High Cotton by P. J. Dunn - HTML preview

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CHAPTER 17, World Travelers, June,1875.      Scooter and B-Roy were scheduled to leave for London June 10th. There were many arrangements to be made before they left. O’Hara and Albert Cain were to manage the High Cotton Club while they were on tour. BD, since he didn’t like to sleep alone, would stay with Albert. BD  was all excited to be ‘taking care of himself’ while B-Roy was gone. He was now a grownup. Albert, Ella, and Jeannie, would make sure he was okay and that he was cared for. Sugar would be available if any problems arose, but of course none were expected.

       Scooter and B-Roy, boarded the ship on June 10th, as scheduled. The trip from New York to South Hampton by steamship would take 14 to 16 days and an additional days journey by train to London. They were anxiously awaiting their first performance and wanted to practice every day. The ship on which they were traveling was on what is called a ’positioning voyage.’ The ship was being moved from America to South Hampton, to be placed in drydock for repairs and refurbishing. To compensate the shipping company, passage was booked at a much lower than normal rate, but that also meant there were not a lot of amenities, such as entertainment. The Captain became aware that Scooter and B-Roy were onboard, and that they were entertainers.

      Also onboard were two gentlemen, who were musicians. Val Curtis, was a pianist, who played vaudeville shows in New York. Val had become discouraged because there was not a lot of work in New York. He was returning to his home in Liverpool. Onboard also was Erin O’malley. Erin, a multi-talented performer, could play about any instrument. He was returning to his home in Glasgow, Scotland. On the ship was a lounge, with limited services, but it did have a nice stage, and necessary equipment to perform a show. The Captain offered to these four, to return their passage fee, if they would perform for the passengers. By the third day onboard ship, a makeshift show had been put together, and for the next 12 days two shows per night would delight the passengers.

      Finally arriving in South Hampton was a great relief for all, and Scooter booked passage on the train for himself and B-Roy. Before departing, Scooter offered to Val and Erin to join their troupe and tour with them. Erin was going home to his family and declined the offer, but Val was overjoyed at the prospect of traveling with a show. Scooter and Val worked out a deal, and Scooter booked passage for him on the train also. They were on their way to London. Their first show was scheduled at Toole’s Theater on June 29th, and from there they were on a whirlwind tour of three cities in England. Birmingham, Darlington, and Manchester, were all on the schedule for three days of shows each. Then they would travel to Glasgow and Edinburgh in Scotland. They would return to London for a one week stand at the Royal Albert Saloon, a premier vaudeville theater.

      Business at the High Cotton Club was carrying on as usual. Scooter and B-Roy had been gone for ten days. BD had done his morning chores with Ms. Ella, had his lunch, and took his medications. Normally BD would nap after lunch for about an hour. This day BD was not tired and sleepy. He lay on the bed, and something in the partially open closet caught his attention. He went over to the closet open the door wide and there hanging on the back of the door were some old ragged clothes. A dirty, ragged, red vest with a button missing, attracted him first. It was B-Roy’s vest he wore before coming to the club. BD put the vest on and buttoned it up, and it didn’t bother him that it was buttoned wrong. He looked further and saw a long tail tuxedo coat, that was B-Roy’s also. On the shelf was B-Roy’s old beaver skin top hat, looking very ratty and dirty. BD donned the outfit and looked at himself in the mirror. He thought he looked like B-Roy. Wearing the clothing, BD went outside and to the front of the club, next to the street lamp post on the corner. In the street gutter, he found an old tin cup that folks could drop coins in. BD tried to talk to people as they passed by, but they couldn’t understand him very well. He began to wander down the street, carrying his tin cup, and wearing B-Roy’s magician clothing. BD wandered further and further away from the club.  Suddenly, he realized he did not know where he was. BD became frightened and began to panic, then he saw four young men sitting on a dock there at the river. He went over to where the boys were sitting. BD tried to ask them how to get back to the club, but the boys began to mock him. They called him a dummy and mocked the way he talked. One of the boys jerked the top hat from his head, and threw it to another boy as they played a game of keep away. They began to push him around, and wanted to know if he had any money. They shoved him to the ground and one of the boys kicked him in his side. They laughed as BD tried to get up off the ground. BD thought how B-Roy had told him not to fight and he knew he had taken his medicine this morning to keep him calm. As he struggled one of the boys grabbed the front of his coat, B-Roy’s coat, and ripped it. BD could take no more. He lashed out in anger at the first boy, delivering a big roundhouse left, which took the boy to the ground. A second boy swung at BD, catching him on the left side of him head, but the blow only succeeded in making BD more angry. BD grasped the boy by his shirt and right pants leg, lifted him over his head, and tossed him in the river. One of the other boys pulled a knife from his pocket, and came at BD swinging the knife cutting BD’s right forearm. BD grappled with this boy for a moment, swinging him around hitting the fourth boy and knocking him to the ground. The boy thrown into the river was climbing up the riverbank. All four ran from the dock, calling back at BD and threatening him. He sat down on the dock and began crying like a small child. He looked at his arm and the blood pouring from the laceration.

      Suddenly he heard a noise behind him and he jumped to his feet, only to see a cat run from the dock. Then he heard a voice. A female voice. “Is you alright young feller ?” the lady said. “Oh my, you been cut. Let me look at that, we’ll stop the bleeding.” BD started to back away. “it’s awright young man, I won’t hurt cha.” the old lady said. The old lady was Sally Preston, one of the local homeless people who frequented the docks, looking through garbage for food or anything of value. Known as Crazy Sally, she had been on the streets for many years. Sally reached in her pocket and pulled out some dirty rags and began to bandage BD’s arm. Sally heard a noise, and thinking the thugs may be returning, ran and hid behind some old crates next to the warehouse. Three police officers rushed around the corner, and surrounded BD, guns drawn. “That’s the Crazy man that attacked us.” a voice said. BD saw the four thugs as they followed the officers. “Yeah, he pulled a knife on us, and we took it away from him.” Another one of the thugs said. “You gonna arrest him, ain’t you?”

      “BD, What are you doing down here in this crappy neighborhood?” Officer Jarrett asked. All four thugs backed up slightly when they realized the officer knew BD, as though they were preparing to run. “Hold it right there fellows.” Jarrett said. The four turned to run. As they ran by some wooden crates next to the warehouse, a foot and leg appeared and tripped the first boy and as he fell the others tripped over him and the officers quickly subdued all four. After handcuffing the first, Jarrett looked back at the crates. “Good job Sally.” he declared. “Them thugs had no bizness hurting that young ‘un. He held his own purtty good though and that one, that one there, he’s the one who pulled the knife.” Sally explained pointing out the boy. “Doggone it. I’m gonna have a bruise on my leg.

      The officers took the boys to the jail and Jarrett took BD back to the club. Sally decided she would tag along. Ella was very upset when she realized BD had been injured and she and Jarrett took him over to the clinic to get the wound to his arm treated. Sally said, “I’m gonna have a bruise on my leg.” She decided she would go to the clinic also. The doctor cared for BD’s injury, and they were ready to leave the clinic, when Sally spoke up, “I think I’m gonna have a bruise on my leg.” Jarrett stopped, and looked at Ella. Both smiled, and Ella turned to the doctor, “Doc, can you take a look at our friend’s leg? She was injured helping the officers capture the four thugs.” Sally looked very sheepishly at Jarrett, then Ella, then at BD. Her voice trembled as she said, “I’m your friend? I ain’t never had a friend before.” Jarrett felt a lump come up in his throat, as did Ella. “You my friend, you my friend,” BD said. “Just like Ollie, he my friend too.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 18, Something is still missing. July, 1875

      Ella sent a letter to B-Roy telling him of the incident with BD and explaining the he was okay. B-Roy was upset, but knew that things were being taken of. Scooter and B-Roy had been discussing the fact that their tour would be ended next week. Scooter was considering making a journey to his home country of Nigeria. He had already checked about passage on a ship from England to Africa, and there were several ships available. B-roy was anxious to return home to St. Louis to BD. Val was going to accompany B-Roy back to America, but Scooter felt he could not return without seeing his homeland once more. The tour ended and B-Roy and Val boarded ship to return to America, while Scooter arranged his journey to Lagos, Nigeria. The trip was a nine day voyage with a 2 day stop over in Barcelona, Spain. Scooter was to leave on July 15th.  The anxiety of seeing his home and, his village, filled Scooter’s mind. Was the village still there?  Was his mother still there? Soon he would know. The ship arrived in Lagos early on the morning of July 24ththe . As the ship approached dock, Scooter’s mind and emotions began to run wild. The Yoruba warriors storming his village, being tied and placed on the boat. The grueling nine hour ride to Lagos. His mind went back to seeing a woman, stripped and held, head down over the side of the ship as the Yoruba warriors wagered how long it would take for a croc to take off her  head. They laughed and beat the woman with a whip so she would scream and writhe in pain. This attracted more crocodiles. Two of the Yoruba Warriors held a contest to see who could throw a baby the farthest distance, and then watched and laughed as the crocodiles consumed them. He remembered all the men and women on the dock being sold to the highest bidder,many for a pittence, just to get rid of them. At this point, the potential slaves, would be more than grateful to be sold to the slave traders, because those who didn’t sell would suffer horrible abuse and death at the hands of the Yoruba warriors.

      Scooter’s mind went back to the first time he saw Captain Hannibal, his actions there on the dock, and his instructing his men to kill Tamar’s baby. He recalled being herded on to the deck of the ship, like cattle, being forced to strip and being put into the hold. He remembered having to scrap for even a slight morsel of food, Tamar coming to him and Jalani, and how she did her best to care for them. Scooter became aware of his surroundings when, a boat ownner spoke to him, “ Hey, hey, buddy. Do you want me to take you up river or not? I don’t have all day. Make up your mind.” Scooter hesitated slightly, “Yes. Yes I do. When can you leave?” “Just when do you want to go, I’m ready now.” the boatman said. Scooter looked around at the dock, and said, “ Now. Let’s go now.” Picking up his baggage,he mumbled. “I need to get away from this place.”

      The trip up river took about 11 hours. The weather was hot and humid. The currents in the river worked against the boat the entire way. Scooter listened to the boat motor, a 15hp outboard, straining to turn the propeller, to move the boat. About 5 hours into the trip, the boatman slowed the motor and guide the boat over to the shore. Scooter stood and looked at the boatman. The boatman nodded his head toward the upriver side of the boat, “Hippos.” Scooter knew they could not pass that portion of the river until the hippos moved on. Scooter spoke to the boatman, “looks like we may be here awhile. I don’t like hollering ‘hey you’, so, what is your name.” “My name is Ezra,” the boatman said. “We may as well plan on staying here for the night. It’s getting late now. I have some sleeping bags and a tent in the storage bin at the rear of the boat. Can you build a fire?” Scooter snickered and said sarcastically, “Can I build a fire?”

      There was enough food and water stored in the boat for a couple of days, but, hopefully they would be back on their way in the morning. Scooter built a fire, helped Ezra pitch the tents. Each had their own small tent. Then he  went foraging through the bush for a while before darkness fell. Scooter returned about an hour later with five duck eggs he had managed to find. Ezra had the fire roaring. He said it was to keep the wildlife away. He evidently didn’t know that the fire would not deter a hungry lion, tiger, or crocodile, only keep them at bay for a short while. Then the fire would provide light for them to attack their prey. The only sure protection from maneaters was a good weapon, and many times that didn’t work either. 

      Ezra warmed up some food for himself and Scooter. Darkness had fallen and darkness in the bush, was really dark. There was zero visibility beyond the limits of the light from the fire. Ezra had a rifle and a .45 caliber handgun. Scooter felt a lot better having a couple of good weapons. When he was 12 years old, his best weapons were a sharpened branch and a knife.

      Ezra had lived most of his life in Lagos and was not accustomed to the environment in the bush and though it had been almost 20 years, Scooter still knew, not just how to survive, but how to live in the bush country. Scooter went over to his tent, opened the front flaps and folded them back. He spread his sleeping bag, and once everything was prepared he went over to the fire and picked up a small brach, blew out the flame so the smouldering branch would produce lots of smoke. He walked over to the tent and sat at the entrance, allowing the smoke from the branch to fill the tent. He then tossed the branch back into the fire. As the smoke began to clear from the tent, Scooter crawled in, closing the flaps as tightly as possible, pulling dirt up against the seams to help seal them.  Results..no mosquitos. Ezra watched Scooter carefully. “I’ll be darned,” was all Ezra could say.

      

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 19, The African bush.  July, 1875.

      Morning arrived and light shown on the river, but the thickness of the bush caused the darkness to linger for a while. Scooter and Ezra prepared some food and began to pack up all their supplies in the boat. The fire was still burning and Ezra had placed a coffee pot on the fire to boil the water, and dropped a small handful of ground coffee in the pot. After a few minutes, Ezra handed Scooter a cup and strained the coffee into the cup with a dingy, dirty looking cloth. Scooter hesitated, then thought, it sure does smell good, and drank the coffee down. They extinguished the fire, being sure to cover all embers with dirt. A wildfire in the bush was very deadly and destructive.

        The river was clear ahead and Ezra guided the boat upstream toward their destination. They had been traveling for about four hours, and only had about one more hour to go. Several large crocodiles followed the boat for a short distance, then turned and went back down the river. Ezra began to pay close attention to the river and surrounding bush. “Scooter, keep a close eye out.” Ezra said. All of a sudden Scooter noticed that a quietness had come over the bush. No birds squawking, no monkeys chattering, and no insect noises. A deadly quiet had come over the river and the bush.

      As the boat rounded a turn in the river, Ezra spotted a disturbing sight. An elephant was standing in about four feet of water, about 60 yards from the boat. Ezra looked closely at the elephant. Elephants are not normally dangerous to humans in the bush, but adult male elephants experience something called musth. The temporal glands on each side of the head swell and secrete a sticky liquid substance. This is like rutt, which male deer experience. While afflicted with musth, an adult male elephant becomes extremely aggressive and destructive to all other species of animals, including other elephants. Scooter and Ezra have only one option, get the boat to the shore as quickly as possible, and find a safe place to hide, preferably a cave or rock formation. An elephant experiencing musth will not only attack and kill anything close but once sensed the elephant will pursue and track a prey relentlessly. The only escape would be at night, which would be very dangerous. Elephants have very poor eyesight and nighttime would provide more cover.

      Scooter and Ezra reached the shore and carried as much of their supplies as possible and headed into the bush. Hopefully the elephant had not seen the boat on the river and where they had tied the boat off at the shore. They found an excellent hiding place among some large boulders where the elephant could not reach them. A short time later, Scooter and Ezra heard some loud crashing noises coming from the direction of the river. A lot more noise than an elephant moving through the bush. The noise kept getting closer, until they saw an unbelievable sight. Not just one, but two elephants battling. Scooter and Ezra knew this would be a battle to the death for one of the elephants, but it also created a perfect opportunity for their escape. The elephants were poised on either side of an open meadow in front of Scooter and Ezra, and when the elephants charged to engage, Scooter and Ezra would run for the river and the boat. The elephants charged,their battle began.  Scooter and Ezra ran, escaping from the meadow. They reached the riverbank and the boat, loaded what supplies they had carried and launched, heading upriver once again. Thankfully, the last hour of the trip was uneventful. The boat made the last turn in the river before the location of the village. Scooter could see the area of the riverbank where he and Jalani would play for hours. The old rickety makeshift dock was no longer there. Only a couple of timber protruding from the water. The brush seemed quite heavy along the bank where the village once spread out over the riverbank. Scooter felt the disappointment as he realized the village was no longer there. Two men were fishing on the opposite bank from where the village once stood. Ezra pulled the boat to the shore near where the two men stood. Scooter got out of the boat and approached the two men. He asked them about the village that used to stand across the river. One of the men remembered when the village was there, but he said it had been many years. There was terrible flood on the river, the village was destroyed, and many of the villagers died. Scooter felt a sinking feeling come over him. Did his mother survive the flood?

      The man continued telling Scooter that the remainder of the villagers after the flood, moved upriver a short distance and further into the bush away from the river bank. It would only take about ½ hour travel upriver to reach the new location. They would see a dock and several boats tied up. If they docked there, just follow the path through the bush to the village. Scooter felt some relief and even some excitement build, realizing that maybe all was not lost.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 20, Finally home. July 1875.

       Scooter and Ezra got back in the boat and headed upriver toward the village. Shortly they saw the boat dock on the riverbank. They tied the boat off and walked up the path toward the village. As they reached the village, Scooter was quite surprised to see small wooden homes, with tin roofs, and a large community garden. There were people hoeing in the garden, some tending to livestock, and attending to household chores. The women were dressed in brightly colored dresses and the men wearing shirts and shorts, but no shoes. Several younger men were gathered around a fire and were discussing hunting experiences, while two others were dressing an animal, killed earlier that morning. Scooter told the men who he was and one young man spoke up. The man appeared to be in his early 20’s. The young man said his name was Ari, and that his mother had spoken of the Yoruba warriors taking the young people from the village many years ago, and she never knew what happened to her children. Scooter asked Ari if he could speak to his mother and Ari took him over to one of the homes. A woman was busily working boiling water in a large pot, washing clothes, and hanging them to dry. Ari told his mother that this man wanted to speak to her about the Yoruba warriors raiding the village and kidnapping her children. The woman was old, and frail. Many years of the hard life in the bush had taken it’s toll on her health. She dried her hands on the apron she was wearing, and walked over to Scooter. Scooter greeted the woman, and thanked her for speaking to him. He looked at the fraility, the weather worn skin, then looked into her eyes. “Mala.” Scooter said. The woman replied, “No, I am not Mala. I am her sister. Mala died many years ago, grieving for her sons who were taken and sold to Dutch slave traders.” Scooter’s heart was breaking, and tears filled his eyes. The old woman continued. “Mala was so distraught over the loss of her sons. She tried to continue her life, even having another child.” “Wait,” Scooter interrupted. “Another child?” “Yes,” the old woman said. “She had a daughter, Amala. She is now 16 years old. Mala died when Amala was 5 years old. I have raised her as my daughter since that time, and Ari has accepted her as his sister. She is aware that her mother died and that she had two brothers who were sold to slavery.”

      Scooter could hold back no longer. “I am Manni.” Scooter said. The old woman erupted in tears, “Manni, oh Manni. I am your aunt, Kala. Oh, Manni. How did you come back? We thought you and Jalani were dead.” Scooter asked Kala and Ari to sit with him and he told them what had taken place for the last 20 years. Kala sent Ari to bring Amala to her. Ari returned with a beautiful young lady, who as of yet was not aware of what was going on. Amala looked cautiously at Scooter and Ezra and stood beside Kala and Ari. She suspected something was wrong. She could see that Kala had just stopped washing clothes and Ari was usually off with the other men. Kala took her by the hand and stepped up to Scooter. Amala still did not say anything, but Scooter could see fear on her face. Kala began to speak, “Amala, this young man is your brother, Manni.” “No,” Amala said.    “My brothers are dead. He is lying, my mother said my brothers were dead.” Scooter was disturbed. Here was his sister, not believing him.

      Scooter and Amala sat down and he began to explain to her what had happened in his life. Kala and Ari also talked with Amala. Amala listened to Scooter, and tears began to form in her eyes. She sat there listening to Scooter and looking at him. As she looked she began to see a familiar smile, a kindness in the voice she had heard before, and mannerisms she recognized as being her mother’s. Suddenly, she began to cry uncontrollably. Scooter reached out to Amala, and she fell into his arms, and through her sobbing and crying, she managed to say, “my brother, I love you my brother.”  

       The entire village was buzzing with the news of Scooter’s visit to the village. He was able to meet and talk to other relatives and to visit his mother’s gravesite. He still was not able to learn of his father, of where he was, or what happened to him.

      Ezra returned to Lagos, and Scooter remained at the village another week. Scooter asked Amala to accompany him to America. Amala wanted to go, but at 16 she did not want to leave the only family she had known. Scooter left in the early morning and the return trip to Lagos was uneventful. The next day, Scooter boarded a ship to travel back to America. He was saddened leaving the sister he had found. Scooter left Amala with the promise that when she was older, if she wished to come to America, he would make it possible, and that he hoped to return to Africa in the next few years.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CHAPTER 21,  Home again, home again. August, 1875.

      Scooter’s return to St. Louis was welcomed by everyone at the High Cotton Club, and after a couple days rest, he was ready to get back to the show. The tour in Great Brittain brought notoriety to Scooter and B-roy and each began to get invitations to book their performances throughout the states.

       Scooter was very happy to return to Emily. The two had grown very close. Scooter told Emily all about his trip to his home, but the memories seemed to bring a sadness back to Emily. Scooter looked for more pleasant things to talk about.

      Scooter and Emily were married in the November  of 1875, and over the next three years were blessed with a son and a daughter. The son, they named Manni and the daughter, Tamar.

      The club became the premier entertainment venue in the state of Missouri, featuring top class entertainment from around the world. BD learned to be B-roy’s assistant. Val became the club’s resident pianist. O’Hara and Ella were also married and though they had no children, they lived happily in their cabin on a hill overlooking the Mississippi, and watching the riverboats traveling the river. O’Hara, Sugar, and Scooter were sitting on the veranda one day and Sugar, out of the blue said, “Maybe we should buy us a riverboat.” O’Hara and Scooter looked at each other and said in unison, “maybe we should.”