Fan+Fiction

__ A Lost Friend __

// This is a fan fiction from the point of view of Obour, Phillis’ best friend who was also on the slave ship from //// Senegal ////. They were split up when Mr.Wheatley bought Phillis off the slave trader, John Avery. Phillis can vaguely remember seeing a man walk up to John Avery and buying Obour from him. The Only two words she heard spoken were Tanner, and //// Newport ////. //

I watched my friend, my last connection to home getting taken away from me. “No!” she said reaching over to me, our fingertips barely touching, “I don’t want to leave Obour!” I put on a sad yet sincere smile “Go,” I said in our language “He is a man of good parts.” “But I want to stay with you!” she complained. “Don’t worry for me. I’ll find a master. And someday we’ll see each other again. Be of good heart. Don’t dishonor your family.” I replied hopefully, and then Keziah (Phillis) was turned around by the slave trader.

He whispered something to her in a stern voice and then he handed her to the man who was asking for her. This man had kind gentle eyes and a warm smile, and by the look of him I could tell Keziah would be okay. As I stared at my friend and her new master, I man say something suddenly heard another man talking to John Avery. When I turned his direction I saw another man gesturing towards me. The man was dressed in a quite expensive looking attire and had a presence that seemed to radiate importance.

 The man and John Avery walked towards me, and judging by the look on John’s face I could tell that I would have a master soon enough. The man squatted down to my height and said “hello my name is Alexander you can call me Alex” he said, “I will be your master now”. As I stared in confusion at him, John said something to Alex, probably explaining to him I didn’t know English. The man nodded in realization, and then he stood up and gave John some pieces of paper. “Well John I have to get going” he explained, “I have to make it to Tanner, Newport before evening.” “Okay then have a safe trip.” John said.

Alex grabbed my hand and we bagan to swiftly walk towards a huge box that had two large beasts tied to it. I quickly looked around for Keziah and found that she too was entering a box with her master. “I guess its safe I thought.” There was another black man sleeping up on the box. He wore the White man’s clothing, which I presumed meant that he was a slave owned by Alexander too. “Micah!” Alex said calling to the black man. The slave jolted awake and looked around, searching for his caller. “Yes, Master Alexander sir, I was jus’ takin a mighty nice rest- MY Lawd what have we here!” Micah exclaimed. “They were selling her on the slave blocks,” Alexander explained, “I couldn’t resist, besides Darlene has complained of lack of extra help in the kitchen.”

“My-kuhhh.” I tried pronouncing. Alexander spun his head around “Did you say that?” he asked. “Aleeeecss.” I tried saying. “Wow,” He said kneeling down to my height, “you must be a fast learner, because Avery said that you could only speak your native tongue” he said in admiration. I just smiled even though I didn’t understand anything that Alexander said. He stared for a moment then suddenly he shook his head quickly. “We have dattled along far too long we must go,” He said swiftly with a smile, “Time to meet Darlene.”

Several weeks have passed since I first was picked up by Master Alexander. When we arrived at his household I met his wife Darlene. She was a kind woman in her thirties who had a really bright way at looking at everything. I also met a middle-aged slave named Mabel. She was sort of like a mother to me while I lived under Alexander. Mabel helped with kitchen duties along with Georgiana another slave girl around my age. I have to tell the truth the first few weeks I cried a lot because of the loss of keziah, but one night Georgiana heard me crying in my quarters so she walked in to see what was wrong.

“Darling what be the matter?” she asked me. “I just miss my friend Keziah,” I whined “Now I don’t have anyone anymore!” “Am I no one?” she asked. “Of course you are, I didn’t mean it like that!” I said. “I know, I was jus’ messin around wit you.” She said. “Believe me.” She said, comforting me, “ I went through da same tings as you, and unlike you I literally didn’t have any friends.” She said. “Now chin up,” She said smiling, “how bout you come get a drink of tea wit me in da kitchen” I nodded and followed her in the kitchen. “I promise I will see you again, Phillis” I said to myself “but for now I just have to keep thinking positive.”

By: Matthew