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dinner. Sissy and Bea always ate in the kitchen after serving us in the dining room.
    Monday rolled around. Sissy woke me before daybreak, father had told her to wake me and have me join him in the parlor. I made my way down stairs to find Mark sitting in the parlor with my father. He’d been crying and I suspected that Charlotte might had died. As I entered the open parlor I was greeted with smiles from both Mark and Father.
    “Is everything alright?” I asked.
    Mark said that it was, he said that Charlotte had opened her eyes for a while this morning but had fallen back asleep and would not wake again. He called for the doctor who told him that it was a good sign, but that he needed to begin trying to force her to drink and hopefully she would wake long enough to eat. Father said that Samuel would be in charge of the plantation for a while. Mark’s only duty for now was to tend to Charlotte.
    “Samuel will be joining us at the auction today.” Father said. “I need to find someone to drive the second wagon. Ezekiel can’t drive them both; James is staying with Mark in case he should need to fetch the Doctor and we leave in an hour.”
    “I was told the nigger called Henry can drive a wagon” I said.
    I hurried back upstairs to get ready and to collect my money from its hiding place. The truth was that with everything that had happened, I’d nearly forgotten about the auction. I was ready and waiting in less than a half hour. Father finally came outside.
    “Is it your intent to bring Sissy with you?” Father asked when he saw her waiting with me.
    “Yes father, I thought she might be a help to me should I decide to make a purchase.” I replied.
    “Very well, but she will have to ride in the freight wagon with Henry. There’s no room in the stage.” Father said.
    “Fine” I replied as if I were slightly upset. The fact was that it was my intention for them to ride together.
    It took about an hour before we arrived at the auction. I got out and stretched my legs as best I could before following father and Samuel through the gate. Father had Henry and Ezekiel remain with the wagons while Sissy joined us inside.
    “I’m going to look around on my own if that’s okay father.” I asked.
    “Fine, but don’t go outside of the gate and be careful. Some of these niggers are straight off of the boat from Africa. They might hurt you before anyone can stop them.” Father said.
    Sissy and I went off on our own as Samuel and Father began looking at the field hands offered by the local salesmen.
    “Is you really gone buy a slave?” Sissy asked.
    “I don’t know. I’m thinking about it.” I replied.
    “Fo the reason you said?” Sissy asked.
    “Why else would I need one?” I asked. “How was your ride with Henry?”
    Sissy shied away from the answer.
    “Come on now” I said.
    “It was nice. He tole me I’s pretty.” Sissy replied.
    “And?” I asked.
    “I don’t know, he say lots of thangs” Sissy said.
    “Is he going to court you?” I asked.
    “I don’t know. He acts like he want to but I thank he scared as I am” Sissy replied.
    “We’ll fix that” I responded.
    I turned my attention to the slaves that surrounded us. Some were on pedestals, others were chained together, and some were even in cages. I stopped to look at some of the cages African slaves that were straight off of the ship. Some were wild and yelling, some were afraid, hiding in corners and others seemed to be examining me as I examined them. Obviously none of the African’s would do for my needs. I couldn’t even communicate with them. I moved on to the more domesticated slaves.
    “How bout him?” Sissy said as she pointed out a very large buck that might have been even bigger than Henry.
    “Maybe, but I don’t think five hundred dollars will buy him.” I told Sissy.
    “How much you reckon he cost?” Sissy asked.
    “Probably a thousand or more” I replied.
    “Gracious, that’s as much as a farm would cost aint