Misty woke up the next morning with the sun shining direction on her face through the east window. She winces as she sits up and shields her eyes with one hand. After she arouses completely, she gazes out the window to see the sun sitting on top of the trees. If the sun was up that high, it must be at least ten o'clock. Why didn't Mama wake her up earlier? She had to get to work! She saw whip marks on the other people, she didn't want the same souvenirs. She quickly undresses from her night shift and puts on the same dark purple dress she had on the day before. Mama left some milk and cheese on the table for a quick breakfast. She must have already gone to the main manor to cook the Master and Mistress their own breakfast. It was probably a lot more filling and delicious then the same old cheese they had. Misty puts a bandana over her fiery red hair before stepping out the front door into the fields. Not a lot of people were working already. Maybe she wasn't late after all. She tried to remember everything Master Ash had told her yesterday. How to do the planting and which ones to do first. It was all quite confusing to her. She did help out with the farming at home with Papa. But this place was different. Everything had to be perfected to the Master's liking, otherwise you paid for it, or tried to do better then next time…if there was a next time. Misty thought she'd start small for her first day at work and starts to weed her section of the field. She made a bucket out of her small apron and but all of the rubbish in there as she pulled. Whenever she got a load full, she'd go over to the tree-line and deposit them in a small hole she had dug.
"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Came a voice from behind.
Misty dropped the fill of weeds she had in her skirt and turned around. "I'm sorry, Master, I thought I was doing it the right way. I didn't quite recall every word you told me yesterday and…"
"Calm down, calm down." Ash sighs aghast. "At least you're doing something." He put a little bit of emphasis on something. "You were supposed to weed. But when you were finished, we have a bin to put all the extra shit in."
Misty flinched. She'll have to get use to the different surrounding. "Yes, Master. I will be more attentive next time you give me directions."
"Damn right you will." Ash walks in circles around her. He smiles in some sort of satisfaction. "It's bothering you, isn't it?"
"What's bothering me, Master?" Misty asked.
"My phrasing." Ash replies.
"Your words don't bother me, Master." Misty said. "It's not my place to tell you what you should and shouldn't say."
"I can tell you're sensitive, Misty." Ash says. "The hell with holding things back. Tell me all the stuff you have on your mind."
"Excuse me, Master, but just because I'm a Christian doesn't mean those words disturb me. Of course I don't care to use them myself, but that's my choice. Christians can use those words as well. All if forgiven in the end." Misty says strongly.
"Is that so?" Ash leans in towards her.
"Damn right." Misty replies.
"Very well then." Ash leans back again. "Okay, off you go. There is still weeding to do. You're not finished yet."
"Yes, Master, I'll get right to it." Misty bows and runs off, back to the fields.
That afternoon, Mama came back to their shack to have some lunch with her daughter. She brought some leftovers that the Master and Mistress didn't eat themselves. It was sort of a treat for them. They had crackers and slices of thin ham to put on top. Instead of water, or milk, they had iced tea. Misty told her about her little quarrel with the Master in the morning. Mama congratulated her on how she handled it.
"It isn't that big of a deal." Misty admitted. "I believe he's just trying to make me burst and yell at him or something."
"He's underestimating you, Misty." Mama says. "He has no idea what a stronghold he's up against."
"Thank you, Mama." Misty smiles.
"Would you join me today after lunch in the back of the hut? I gathered a few more servants and we're having an afternoon service." Said Mama.
"Oh, Really?" Misty asked excited. "That sounds great. Of course I'll be there."
"Thank you, dear. I do need the support." Mama laughs.
"But you're wonderful at that stuff, Mother." Misty says.
"Oh, thank you, dear." Mama puts a hand on her cheek, flushing. "I do hope it goes well."
"It will,
Mama. It will."
Later that afternoon, Misty
follows Mama into a little opening behind a circle of shacks in which the other
slaves are housed. Misty was sort of surprised, that most of the people
attending weren't her age. They were older people, like Mama. In fact, she
hardly saw a person her age anywhere on this plantation. Only her and her
Master she could recall looking to be around the same era. Misty works her way into the crowd of
gatherers and tries to get a front seat so she could see her Mama clearly. On
her way there, she got some pats on the back and sympathetic looks.
"You poor dear. So young and she has to go through this."
"So delicate, does she have to work as much as we do? If she does, it's absurd."
"Look at that baby face. Already encrusted with that scar."
"Those people don't really have any heart, do they? Poor dear."
Misty doesn't reply to these remarks. She was younger and had a lot more energy then they did. She should be doing the work. Mama was up front and Misty finally made her way there as well. She takes out her little pocket-size Bible that she always kept in her apron pocket. She flips through the pages and clears her throat.
"Thank you everyone once more for attending. I hope the word of our Lord will reach us all today, easing our minds, calming our spirits, and giving us more reasons to live onward. Today I shall remind us the story of Moses." Mama introduces. Misty could tell she was nervous somehow. But it was not a big deal. Just read, Misty thought, just read it. " 'Moses tried to calm the people. "Don't worry," he said. "Today you will see God in action" The people were too scared to listen. God said, "Why do you cry out like that? Moses, raise your staff and the sea will split. There will be a wall of waves on both sides. The water will not touch you. Pass through the sea with the people. I will protect you. When the Egyptians try to follow, I will make the water crash on them and they will die." Moses raised his staff. A strong east wind blew the water so it stood straight up. A path formed in between the two walls of water. In the darkness, the people and all their sheep and cattle ran between the waves. They could hardly believe what was happening.'"
Mama continues to preach the story of the parting of the Red Sea, how Pharaoh and his men tried to follow the Israelites, only to be crushed by the large walls of water next to them. Misty smiled to herself as Mama finished her story and started to conclude in a prayer.
Mama ended the prayer and looked over the crowd of people. "You see? Even in times of desperate need, the Lord will come to our aid. He is always at our side, whispering in our ear. Move on with believing, he'll say, move on with your heart." Mama takes her finger and points to the sky. "Let us finish today with what we believe."
Everybody chimes in with the Apostle's creed. "I believe in God the Father, Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth. And in Jesus Christ, His only begotten son, Our Lord; Who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary; Suffered under Pontius Pilate; was crucified, died, and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead; He ascended into heaven, and seated at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit. I believe in the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body, and the live everlasting. Amen."
"Amen to that."
Everybody turned to see the overseers with sneers on their faces. Mama's face went white, but her finger still pointed towards the heavens. They came over to her and took her from under her arms, lifting her up and taking her to the open field. They ordered everybody else to follow. They set Mama down next to a tree stump. Misty, being the shortest one, couldn't see what was going on. All of the other slaves were muttering to themselves in worry. Misty stood on her tip toes and jumped up and down, but still couldn't see. She could only hear what was going on.
"So, you think you can do that on Master Giovanni's plantation and get away with it?" Came an overseer. "We'll show you what happens to people who point. It is very impolite."
Misty pushes her way through the crowd, she could hear Mama struggling and almost pleading. Misty heard a swish and a thwack, followed by a shriek. Misty pressed her path through the final line of people and instantly covered her mouth with both hands as another swish, thwack, and yelp took place. Two fingers lay on the ground next to the tree stump. Blood covered the wood as Mama's hand was pressed against it. Each hand was missing a pointer finger. The overseers had chopped them off with a thick knife. Mama's face was covered in tears, though you could tell she was trying with all her might to hold them back.
"Think you're strong do ya?" An overseer asks maliciously. "How about this one." He moves his knife to Mama's left hand, to her ring finger. The ring Papa gave her was still on it.
"Please, sir, anything but that one." Mama cried.
The overseer just stared down at her in hate. He then tucks the knife safely back into his pocket. "Just let this be a lesson, woman. It is not polite to point…anywhere."
The overseers leave and the crowd just stand there staring. Misty is almost filled with rage and sadness as she rushes over to her Mama's side. Mama fumbles with her apron, trying to wrap up her hands. Misty looks blankly at the two fingers on the ground, then to Mama's cut hands. It looked disgusting. Misty swallowed the big lump in her throat and helps Mama stand up. They walk over to the cabin together to bandage her up. Misty scowls to herself. She felt so enraged. But revenge may not be the way to solve it. She was gonna help Mama get away from this place. Even if she had to stay.