Caesar, A Love Story. 1.5k (standard:romance, 1473 words)
Author: Oscar A Rat	Added: Jun 16 2020	Views/Reads: 1401/961	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Caesar, a free black man back in 1715 Boston, saves his wages to buy his sweetie.

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

It was late by the time Caesar could meet Mary in her small room at the
Johnson house. 

“I'm worried, Caesar.  Mrs. Johnson keeps talking about how they're
goin' broker an broker,”  Mary told him while undressing, knowing he 
was tired and needed some loving before going home.  “They's talkin' 
bout sellin' someone.” 

“Don't worry, baby.  He knows I'm saving to buy you,”  Caesar reminded
her, him already undressed and lying on the bed.  She looked so lovely 
in her pantaloons, almost more so than without.  Just almost.  “I've 
already got three-hundred continentals saved up.  Another year and I'll 
have it.” 

Within minutes, the already sweltering room became a few degrees hotter
from passion as they coupled in splendid abandon, no foreplay needed.  
The bed shook like a bowl of yet to be invented Jello.  The windows 
would have fogged if there had been any windows. 

Sated, Caesar returned to his small rented room. 

*** 

The next morning, he arrived to see Scipio was still missing. So was Mr.
Johnson. 

“Why's Mr. Johnson late?  You know, Samson?”  he asked one of the
remaining slaves.  “I suppose that lazy Scipio is still playing sick.” 

“No, sir, Mr. Caesar,”  Samson told him. “Mr. Johnson out sellin'
Scipio.  Don' need that lazy bastard anyways.  We haf'ta do his work 
‘arselves anyway.” 

It was noon before Mr. Johnson came back, seeing the shop in full
production.  Caesar was covered with powdered coke and sweat, not 
changing his color but sure as hell making him shine. 

“Come on and take a break, Caesar.  I have to talk to you anyway.  This
is as good a time as any.” Mr. Johnson headed for the backyard where 
they kept raw metal ingots and it was cooler than inside. 

The two men strolled through piles of metal bars, bushes, and refuse to
a shady spot, piled with stacks of metal ready for the furnace.  
Sitting on a bag of sacked charcoal, the business owner frowned. 

“I hate to bring this up, Caesar, but I gotta give you a time limit on
the girl.  I have debts that won't go away, and business isn't very 
good.  I have to cut cost, and three slaves are expensive to keep.  I 
can't see any way out of selling another one.  And ... well, I can't do 
without the two in the shop.”  He paused.  “It has to be the girl, and 
soon.  My wife will simply have to do the housework herself, like it or 
not.” 

“You promised me, sir.”  Caesar's mind was in sudden confusion.  “I can
give you three-hundred now, and the rest out of my wages?”  he offered, 
“You know I'll be around to pay it off.” 

“That's not all,"  Mr. Johnson told him, "I'll have to cut your wages,
too.”  Although compassionate,  the boss was at heart a businessman.  
“I'm afraid you'll quit if I sell her to you right now.  I'm well aware 
that you could find a job in any foundry in town, and for more money.”  
Although not stated, even free Negroes were generally not considered 
very trustworthy. 

That day, at work, conversation died.  Everyone worked in silence,
worrying about their respective situations.  The two foundry slaves 
were afraid the owner would sell them.  Mr. Johnson worried about his 
financial problems.  Of course, Caesar was concerned about his lover. 

The next morning, after much thought, Caesar had made a decision -- the
only one he could think of.  He called the boss over to a corner of the 
shop and made his offer. 

“Mr.  Johnson, I've been thinking.  What if I signed a paper saying that
I would work for you for the next five years, an indenture?  You give 
me Mary and I give you that indenture and three-hundred continentals?  
And Mary would agree to stay and work, but as a freewoman.  That way 
you can work us both and if I leave you could have me posted as a 
runaway.“   He thought for a minute, and added, “And, you wouldn't even 
have to take care of her.  It would be my problem.  Just give us enough 
pay to live on is all.” 

They agreed on the terms and, two days later, Caesar paid and signed the
Indentured Servant contract.  He took Mary home with him that evening.  
Mr. Johnson even gave them two days off for a honeymoon. 

Things went well for over two years, him working harder than ever
before.  Caesar even built up a nest egg of over fifty continentals.  
It looked like everything was turning out alright. 

One day he came home to find Mary gone, along with his continentals. 
She had found another man -- one with more time to love her. Ah, the 
fickleness of true love. 

The End.


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