My mother doesn't talk much about our route. The only thing she could say was "Be grateful Page and be thankful to Mrs Waves who gave us shelter"my mother could scorn me. This made me really sad and kept my questions to myself. Trust me,my mother was a good woman. Well, she never spoke about my Dad and I never bothered to ask. I've heard her conversing with the other maids about how my dad left her and I could hear her crying from where I was peeping through the kitchen's window.
I was loved by Mrs Waves, usually I was the main reason why my mother got a job at one of the biggest Maison in town. I was actually bought as a slave by the young master David. I remember crying and begging him to let my mother come along and somehow he agreed.
" Do you like this one sir?" Master smoke asked David's father who looked at my mom and frowned .
"Is she a nursing mother?" He asked holding his nose this time around, he then shifted his eyes on me.
"Oh, don't worry about her baby. He has been sold " Master Smoke said smiling widely.I shifted my look at my mother. I could see her shaking and sweating profusely. Behind the white man bargaining about my mom was this white boy with curly hair and deep blue eyes. He looked older than me although I didn't really know my age."
I need a slave for my boy.." the white man said looking through the queque he continued talking but stopped when the deep blue eyes boy pulled him by the hand. The young boy looked disturbed probably not liking his environment.
"What's it young man?"he asked him with his brows lowered in confusion.
"Ermm..I'm okay Dad"the boy told his dad. However, I knew if I was not bought that very day I would be punished severely by my Master so I thought of drawing the young boy's attention. I attached his shirt and started pulling it. He smelled good and it was welcoming to me.
"Hey, he jumped closer to this father and this made my master slapped me.
"You animal, will you go back to your position?"Mr Smith shouted. I started weeping and went back to join the queque of fifteen slaves. My mother also looked at me with a scorn and I dried my tears quickly.
"Sorry Mr Waves, hey Tom! Get the young boy here something to clean his shirt." He ordered some of the other white masters. The boy zoomed off but when he was entering the Chariot, he turned and shouted " Buy her, father" he said I can manage.
" I need a slave boy for you not a girl. What are you going to use her for?" the father said sounding obvious about the fact that I would be useless to him.
"For entertainment " he said bruntly as he walked towards his father. He looked and acted mature so did I but that was because of the hardship I go through as a slave. With each steps he took, he was looking right at me.
"Wait here son, I will like to have a word with Mr.Smith in private.The boy just nodded. He touched my hair casually. I on the other hand shrung in.
" Don't touch me" I said angrily to the boy . Looking amazed he bent down to reach my level. " Shh.. don't let the older people hear you say that" he caustioned me about Mr Smith and his Dad. I Know about how curely slave masters could be so I need not to be caustioned. I was only tired, hungry and angry about the incident that just happened.
"How old are you? he asked. I turned back to look at my mom and back at him shaking my head.
"Hmm..."he sighed holding his chin and his waist.
"Ok you're four." He concluded after few seconds.
"Yes master "I said snodding knowing I was going to be separated from my mother any moment from then. Meanwhile, the two masters seemed to be discussion something serious. The boy looked at me and muttered a curse.
"Oh I could give you double payment if you tell me where this slaves are from especially that beautiful nursing mother over there, I mean the slave woman with the light brionze skin tone.
" I can't tell you that." Mr Smith said sucking in his cigarette at the corner of his mouth.
" I'll pay double even though you are selling her at unsual price. here you go. " Slapping the money on the table, he lighted his cigar. The greedy Mr. Smith immediately grabbed the money from the table.
"Well, I Know there's something unique about her because I got her from the royal family." He said whispering into his years.
"What of that thing around her neck? That shiny Stone?" Mr Waves asked curiously.
"Never touch that , I've been shocked trying to touch it my self. Mr Smith said shakingly. " It got some power" he concluded.
I could hear nothing from here but I could see our master pointing at us for time to time and the boy's Dad looking closely at my mother.
"You're buying both mother and daughter right?" Mr Smith asked getting up from the chair but got stucked in the air.
"No, I'm still looking for a young energetic boy for my son. However, you can keep the money and I'm taking the girl." He replied him too fast as if nothing could change his mind about his decision.
"Oh you are too kind." Our master said still sucking hard on his cigarette and adjusting his hat here and there.
"Let's go son,and come along with your slave." He said taking strokes to the chariot. My new master looked at me and my mother then back to his Dad.
"What am I using one slave for? " He said biting his lips.
"Father, I wanna buy both." He stared. His Dad removed his spectacles and looked at his child with a shock.
"What for son?" he asked making it seems like the boy should know something.
"She looks tired from child and needs medical care. In fact we will be at lost if we buy her son." He poured out his concerns. The boy stood there with his hand in his pocket. He had an express on his face which I couldn't explain. Davide had this air around him and as he grows it increased.
"She's fit as fiddle!" Our master shouted trying to convince him.The man looked at over master for a while and chuckled.
"Smoke,Smoke,Smoke"he mentioned his name three time and smiled at his boy.
"Alright we are taking the fragile one too"he said looking at his golden wrist watch on his hand and as if it strucked something in his mind, he stared at my mother and nodded two times.
"Follow me" the boy said suddenly withdrawing his hand from touching my hair. I tried moving but fell down due to the chain tired on my hands and legs. I looked up at my young master which with an obvious look which caused him to smile. From there, I knew this master would be very kind even though I didn't know of this father. I have heard about how slaves are treated by their masters, it was no different from how Mr Smith treats us. For my age, I couldn't understand why they call us 'slaves'? Ok, why is our skin colour different from theirs. In fact I had a lot of why's? My mother had to scorn me from time to time and hide me behide her sometimes when my ego gets the better of me in front of a master. She had to take countless lashes for my sake.
"Hurry up son, I've a meeting to attend" he complained taking a look at his watch again. As Mr Smith was unlocking the chains,my mother fainted. She just gave birth the two nights before and has been feeling very weak and besides we've been standing sinces morning after walking miles to be at the market. As usual our master started lashing her with a whip leaving marks on her body.
"Get up lazy trash" he could say after every lash."
I don't have time for this, he needs medical attention" Mr Waves educated.He removed the chains from my mother and I. "
Don't make me lose the offer" he blusted as he grabbed her hand and made her stand on her feet. "Get up!" He whispered into her eyes.I could see from the corners of my eyes what the blue eyes boy was doing. He had this frown on this face and his hand folded into a fist.
"Don't worry young man, you will understand "he said signalling to the other white masters yo bring him cigarette. The boy stood there looking confused.
"Understand why they are black? Or why they look like monkeys with hair" His father said laughing. This caused the boy to roll his eyes and left us .
"C'mon Mr Waves he will ".He said shaking his hands.