Doves Migration Read Free

what would we have done
without him? Elise wondered. Looking among her friends, one by one
recalling how Michael had truly made a difference in all of their lives, she
thought, Thank heavens, we will never have to find out.
Then suddenly realizing she may never see any of these people again,
Elise began to etch the images of their faces into her memory, to assure she
would never forget them. When her eyes rested on the round, full face of
Mammy Tess, their former slave, a single tear rolled down her cheek.
Since childhood, Mammy Tess, and her son, Jesse had played vital
roles in Elise’s family. Almost as if she had stepped back in time,
bittersweet images of her past unfolded in Elise’s mind . . .
The day was no different from countless others in the kitchen of Doves
Landing as the slave lovingly prepared the meals for the hungry travelers
passing through. Kneading bread in a floured, stained apron Mammy Tess
would hum softly while allowing Elise and her dear friend Miranda ample
time to snatch a warm biscuit straight out of the oven. Playfully, Mammy
Tess then would snap a linen towel in the direction of the girls, shooing
them from her kitchen. Squeals of delight echoed throughout the
boardinghouse as the girls juggled the hot biscuits in their hands while
running up the back stairs. Hearing their laughter, Mammy Tess, with a
broad smile across her lips would resume preparing the traveler’s meals,
humming softly again.
Recalling such happy times and the thought of living her life without
Mammy Tess, whom she thought of as a second mother, became more than
she could bear and Elise struggled against the urge to cry. My, but we were
happy . . . no fear of starving, or being raided, or killings . . .
As if knowing what Elise was thinking, Mammy Tess stretched out her
arms and called to her, “Sugar, come give yer Mammy Tess some lovins.”
“Oh Mammy Tess . . .” Elise whimpered as she eagerly ran to her,
taking comfort in the arms of the robust Negro woman. Rocking her gently
from side to side, Mammy Tess squeezed her tightly while patting her
lovingly on the back.
“Now don’t be makin’ a fuss, Missy. You need to be strong fo’ Miz
Sarah. This is goin’s to be real hard on her.”
Pulling away slightly, Elise dutifully nodded up at her. “I promise.”
“That’s my girl.” The older woman lovingly cupped her hands around
Elise’s face and wiped away her tears with her rough, callused thumb. “I
love you, child. Now you go on over to that man of yer’s, and make me
proud. Be a good wife to him and mind yer manners with his folks, or I’ll
come up there and take a switch to ya.”
Chuckling slightly, Elise kissed Tess softly on the cheek. “I love you
too, Mammy Tess. There’s so much I want to say . . .”
Mammy Tess shook her head and pressed her lips together firmly.
“Shh, child, no needs to say nothin’ now. I already knows that no matters
where you be, yer my little girl . . .”
Trying to hold back her own tears, Tess stopped in mid-sentence and
Elise watched as Mammy Tess took the corner of her apron and wiped her
tear-swollen eyes. “Now jest look what ya gone an done . . . got me
blubberin’ like some old fool.” She scolded, as only Tess could, pretending
to be sterner than she actually was.
“Oh Mammy Tess, I’m going to miss you so much,” Elise whispered,
through the lump in her throat that was the size of a peach pit.
Smiling knowingly at Elise, Tess nodded her head, than wagged her
finger as she gently scolded her again. “Now go on and get yourself over
where you belong. Before that good lookin’ major changes his mind.”
Without saying a word, Elise tenderly kissed her one last time and
turned searching for the reason she was leaving her childhood memories,
her beloved homeland, and the friends that she loved. Finally, her eyes
settled on Joshua and her heart skipped a beat, just as it did every time she
looked at him.
Having finished the task of