Fan Fiction
This story has been set to a rating of PG-13. Age verification is required to proceed.
Civil Love-Chap 3
Login to add story to favorites
(0 votes, average: 0.00 out of 5)You need to be a registered member to rate this post.
Loading ...
“No, mother.”
“So you’re going to treat Elizabeth like your servant, right?”
“Yes Ma’am.”
“Good girl. Now go down now and begin your lesson.”
Darlene grabbed her daughter’s hand and guided her over to the table.
“Now you stop that crying, girl. Tell me what happened.”
Bette wiped the tears from her eyes and looked at her mom and Kit.
“Mistress Constance hates me. The other day she wanted to beat me and the way she looked today, Ma, I can tell she wanted to again. Ma, I don’t understand. I did nothing wrong.”
“Being black is what’s wrong,” Kit said while stirring the unknown contents in a pot.
“Hush, Katherine. Look, child. You are a slave. You had no business wearing Miss Christina’s dress. You have no business learning how to read. Your place is to serve Miss Christina. If you do anything other than that, you will be beat and sent out there in the fields, chile. Now Master Jackson been good to us. You don’t want to mess that up. We have better food, clothes, and quarters.”
“But Ma………”
“Look, Elizabeth you come from a long line of strong women. We’ve been whipped, tortured, put in jail, and sold away from the plantation and family. Don’t let the way Mistress Constance looks at you break you because soon this will be all over.”
“What you mean, Ma?”
“Just hang in there a little bit longer. So until then, do as yall told. You hear me?”
“Yes.”
Melvin was a couple of miles away from the plantation when white men on horses approached.
“Boy, what are you doing out here?”
“Well Sir, I went on an errand for Master Jackson.”
“Don’t lie to me, boy.”
“I’m not, sir,” Melvin said as he rolled up his sleeve so the men could see the estate marks on his arm.
“We’re looking for runaways, have you seen any out here?”
“No Sir, I haven’t.”
The men got off their horses and checked the carriage. While doing so, they threw off everything stacked on the back. One of the men noticed the look on Melvin’s face and struck him.
“Let me see your pass, boy.”
Melvin reached in his pocket and showed the man his pass. This pass was given to him each time he left the plantation to let other slave owners and overseers know that he had been sent on an errand by his Master.
“Get this stuff up and go, boy. And next time you look at me like that, I’ll shoot you down.”
Melvin packed up the cargo again and hoped that the men wouldn’t find the family he had just dropped off.
A few miles away, the family of three safely made contact with the next person.
“Hi, I’m Alice, and I’m going to take you to your freedom.”
At nightfall, Bette and Tina both got ready for bed. Bette thought about what her Ma had told her. So did Tina. They wondered if this was the way God intended for things to be, why were they both feeling differently? Why didn’t it seem right to them?
TBC
Comments
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.
Oh, my! This is a scary era for rebellion to take place, but we’ve already seen Melvin pushing the limits, and both Bette and Christina are struggling as they question the ways of adults. Tina sees the double standard and understands, even at her young age, the hypocrisy there. Constance is not a nice person–first calling Bette a heifer, and now all slaves animals. But that’s how we were seen back then, sadly. Not as human but as commodities. Men were 3/5 of a human, and women weren’t counted at all. Great story, baby–I know you’re up for the challenge here!
We have done a lot of research on the slave days and civil war/ My husband is from Va, and we both love history. The days I glad I dont live in. The slave were a way that landowners made money and the slave were for their own use and to buy and sell, I like this story
Wow! well …. your story is certainly unique on this site! Well done for writing about this period….in this world of political correctness, you’re rather brave to use certain terminology! My eyebrows were raised but I read it in context to the history. The human race was and can be quite evil! Well done…..I just hope others “comments” are respectful towards your story. Look forward to where this story goes.
I’d been wondering if people would get their panties in a twist over certain words. Okay, people. Quick history lesson. “Nigger” was a common word back then. If you were white you said it and that was that because that’s how you were raised. Considering the setting Succulent is using for this story, seeing this word in print should not shock anyone. Now that my quickie lesson is over with, I’ll continue with my comment. lol I’m really liking this story, especially knowing things will work out in the end. Chances are, in the real world, they probably wouldn’t have, but sometimes we need some happiness, right? I know myself I couldn’t imagine beating someone for a mistake or even having ownership over someone. But if that’s all you know, what can you do? When Tina’s older she can go her own way in time. I smell hard times coming soon.
Oh I am so glad Constance didn’t catch then kissing…it would have been dire for Elizabeth. I think it is odd that they kept saying slaves were like their animals, but they treated their animals better. I am also glad to see that Christina does realize the danger for Elizabeth in whatever they do. White women in the South didn’t have it appreciably better, being equally nonexistent in the eyes of the law and society. Maybe Helena will be a society woman working for women’s rights, since at that time it was only the wealthy women who had the free time and could afford the travel required. Don’t ya just love how we are trying to write your fic for ya?? This is quite a challenge, and I am so here.
I’m afraid Darlene and Melvin really do need to have that talk with Elizabeth and help her understand fully the danger she’ll live with daily while deemed a slave and how to cope with it, especially now that she is a bit older by the standards of the day and less likely to be forgiven an “indescretion”. Tina, too, in her privelege has yet to fully appreciate the danger she puts Bette in.
This is a daring and masterful (mistressful?) story! I expect a lot of pot-stirring before it’s done. The historical setting creates some wonderful challenges, and I love a good writer who passes on those challenges to the readers, giving us great fiction and a lot more to think about. Thank you!
You are doing a wonderful job of writing a story that is ripe for negative comment. Sure it’s hard to read and think about, but if we don’t and we forget…it will all happen again sometime. Thanks
I truly hope Tina and Bette listens to their mom, because how they may feel toward one another, in reality it is impossible for them to be anything but Master and slave. I think Tina understand the concept of this, but being as young as she is, she constantly puts Bette in danger. I don’t think Constance is going to continue to put up with this and the next time, Bette will be taught a lesson just out of GP. I still say lets poison Constances food, after all this too was part of slave history, and Bette’s mom does work in the kitchen. As we know it’s done over a slow period of time and if she lays a hand on Bette or Kit, believe me she would be poisoned. You are doing an excellent job with this story.
I have a feeling I’m soon going to truly love what you’re going to do with this story and this project of yours is so ambitious ( once again I want to say I greatly admire the hard work you put in your updates and I applaud you for the wonderful job you have done ), I might even give you a break about “And the winner is” ( LOL ! ). Well, The least one can say is you do know how to keep your readers hooked, Succulent1. Thank you.
I have to say that while reading a story set in the civil war era is sometimes hard because of the language used and the treatment of slaves is a horrible reminder of a very ugly time in our history. It’s the ugly truth and we can not change that. However, we may not like reading certain parts, I think without them we wouldn’t get the “full effect” of your story. You’re doing a great job as you have in the past with other stories. Please don’t give up on this one. I’m looking forward to how Bette and Tina over come all that lies ahead of them. I keep telling myself you’ll make it all better in the end. I’m right, right??? :) PPS.
What a horrid time in our history. It is distressing and shameful to read how the black men/woman/children were thought of and treated. I do hope Bette and family are able to escape, and Tina eventually finds Bette..
Thanks for having the courage to bring forth this story. I think everyone is aware of the history of this period but in an era of political correctness it will be difficult to tell it like it was. Keep writing and I promise to keep reading.
This story is going to be heartbreaking…but totally worth reading!! Thanks!
I think this is a fine story it does make me feel bad that Tina will have to use those words towards Bette and treat her badly to be seen in a good light by her family and friends.
You are doing a brilliant job at creating era that this took place in. Unfortunately, the subject matter is so painful to read and then to read Tina talking to Bette in such a derrogatory way just feels wrong. These two are treading on dangerous territory and Bette has the most to lose. Be gentle on our girls, Succ. PS
I think that this story is very unique. It was a terrible time in our history. Love can come in all forms whether man and woman, woman and woman, etc.. and also owner and slave. There is a wonderful movie called A House Divided that delves into the owner and slave during the civil war time. Our favorite actress, Jennifer Beals is one of the stars in this movie. It is also a true story that took place in Georgia.
This is very different from your other stories and you are right, it can be hard to read. We have come so far and yet, there are little reminders that we are still considered to be “slaves”. I remember a conversation between a friend of mine, while I was in university, that because of my light complexion, I was more acceptable to hang around. I couldn’t believe it.I will continue to read as long as you continue to write. It’s nice to have you back and I very happy to know that you are feeling much better and that your health is improving. Like all your other friends, “Take your meds”. Later.
This is sad for B&T!
Like everyone else, I’m hooked, and can’t wait to see what you have in store for our girls… You’re doing a wonderful job, and you can count on my support all the way, even when it becomes hard to read… Seems to me that Bette is going to turn out as one of those amazingly strong women, who don’t take fatality for what it is, and even though they are truly realistic about their condition and the dangers that it entails, might still believe in extreme possibilities… I guess she’ll need such a strong personnality if she embarks on this journey with Tina. As for Tina, I can see her go through many stages while growing up, all stirred by her feelings for Bette, and more than once torn between those feelings and what’s expected from her… But even at 12, and after that lecture they both just received, they already seem to start thinking things through for themselves… One sure thing though, you’ve stirred my imagination immensely, and all these possible scenarios are going though my head… LOL! Looking forward to seeing what you’ll decide upon… Thanks!
This is really hard for me to read & nothing really terrible has happened yet, but I’ll stick with it as long as I can.