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an approaching wagon. It was Charlotte. I couldn’t believe that she had them hitch the horses and drive her less than a mile from Mark’s house to Fathers. What a bloated, pompous, fool I thought to myself as her driver stopped in front of the house. I watched as the driver put a stool next to the door and then opened it for Charlotte. She stepped out wearing a dress that should have been reserved for a ball or banquet.
    “Y hello Rebekah!” She said as she stepped onto the porch, pretending to be ecstatic to see me when in reality she’d probably forgotten that I’d even returned home.
    “Hello Charlotte” I replied.
    “I hear you’re finished with school and ready to marry” She said.
    “I’m afraid you’ve been misinformed” I said.
    “Oh? Your father said that you had completed all of your classes” Charlotte said.
    “I have. I was referring to the part about be being ready to marry. Unfortunately that bit is inaccurate.” I replied.
    “Oh, Your Father…”
    “Was assuming that my intentions were the same as his. They are not!” I interrupted.
    “Oh I see. Well the younger you marry, the more years you’ll have to be happy together.” Charlotte said.
    “Or miserable together.” I added.
    “Indeed. Well if you will pardon me I desperately need to speak with Mark.” Charlotte said as she entered the house.
    I picked up my book which had fallen onto the porch and tried to resume reading, but the book was one of the most boring things I’d even laid eyes on and I knew I would fall asleep again. I got up and went into the house. I could faintly hear Mark and Charlotte talking in the den. I knew I shouldn’t listen in but I couldn’t help myself. I made my was to the door which was closed and probably locked. I carefully placed my ear to the wall.
    “I don’t expect that you would understand such things but the answer is still no.” I heard Mark say.
    “I assure you dear husband that I understand fully, I do however not understand your reaction.” Charlotte replied.
    “If you don’t understand by now you never will. The answer is no and it will not change.” Mark replied.
    “Fine, you can remain here and live in your fathers shadow for the rest of your life but know this, I do not intend on remaining in Georgia for the rest of my life. I will go places either with or without you.” Charlotte yelled.
    “Then go. I do not have time for your foolishness today. I have a business to run and if you intend on enjoying those nice clothes and luxuries then you will let me run it.” Mark replied.
    “I do enjoy them very much however the only eyes that reach them out here are yours, mine and the thirty slaves you have running around here doing God knows what.” Charlotte said.
    “Go home Charlotte!” Mark demanded as he stepped through the door I was listening at. He looked at me briefly with a disgusted expression before walking out the front door. Charlotte stormed out behind him and was so focused on Mark that I don’t even think that she saw me.
    The next morning I was awakened by a banging on the back side of the house. I stumbled down stairs in my night gown to see what the ruckus was. I was greeted in the hallway but a very large bull nigger that I’d never seen before. Being half naked I let out a slight yell. Mark and Samuel came in to see what was wrong.
    “Why are you in night clothes?” Samuel asked.
    “Overt your eyes before I take them from you!” Mark yelled at the nigger who immediately looked away and resumed nailing a board to the wall.
    “The banging woke me and I came to see what it was” I said as I made my way back to my room.
    I knew it was going to be a bad day right then. Anytime I was startled awake I spent the day in a bad mood. I called for Sissy to bring me some old clothes. It was hot; I was sweaty and decided that I was going to the creek. I spoke with father and told him that I was taking Sissy with me. He agreed. He had never liked me going to the