For My Nellie (standard:non fiction, 2270 words)
Author: Pitter Pat	Added: Jun 26 2005	Views/Reads: 3305/2394	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
This story was rejected by the First Line Magazine because of the “sensitive subject”. While writing this I had no intention of offending anyone, but chose to write historical fiction… It is the story of an x-slave’s homecoming. All comments are welcome

Click here to read the first 75 lines of the story

town. The way Mr. Gilpin liked her cookin', I'm thinkin' he'd keep her 
as long as she was willing to make him those fine vittles.” The twinkle 
in his eyes turned to stone. “If they tried to sell her, I fear I'll 
find her grave.” 

The soldier silently gazed across the hilltop. “I'm headed home too,
just a few more miles west. I'm praying my Martha and children are 
still on the home place and were untouched by the war. Good luck, boy.” 
He turned his horse and disappeared into the woods as quickly as he had 
appeared. 

Joe turned his horse toward a deer trail and began the steep descent
down the hill. His eyes searched the homestead below for a glimpse of 
Nellie. When he reached the old dirt road Joe's horse quickly halted, 
almost colliding with another horse. 

An angry tenor voice yelled, “Watch where you're going... What the hell
are you doing here?” 

The sight of Roger brought a sudden wave of panic to Joe, but he quickly
composed himself. “I'm here to see Miss Nellie.” 

“You're trespassing. If I had my gun I'd shot you.” 

“I'm not here to cause trouble,” Joe began. “I just want to see Nellie.
Would you...” 

“It'll take me about two minutes to ride back to the house and get my
gun. You'd better be gone or you'll be dead.” Roger turned his horse, 
gave it a kick, and it galloped toward the house. 

Joe turned his horse and returned to the deer trail. As he began the
climb up the hill he kept a close ear to the sounds around him. 

Unsure of what to do now, Joe rode to town in search of a place to spend
the night. Many people stared at him as he dismounted his horse in 
front of the general store and tied it to hitching post.  Joe kept his 
head slightly lowered as a man and a woman passed him. Before the war 
Joe had often come to the store to get supplies for Mr. Gilpin. He 
hoped Mr. McManis still owned the store. He had always been friendly 
and would be likely to have news about Nellie. 

As he approached the counter, he quickly pulled the cap from his head
and smiled. 

A tall heavyset man behind the counter continued to study a paper in
front of him. “Blacks use the back door.” 

“It's me, Mr. McManis. Joe. I used to get supplies for Mr. Gilpin...” 

As the man looked up, his eyes became cold and his voice was stern.
“Those Union pants tell me you don't belong here. The store is closed.” 


“But sir...” 

“Alex! Go get the sheriff!” The storekeeper yelled to a young man
arranging cans on a shelf. 

“No need,” Joe replied. He placed his hat back on his head and left. 

Joe untied his horse and walked toward the town stable in hopes Amos
still worked there. Through the open double doors he saw the elderly 
man carry straw into an empty stable. 

“This has got to be the sweetest smelling stable in the south,” Joe
yelled. 

The old man came out of the stable and wiped his dark hands on the side
of his pants. “It can't be! Is that you Joe? Whats ya doin' back here?” 


“I'm lookin' for Nellie. Have you seen her? Is she still at the
Gilpin's? Is she well?” 

“Slow down boy! Have a seat.” The old man pointed to two wooden barrels
in the corner. “You's takin' some mighty big chances comin' back here. 
Wouldn't ya know it, you's doin' it for a lady.” 

“You are my only hope to find her. I tried goin' out to the farm, but
Roger run me off.” 

Amos looked out toward the street. “To be honest, boy, I haven't seen
her in a long time. When Mr. Lincoln set us free a lot of people around 
here were mad. Some weren't goin' to do it, but a bunch of Union 
soldiers rode through town and forced them to allow those who wanted to 
leave to go. I told Mr. Williams I'd like to stay here and work like I 
had been if he'd allow it. He let me keep my room in the back and still 
lets me get a plate of food from the house. That's all I need.” 

“I'm glad it worked out for you,” Joe said as he started to rise. 

“Sit still, boy. We'll figure somethin' out for you. You'll need a place
to stay. Mr. Williams needs someone to put a new roof on his house. If 
ya want, I'll put in a word for you and see if he'll let ya sleep in 
the stable till ya find a place.” 

“I'd appreciate that,” said Joe. 

“I'll put word out to those I see. We'll find your Nellie if she's still
here.” 

Mr. Williams gave Joe the job and allowed him to sleep in the stable.
The first day he worked from dawn to dusk. When he questioned Amos 
about Nellie again, he had found out nothing. 

Joe worked hard for three days tearing off the old roof. His muscles
ached and his heart was heavy. There was still no news about Nellie. 

Just after noon on the fourth day Joe heard Amos call his name. He
climbed down from the roof and greeted him, “We just had lunch. It 
can't be suppertime already.” 

“I talked to Miss Carrie a few minutes ago.” He smiled. 

“Does she know where Nellie is?” Joe asked as he shifted his weight
nervously back and forth from one foot to the other. 

Amos patted Joe's shoulder; “Miss Carrie has seen her at church.” 

“It's... What day is it?  They all run together since I left Virginia.” 

“Friday. One more day to work, then church.” Amos grinned. “Speakin' of
work, I got a horse to shoe before Mr. Williams gets back.”  He 
returned to the stable and Joe returned to the roof. Soon Joe could be 
heard whistling a merry tune as his hands quickly went about their 
work. 

On Sunday morning Joe put on his best pants and shirt. He pulled at a
loose string from his worn blue pants and Amos chuckled. “Ya look just 
fine. I know ya can't wait to see her, but remember; a lot of time has 
passed. Things could have changed.” 

Joe frowned as he looked at the concerned wrinkles in Amos' face. “You
know somethin' you ain't tellin' me?” 

“I don't know nothin'. I just don't want to see you hurt if she's found
someone else or changed her mind about you.” 

“She's my reason for livin', Amos. Nothing has changed in my mind, I
don't believe it has in hers.” 

“But if...” 

Joe quickly interrupted, “But if she no longer loves me I'll find a way
to live with it as long as she's happy.” He ran is fingers through his 
hair, “Sure you won't come with me?” 

Amos shook his head. “I ain't been to church since my Claire died five
years ago. Next time I go I'll be in a box, when I've gone to join 
her.” 

Many people were walking or riding toward the church when Joe left the
stable.  As church bells began to ring, Joe rubbed his stomach wishing 
the jitters would go away. What if... No. He come so far, he had to 
have faith. 

Things hadn't changed at church since he had gone to war. The white
people filed into the pews and sat down while those with dark skin 
stood in the back.  Joe looked and looked, but didn't see Nellie.  A 
sudden shove knocked him into another man standing beside him and he 
heard Roger's rugged laugh. 

“Let it go,” the other man whispered. “This is no place for trouble.” 

Roger sat two pews from the back with another man. He turned and looked
at Joe and snickered. 

“I'm a free man just like you are,” Joe said. 

Roger answered when the piano began to play and a lively prelude drowned
out his words. The minister walked to the front of the room and the 
service began. 

While the minister preached, Joe's eyes searched the crowd of people
standing behind the pews, but did not see Nellie. Two pews down, 
however, he saw a smug smile on Roger's face as Roger waved at him. 

Joe's anger grew. “You're no better than me,” he whispered. 

Soon the sermon ended and it was time for communion. It was the
customary for white males to approach the altar first. ‘I may be 
whipped or hung, but today will be different,' thought Joe. 

When the minister invited the congregation to come forward, Joe was the
first to move down the aisle. The church was silent. The minister did 
not give Joe communion, so he knelt to pray. 

Time seemed to stand still. Not a whisper or cough was heard. After a
few moments there was a shuffle in a pew behind him. Joe closed his 
eyes tightly and prayed for strength to get through whatever was about 
to happen.  When he opened his eyes, he saw a one-armed man in a 
Confederate uniform and a women kneeling beside him. After a moment, 
others came - whites, blacks, and women. For the first time, all were 
served communion together. 

When the service ended, Joe and the Confederate soldier walked down the
aisle side by side. “Thank you, sir” said Joe. 

The soldier smiled. “War's over son. It's time for our nation to heal.” 

Joe nodded. As he walked out the door, Joe heard a sweet voice yell,
“JOE!”  Afraid his mind was playing tricks on him, he slowly turned 
toward the sound and saw Nellie running toward him. 


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