After Cora says her piece that smirk flies off Sheba's face. She dead serious now, because this ain't no joke. She in trouble and Cora her only life line.
As she start walking toward the big house, Sheba start talking. "You know what happens to women like me, when they masters get bored with them, or find them useless?"
Cora keeps walking as if Sheba ain't talking. Humming a tune to drown her out.
"He going to wash his hands of me like I ain't shit. toss me aside, give me to one of his friends. I know Calvin he gon' try to punish me...he will send me to the fields. Everything I have...gone! No more good food, nice clothes, nights out. I'll be stripped of everything! I ain't no field nigger, and I ain't no ordinary house nigger, and I've got more than just my name. I got a place and I ain't just gonna lay down like some damn dog and let them take everything. Nobody going to laugh at me. Not Miss Lara, Calvin, Stephen, you or any of those other niggers. Because that's what y'all want. Ya'll want more than anything to see me fall. To see me in rags looking as lost and stupid as the rest of ya. Well let me tell you Cora, I ain't lost and I ain't stupid!"
Her voice was low and every word was like venom. No amount of humming could block out those words, because it rang true. Cora knew how Sheba felt. He'll everyone knew Sheba walked around like she ran the place. It must have felt good to be high in them clouds. So good that she rather die than come off that high. Cora almost feels bad, because she can understand, but Cora ain't never been so sympathetic and understanding enough to ignore when she being insulted. and on that note without hesitation, she turn on her heel to face an angry and desperate woman.
"Now I know you for a long time. We was good always good, since massa's daddy brought you here for Calvin, and I should have known better...all that spoilin' made you rotten. You forgot where you came from and who you is. Only difference between me and you is that I cook and clean to stay alive and you lie on your back! Now you ain't never been cross with me, and I know our ailment got you crazy, but if you think for one minute that you can make me feel a way about myself that ain't how I want to feel, you must have lost what little there is left of your mind!"
Unlike Cora Sheba ain't ruffled by those words. She just tired. Her head pounding...too much thinking...she was always careful.
"I always took proper measures." She turn around. Her back to Cora. Not talking to no one in particular, but Cora is listening. "He been eyeing this one girl all of a sudden. She don't belong to him, but that never stopped Calvin before."
Cora swaying back n forth. She don't know what to do. She much rather be up doing her work than fussin' about mess that don't concern her.
"I was going to say earlier before our talk went sour that you can see Tookie. She know of some herbs that'll flush it out, but as i said earlier it gonna cost you. You may lose some precious trinket, but you get to keep your job. God forbid you end up like me.
Cora brush her hands against her thighs, as if wiping her hands with the whole thing. She takes her next step toward the big house and Sheba don't stop her.
"You better get back in that shack and wait for Mary to get back. Before one of these hillbillies see your tities and go crazy on you."
-End
I hope you guys enjoyed it!
