The last words momma told me was "I love you baby." And to listen to my uncle. We had been on the move for so long always hiding from some people. "Why can't we go home I hate these strange places I miss daddie" I would complain. My mother would reply "baby we can never return home forget about that life we are almost to my brothers property it'll be all over soon."
We were at the foot of this humongous mountain. It looked like it touched the sky. As we came closer upon it we came upon a mine shaft and there was a thinly man leaning against the entrance dressed head to toe in black form fitting leathers. As we came close to him he didn't come to receive us just spat on the ground and said "sis" with a nod to my mother. To which she replied with a smile "I'm so glad you've gotten my letters and have agreed to take my little bell in".
He spat again and cleared his throat. " ahem I ain't agreed to anything yet." He looked me up and down then continued " I ain't got time to be raising no children's, the only thing I'll do is put food in the fridge and clothes on your back" he said speaking matter of factly to me. I just nodded and said yes sir. He cracked a small grin and nodded to my mother.
My mother had let a single tear drop from her and rushed to hug this old cranky man. She's delirious I thought. "Thank you thank you so much brother a life on the run is no life for her to grow up with" she now had tears running freely down her face. Then he pushed off from her embrace saying " enough off that you must get going before somebody sees you with me. And then it clicked in my head " mommie where are you going I'm coming with you right your not leaving me with this mean old man are you"? As tears started too well in my eyes as I clung to her shirt.
She patted me on the head and kneeled down to come eye level with me. And said "little bell I must go for now but I promise you" she stuttered and choked on her words. " I promise you that me and your dah will return for you when the coast is clear, I promise you my love"
She pushed me to the old man and said " you behave and go with him now. I love you and listen to your uncle". And with that she turned and ran off back the way we came.
I went to run after her but I was caught by a hand on my shoulder I was fully crying now and I was so mad I tried to wrestle free. But the hand just held strong and then spun me around to face him. "Mean old man huh" he said chuckling. Then continued on " fine I'll be that but listen here your mom is gone and now you have to listen to me. My property starts here I own this whole mountain and then some. this mine is very dangerous while we go through I want you to keep your eyes on my back look no where else but my back and step where I step. Am I understood"? I just nodded and whispered yes sir.
Then he picked up a rope that was lying on the ground tied one end around his waist and the other end around mine. Turned around and bent down to pick up a lantern and was off into the tunnel. I stood there at a such a loss untill I was pulled by the rope and followed along behind him. We walked for what seemed for ever through twists and turns past forks and up and down. I didn't pay much attention though I just stared a hole in his back as I was told trying, to let my hatred for the man who separated me from my mother be felt.
It was so dark any way and after awhile I calmed down and started to pay attention to my surroundings. I could hear all kinds of noises from the tunnels around us. I even could hear screams sometimes or the sound of men at work clink clink clink as they swung they're pick axe but I never once seen another soul but us. And so the journey went for another life time untill suddenly my uncle stopped and turned his lantern off and laid it on the ground in a spot carved out of the stone wall. And as the light went out my eyes started to adjust and there was a dim light up ahead in the direction my uncle was walking. Untill finally the walls gave way to the most amazing thing I've ever seen. it was as if every star was captured here in the ceiling and all I needed to do was reach out and grab one. I was lost in the beauty in pure admiration and just kept walking forward.
Splash the whole floor gave way. I was engulfed in water and it was so cold freezing in-fact. I struggled against the water to touch the bottom or grasp the edge but there was nothing but black things swirling around in the water with me. untill they came together and gripped onto me and I started to sink as if they were pulling me down to the bottom. They were trying to kill me. I tried to scream as my mouth filled with water I was going to die this is the end.
I felt a tugging on my waist and remembered the rope the rope was coming loose of me the blackness was tugging at it as it tugged me it was on the verge of becoming free of. I used everything I had to kick free of the blackness grip and grab onto that rope with all I had I held on. Momma raised a fighter I thought I'm not giving up now. And from that the rope was being pulled from the other side I was coming up closer to the edge of the pound. With a final great tug I was free and back on dry land my uncle is my savior I viewed him in a whole new light. "I told you to step where I step and watch nothing but my back" he belched
as he was huffing trying to regain his air. I just sat there shivering crying. I could say nothing he was right. Daddie always said never apologize for a mistake you've made learn a lesson and let it be that in the past. I miss my dad now I thought he was always so warm.
My uncle just shook his head and scooped me up and carried the rest of the way and whispered " I thought I had lost you bell". As his warmth enveloped me like my daddies. I passed out with dreams of family far away.....