MULATTO (Iyila) (Editing)

chapter twenty three ~ Dedicated to Daniel

Iyila and Deila were amongst the last negroes to retire for the night. Iyila was desperately tired and couldn't wait to dive onto her mattress. The day had been very busy, especially as she served the household. She had thought that field was was backbreaking until she started serving the master's family. Now she had to be careful with almost everything. Her posture and always having to look at the floor when in the presence of the Master and his family, made her believe she would get a hunch back in her old age. Sighing, she closed her eyes to sleep but Deila wasn't the least ready to sleep.

During the day, she heard two Negro in whispers, conversing about the North. One of the Negroes, who was the oldest, said she had escaped to the North before and lived as a freed Negro for years before she was finally caught. Deila had been disturbed since then, especially after a runaway was returned with bruises. She was curious about the North. True there were stories about it, that it was beautiful and Whites there did not consider negroes as slaves but as fellow humans. But she wanted first hand information and the only person which she could rely on was Iyila. She had admired Iyila ever since the day at the stream where she had seen Iyila read that letter and most of all, Iyila served the family.

Perhaps she might have heared them speak of it. Or possibly, Zachary had mentioned it while she served him tea, Deila thought.

Iyila was wiser, more intelligent and smarter, and might have read it in one of the books she had seen Iyila hide beneath the box where they kept their things. Though Deila considered it dangerous but none other than Iyila could know about the North.

She stared at Iyila; she was already snoring lighty and seemed fast asleep, but Deila couldn't wait for tomorrow. She knew they could possibly be busy only to see at night again. She sighed and lightly shook her by the shoulders, but Iyila didn't respond. Deila shook her again before she finally stretched and yawned.

"Hmm," Iyila dully replied and opened her eyes. She was very shocked to see Deila still awake. "What is Deila?" Iyila sleeply questioned in a whisper. "Why are you still awake?"

Deila did not know how to ask the question. She thought Iyila might consider her zaunt. She was hesitant for a while before she spoke.

"Wha do ya know bout Chicago Iyila, hows da North lag?" Deila whispererd back. Iyila stared at her surprised as if she was dreaming. No way could Deila be thinking about freedom. She herself had already forgotten about that and learnt to face reality.

"It is a free land. Why do you ask?" Iyila suspiciously said.

"Iyila. ha thing sometines dah ha ken be free," she replied but Iyila did not believe her. She knew something was fishy. She remembered how Deila had scolded her for even mentioning it except...

"Are you planning to run away!" Iyila questioned. Deila shook her head. "Ham no fool buh ha dream somtines. Don ya question me to fo' dreamin, tis all a negro have," she answered. Still Iyila was not satisfied but she was too tired to pursue the argument. She could do it another day.

"Are you sure?" she asked. Deila nodded again, so Iyila concluded and closed her eyes. But Deila wasn't asleep as she had thought. Deila shook her again, this time she woke up with a quiet groan.

"What is it?" Iyila querried. "Iyila, do ya dream of freedom?" Deila asked. Iyila wished she had ignored her and slept because she knew Deila would not leave her be unless she replied to her query. She sighed. For some time she stopped her heart from thinking about nonsense just as she planned on teaching her heart to forget Dede.

"It is useless," she plainly answered and she realized that they were the only people awake.

"Ya won have a chil'?" Deila asked again. "Deila can you leave me alone. I am tired," Iyila whined. She was gradually getting irritated by Deila questions, however Deila in her inquisitive manner did not agree. "Ya won answer?"

"No, Deila, never, I will never have a child, not as a slave," She firmly stated. She did not wish for a child if not with Dede. She could never have a child, and since she saw him with that Negro, she had resolved to remain the way she was till she died. "Ya serious?"

Iyila refused to answer the last question. She quickly turned her back to Deila even though Deila kept tapping her. She refused to say a word and pretended to be fast asleep. In the end Deila finally let her be and slept. When Iyila heared her snoring she opened her eyes.

She thought of Deila's last question. She wanted a child but with Dede. Yet he was too far for her reach. He had rushed into another woman's arms without a second thought. She loathed herself for ever falling for him, or letting him kiss her. That damned kiss that had dulled her brain; that even till now she thought of. She always saw him in her dreams kissing her. It was difficult to teach her heart to hate him. She knew that she could do it as long as she resisted him for long enough. She wiped off the tears on her face and closed her eyes. Time was all she needed she thought.

That night. She dreamt of a man making love to her. When she woke up, she couldn't remember much except for a beautiful, an expensive bedroom; with a bed as soft as cotton. With curtains and candles and the scent of an exotic wine mixed with a very strong manly colonge. She did not see his face nor could she recall what he was. He was like a ghost yet it felt so real. The only she could vividly recall was the sound of his thunderous voice, whispering her name and saying accept me.

Iyila woke up very confused but she believed it to be her mind playing with her, since she slept with him on her mind. She thought it was perhaps due to too many romantic books that she had read. She knew Dede could never be the owner of such a beautiful house that she saw. It had to be the books. She needed to stop reading them.

However, she didn't stand on her decision to avoid Dede. She tried, but she couldn't. When he ran into her and asked her to meet him at the stream, she did not refuse though she pretended she would and feigned nonchalance. She used Deila's plea as an excuse to see him when she knew that she would have to anyway. At first Dede had thought she was never going to come as she delayed coming. He assumed that she was very still angry with him for standing with another negro. He had tried to make her understand that he was only consoling the Negro who had lost her mother, and not kissing her as Iyila had accused. He was about to return to the plantation when she appeared like a ghost.

Immediately he saw her, the stress of the day quickly departed. She was exceptional, yet very stubborn, and he loved her for it. That night when they argued he made sure to tell her that she was more than life to him. He told her that she was life itself and the thought of another man kissing her made him turn green with envy and jealousy. When they finally reconciled he passionately kissed and hugged her. She was just as happy as he was.

Authors note.; What do yo think. The next chapter is a suprise. I wil update soon