That picture is me. I was ten. I’m not sure who my daddy was. I’m not sure I wanna know. I think it was the man who sold me. I dunno. I was 13 when my momma went over yonder and whispered something to him before she came over and said to me,
“You special. We special. You ain’t like them.” My momma held my arm and looked at my skin.
“You beautiful, don’t you forget that baby, ok?” She rubbed my skin and looked at the field hands over in the cotton fields. I rarely saw them. I stayed inside with momma.
“Ok. Momma where we goin?”
“You gone go with Mr. Henry over there. He gonna be your new Master and he gonna…”
“Momma no I don’t wanna leave!” I grabbed her arm so hard it almost tipped my momma over. A tear fell out my eye and rolled down her light brown skin.
“Don’t you cry I’ll slap you! Mr Henry gone take care you just like Calvin took care of me. Now stop it or I’m gone slap you!”
I peeked through the door one night last summer and I saw it. Momma was naked with Masta Calvin. I saw what take care means. It means I’m gone get naked for Mr. Henry and he gone call me a fucking black bitch and then kiss me.
It was in that moment I knew I ain’t never gone see my momma again.
I would become momma.
Ok let talk to you readers directly. My name is Venus. You think I’m a fictional character? Don’t you.? The one thing I will give credit to Xplisset for is he treat me like a real lady. A lady. That’s also the problem.
First, I apologize I’m a woman of few words. Normally. Momma taught me to survive in this condition by keeping my mouth shut. It’s different for just slaves. But this thing ain’t normal and it’s time for my memories, my story, my spirit to live on in this book Xplisset is writing for you readers.
I had what you might call a quite animated disagreement with him this morning. He be letting his favorites, Nathan, Alex, run free do what they want, say what they want, but me he be trying to control.
Don’t let him get away with this. My words are just as important as them men. Hold his feet or should I say his fingers to the fire as he writes my story in his book. I think his heart is in the right place. I see him struggling. His struggle was nothing compared to mine. Nothing.
Oh! I love Venus and want to hear more from her.
Wow!! Great excerpt!