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- Story Listed as: Fiction For Adults
- Theme: Action & Adventure
- Subject: Drama
- Published: 11/02/2018
Just A Little Love
Born 1954, M, from St Louis Mo, United StatesRemember when we were kids and you disappeared for a week, where were you? I smiled at Karen, you won't believe me if I tell you! Susan chimed in, I know we won't, if you don't tell, and not some stupid story about running away with the Circus. Karen said, yeah no big wind jammer, tell us what happened?
Brenda set down her coffee cup on the table. Rose said let me get you a refill, anybody else, you know once he gets started we will be here awhile. Susan which never was good about not speaking up, says, I already got blisters on my behind from his last long winded story. I smiled and said, Sue if you have blisters there, it's from the kinky stuff you do at night with Bill. I sure hope nobody ever tells Bills wife, are you will be sporting more then blisters on the butt.
Brenda said, hey don't go there, it's not nice to tease someone about what they do in privacy of their bedroom. Karen said, in my case cause nothing goes on in mine. Everyone laughed, friends that had learned over the years how tease and take it too. I said well, getting back.....Rose cut in, who else needs a refill?
We were all gathered at Roses house, each week we gathered someplace, not any certain order. It was based most on who had been in a baking mood, there was never a set reason, just friends enjoying friends. There was no rules, as there didn't need to be, as we were all old school. That meant even in our joking respect and love bound us as a unit.
Tonight we were missing a few, some on vacation and Aline was on date. I said, so I think Aline is getting a bit serous on Mike. Robyn spoke up, I hope so, maybe at last she won't be alone. Robyn was normally the out spoken one but tonight she seemed to have something on her mind. Carol took her hand, stop worrying about Aline so much she is a big girl. Robin looking away a tear in her eye said, I am sorry, you know how close I am to her, and I don't want to loose her, then she was crying, if she marries Mike they will move away. Everyone came around her and gave her hug.
Rose said, I don't know about that when my old man met me he was willing to go any where I wanted to go. I said, you sure it was not go anywhere he could to get away. Brenda said, well if had been you courting her there would be no place far enough. Robyn could not help herself, she laughed and said, zoom to...Karen cut in, the moon, lifting her hand like Jackie Gleason on the honeymooners.
Susan said ok so tell us where you went before I get so bored I fall asleep.
Well you know we lived in that old house in the city, the old mansion. I guess growing up it was the one house I love the most. The beautiful entry way, the stair case that had the awesome railing, the big fire places and gas lights, even the third floor that once was servants quarters with a bell and a dumb waiter.
Rose said didn't your aunt live there with you for awhile? Yes they stayed on the third floor. What was the best, the old house had at one time a coal furnace, and the coal slide was like your own private playground.
Now I want you all to swear to me, what I am going to tell you, you won't tell, and you won't call me crazy. I have never told anyone, not even mom or dad or my brothers.
Everyone said I swear but Brenda. I looked at her, Brenda I know, your mouth is like an old bell telephone operator that tells everything you know, but on this I must have your word. Why, Brenda said, are you about to get me in trouble again, or all of us arrested, Karen talks as much as me, and Susan might enjoy being locked up...Karen's says oh now just because she has a set of handcuffs... Brenda went on. One never knows what you will get us into, I would rather wait till you tell us.
I said, well then you all just get to keep on wondering, Rose said, promise Brenda, Carol said yeah or I will tell about you and Donny behind the shed. I cut in wait, I want to hear this, Susan yeah me too, miss baptist Brenda behind a shed with a boy has me fired up.
Ok, ok, ok, I promise, get on with it trouble maker, Brenda snapped. Well I was playing on that coal Shute and I thought it would faster if I slicked it up some, so I took moms butter and spread it on the slide. My mistake, I was half way down trying to slow down and flipped off the side. I wanted to cry but knew I would get a whipping for using the butter.
Rose said, my mom would of used pops belt on your butt, butter was like gold. I said, well I was laying on the floor and under the slide was some loose bricks. Did you know under the city is miles and miles of caves. There is no real map to them, many now has been shut off, but back in 1850's most basements in the old houses in the city had a door that went into them.
Oh yeah Rose said, I think I read under the Limp mansion they even had a swimming pool. Robyn said, yeah, they went a long way, some say all the way to Cherokee bluff the Cherokee cave. Karen said, didn't the beer makers store beer there? Susan said, and I would bet a few girls got a few, come too's, there too.
Yeah, but Union solders used them to store gun powder and at the far end of city confederates used them to sneak in and out and ease drop on union plans. In the days of prohibition there were many stills. That is not important if you don't mind.
I found the door, and as I moved the bricks out I was able to crawl in. I slipped back out, got our kerosene lantern we used when power went out and the box of matches slipped back in. Once I had some light I started exploring. I should of marked the wall or something because in no time I was lost.
You should seen it, it was cold but not to cold, I could see where many doors once opened in the tunnels. I found old bottles and a chamber full of a Skelton's and that scared me. Rose said, bet you peed your pants. Brenda said, heck he still does that, Susan said, wet dreams, Karen chimed in golden showers, Robyn said, I though I smelled something, Carol said, I bet pee is not all you did. I said, shut up! Please, you don't need to tell my every secret. Susan said, why not, you tell ours.
Hmm well I didn't pee my pants, but I ran down a tunnel, hoping I was headed home. That is not where I ended up. I came in to a area, it was a underground city. I mean there was shops, and homes, well kind of like homes, it was series of caves people lived in. Wow they all said at once.
Yeah but get this, they were all black folks, most didn't have on much clothes and lots of bond fires. Robyn said, hmm guess that is not steam coming out of those manholes. Susan said or it is as the heat builds up and pushes the moisture out. Karen said now you did it...Brenda and Robyn as one said, no Science class please.
Well I met a girl about my age, she was scared, I was only white person she ever saw. And the stores she had been told we were all bad. She screamed and a group of men grabbed me and put me in a cell. But she was curious.... Rose laughing, imagine that curious over you, they all were laughing so hard, Susan said stop or I will pee, Brenda said I already dribbled I think. Carol said, I have to say to much information.
Well she snuck over to talk to me. Seems no one but a few sweepers they called them ever saw white people. The sweepers were old, very old black folks that would slip out of the caves to get food. They were teaching some young people to do it too. They could not read or write, never heard of a tv, ate whatever they could get by the sweepers. When one got sick, they usually died and was carried to the place they called the gathering room.
After a few days they understood I was not going to hurt them, and see this scar on my arm. A old black woman cut my arm and hers and made me promise to never tell unless I was near death. Woe, hold up Brenda said, you aren't about to die, Karen said not for years, Susan said you won't die until I kill you, Robyn said, so why are you telling us? Carol, said, it is because of your heart, I get that, but why not take it to the grave?
I smiled, well you see these people were all at one time runaway slaves. They had been part of the runaways using the Underground Railroad when the part they were in caved in. I asked why not go another way? They were scared, so many union solders using the caves.
I explained the war was over and they were free. They took a vote and decided to stay, no one wanted to risk it. Well one did years later, you might remember Wanda? Brenda oh that girl you said was just a friend, Susan said, yep, Carol said, I told you there was more to it, Karen says I liked her, Robyn says I wondered why you two never marred?
I ignored all that, Wanda died a few years ago, she and I were always close. Wait I get it Susan said, those people still live under the city! I said, all of you, come with me to my house now. Brenda said, I am driving, let's go.
When we got there I took them to the basement, moved the book shelf that was a sliding door. I turned on the lights. Carol how did you get lights here? Karen said, did you put in the lights? Yes I wired this one tunnel and they have lights. Brenda how do you pay for it?
I wired it all to the city hall, I think we owe them that much. After a few underground blocks, we stopped in a big room with tables. Never go any further then here unless invited. The sweepers come here every Sunday. All week I get food, clothes and medicines and they really like cokes. I fill the tables.
I am leaving my house to you Brenda, but she will need all of you to help her, will you do it? Susan had tears, you know I will, Carol said as long as God lets me live, Robyn said, can I start tomorrow, Karen said, I will give all I am. I said, I won't cut your arms and do a blood promise, because we are family, we are friends, promise you will tell no one till you must.
So now let's call this a night.
Now I am telling you as I lay on my bed, because, I know you won't see this till we are all gone. I hope you will go on loving and taking care of these folks. Don't hurt them or show hate, just a little love.
Just A Little Love(Rich Puckett)
Remember when we were kids and you disappeared for a week, where were you? I smiled at Karen, you won't believe me if I tell you! Susan chimed in, I know we won't, if you don't tell, and not some stupid story about running away with the Circus. Karen said, yeah no big wind jammer, tell us what happened?
Brenda set down her coffee cup on the table. Rose said let me get you a refill, anybody else, you know once he gets started we will be here awhile. Susan which never was good about not speaking up, says, I already got blisters on my behind from his last long winded story. I smiled and said, Sue if you have blisters there, it's from the kinky stuff you do at night with Bill. I sure hope nobody ever tells Bills wife, are you will be sporting more then blisters on the butt.
Brenda said, hey don't go there, it's not nice to tease someone about what they do in privacy of their bedroom. Karen said, in my case cause nothing goes on in mine. Everyone laughed, friends that had learned over the years how tease and take it too. I said well, getting back.....Rose cut in, who else needs a refill?
We were all gathered at Roses house, each week we gathered someplace, not any certain order. It was based most on who had been in a baking mood, there was never a set reason, just friends enjoying friends. There was no rules, as there didn't need to be, as we were all old school. That meant even in our joking respect and love bound us as a unit.
Tonight we were missing a few, some on vacation and Aline was on date. I said, so I think Aline is getting a bit serous on Mike. Robyn spoke up, I hope so, maybe at last she won't be alone. Robyn was normally the out spoken one but tonight she seemed to have something on her mind. Carol took her hand, stop worrying about Aline so much she is a big girl. Robin looking away a tear in her eye said, I am sorry, you know how close I am to her, and I don't want to loose her, then she was crying, if she marries Mike they will move away. Everyone came around her and gave her hug.
Rose said, I don't know about that when my old man met me he was willing to go any where I wanted to go. I said, you sure it was not go anywhere he could to get away. Brenda said, well if had been you courting her there would be no place far enough. Robyn could not help herself, she laughed and said, zoom to...Karen cut in, the moon, lifting her hand like Jackie Gleason on the honeymooners.
Susan said ok so tell us where you went before I get so bored I fall asleep.
Well you know we lived in that old house in the city, the old mansion. I guess growing up it was the one house I love the most. The beautiful entry way, the stair case that had the awesome railing, the big fire places and gas lights, even the third floor that once was servants quarters with a bell and a dumb waiter.
Rose said didn't your aunt live there with you for awhile? Yes they stayed on the third floor. What was the best, the old house had at one time a coal furnace, and the coal slide was like your own private playground.
Now I want you all to swear to me, what I am going to tell you, you won't tell, and you won't call me crazy. I have never told anyone, not even mom or dad or my brothers.
Everyone said I swear but Brenda. I looked at her, Brenda I know, your mouth is like an old bell telephone operator that tells everything you know, but on this I must have your word. Why, Brenda said, are you about to get me in trouble again, or all of us arrested, Karen talks as much as me, and Susan might enjoy being locked up...Karen's says oh now just because she has a set of handcuffs... Brenda went on. One never knows what you will get us into, I would rather wait till you tell us.
I said, well then you all just get to keep on wondering, Rose said, promise Brenda, Carol said yeah or I will tell about you and Donny behind the shed. I cut in wait, I want to hear this, Susan yeah me too, miss baptist Brenda behind a shed with a boy has me fired up.
Ok, ok, ok, I promise, get on with it trouble maker, Brenda snapped. Well I was playing on that coal Shute and I thought it would faster if I slicked it up some, so I took moms butter and spread it on the slide. My mistake, I was half way down trying to slow down and flipped off the side. I wanted to cry but knew I would get a whipping for using the butter.
Rose said, my mom would of used pops belt on your butt, butter was like gold. I said, well I was laying on the floor and under the slide was some loose bricks. Did you know under the city is miles and miles of caves. There is no real map to them, many now has been shut off, but back in 1850's most basements in the old houses in the city had a door that went into them.
Oh yeah Rose said, I think I read under the Limp mansion they even had a swimming pool. Robyn said, yeah, they went a long way, some say all the way to Cherokee bluff the Cherokee cave. Karen said, didn't the beer makers store beer there? Susan said, and I would bet a few girls got a few, come too's, there too.
Yeah, but Union solders used them to store gun powder and at the far end of city confederates used them to sneak in and out and ease drop on union plans. In the days of prohibition there were many stills. That is not important if you don't mind.
I found the door, and as I moved the bricks out I was able to crawl in. I slipped back out, got our kerosene lantern we used when power went out and the box of matches slipped back in. Once I had some light I started exploring. I should of marked the wall or something because in no time I was lost.
You should seen it, it was cold but not to cold, I could see where many doors once opened in the tunnels. I found old bottles and a chamber full of a Skelton's and that scared me. Rose said, bet you peed your pants. Brenda said, heck he still does that, Susan said, wet dreams, Karen chimed in golden showers, Robyn said, I though I smelled something, Carol said, I bet pee is not all you did. I said, shut up! Please, you don't need to tell my every secret. Susan said, why not, you tell ours.
Hmm well I didn't pee my pants, but I ran down a tunnel, hoping I was headed home. That is not where I ended up. I came in to a area, it was a underground city. I mean there was shops, and homes, well kind of like homes, it was series of caves people lived in. Wow they all said at once.
Yeah but get this, they were all black folks, most didn't have on much clothes and lots of bond fires. Robyn said, hmm guess that is not steam coming out of those manholes. Susan said or it is as the heat builds up and pushes the moisture out. Karen said now you did it...Brenda and Robyn as one said, no Science class please.
Well I met a girl about my age, she was scared, I was only white person she ever saw. And the stores she had been told we were all bad. She screamed and a group of men grabbed me and put me in a cell. But she was curious.... Rose laughing, imagine that curious over you, they all were laughing so hard, Susan said stop or I will pee, Brenda said I already dribbled I think. Carol said, I have to say to much information.
Well she snuck over to talk to me. Seems no one but a few sweepers they called them ever saw white people. The sweepers were old, very old black folks that would slip out of the caves to get food. They were teaching some young people to do it too. They could not read or write, never heard of a tv, ate whatever they could get by the sweepers. When one got sick, they usually died and was carried to the place they called the gathering room.
After a few days they understood I was not going to hurt them, and see this scar on my arm. A old black woman cut my arm and hers and made me promise to never tell unless I was near death. Woe, hold up Brenda said, you aren't about to die, Karen said not for years, Susan said you won't die until I kill you, Robyn said, so why are you telling us? Carol, said, it is because of your heart, I get that, but why not take it to the grave?
I smiled, well you see these people were all at one time runaway slaves. They had been part of the runaways using the Underground Railroad when the part they were in caved in. I asked why not go another way? They were scared, so many union solders using the caves.
I explained the war was over and they were free. They took a vote and decided to stay, no one wanted to risk it. Well one did years later, you might remember Wanda? Brenda oh that girl you said was just a friend, Susan said, yep, Carol said, I told you there was more to it, Karen says I liked her, Robyn says I wondered why you two never marred?
I ignored all that, Wanda died a few years ago, she and I were always close. Wait I get it Susan said, those people still live under the city! I said, all of you, come with me to my house now. Brenda said, I am driving, let's go.
When we got there I took them to the basement, moved the book shelf that was a sliding door. I turned on the lights. Carol how did you get lights here? Karen said, did you put in the lights? Yes I wired this one tunnel and they have lights. Brenda how do you pay for it?
I wired it all to the city hall, I think we owe them that much. After a few underground blocks, we stopped in a big room with tables. Never go any further then here unless invited. The sweepers come here every Sunday. All week I get food, clothes and medicines and they really like cokes. I fill the tables.
I am leaving my house to you Brenda, but she will need all of you to help her, will you do it? Susan had tears, you know I will, Carol said as long as God lets me live, Robyn said, can I start tomorrow, Karen said, I will give all I am. I said, I won't cut your arms and do a blood promise, because we are family, we are friends, promise you will tell no one till you must.
So now let's call this a night.
Now I am telling you as I lay on my bed, because, I know you won't see this till we are all gone. I hope you will go on loving and taking care of these folks. Don't hurt them or show hate, just a little love.
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