I’s been workin’ in Massah’s garden over forty years. Planted beans, corn, rutabagas, watermelon.
Raised his childrens and his chickens. Only rung the necks of dem birds, though I wanted to kill dem boys most every day.
They was mean little ones and downright nasty as growed menfolk.
Killin all kinds of things cause they could.
I drew one big ol line when they shot my man; sold our baby girl.
Luckily no one ever checked the plantings. Deadly Night Shade grows over der in dat corner.
Now dem boys serve as fertilizer, though most peoples think dey be servin in the da war.
Up From the Ashes 
Nice one
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Thanks!
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When I clicked on your story it took me back to my Word Press site. I think that happened last week too. Color me confused. I am trying!!!
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I’m a bit of confused novice. I’m suposed to be Https//intrepidoptimist.com Please let me know if it works for you. Thanks for trying, whatever colour.
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I just went back to check and I don’t even see your post???? Trying.
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Can’t say I blame her one bit…
Great lingo here
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Thanks, Dale. I had fun writing this one after sitting and looking at the picture with a big question mark on my forehead.
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Love when it just shows up – eventually!
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Reblogged this on All About Writing and more.
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Thanks for reblogging my story. That means a lot.
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You are welcome!
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Terrific “voice”.
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Thanks, James. I use this voice often in one of my writing practice groups. It’s one of their favorites.
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Love the voice. I wish I could do voices, but here are limits what I can do… the horrific past well given. Maybe we need monuments of that kind.
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Thanks, Bjorn. We all have our limits. We all have our strengths. And what you write is always spot on.
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Great voice, especially in the matter of fact delivery of their tragedy.
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I think she just did what she thought was right and got on with life. Thanks.
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That was very brave, Alicia
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Brave? Thanks?
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This is so good!
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Thank you, Dawn. I’ve been wanting to write about a garden in this voice for awhile. Maybe not with this outcome but …
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Good story. It’s really tricky to do dialect (these days, especially Negro dialect.) I have shied away from it lately, preferring instead to try to use cadence and archaic words to get the impression across. Mark Twain pulled it off, but whenever I try it it’s seems like minstrelsy.
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Probably an excellent idea! I just like to try it every now and again.
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I hear you. Southern Accents are hard too
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You should try Cajun. It’s really wacko. I don’t know how those people understand themselves.
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most certainly, you can’t mess with this woman. well done.
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I certainly wouldn’t. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment.
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She found her line and she drew it – right there in the garden among the rutabagas. Too sad and close to some awful truths about the way people were treated at the time. Tragic tale Alicia
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Thank you for reading. I just read a non-fiction book about Abraham Lincoln. The things people said about the slaves were atrocious,
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One of the – sadly many – instances where one body of people manage to convince themselves that another group are somehow lesser, not quite human. Start thinking that way and almost any atrocity is possible
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A sorry tale cleverly told, and refreshingly different.
Click to read my FriFic
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What a lovely thing to say! Thank you.
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A war is always handy for covering up all manner of things. Nice one!
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Thanks, Ali. War and natural disasters can cover many a trail.
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They same timing is everything. I bet they made good fertilizer too.
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If they weren’t too sour! Thanks for reading.
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Dear Lish,
I’ll bet that corner of the garden is flourishing. Couldn’t happen to nicer boys. Well spoken and written.
Shalom y’all,
Rochelle
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Howdy! I think that’s what happened to the vines crawling over the walls. Extra special fertilizer. Thanks, Rochelle.
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Blood and bone is ideal for roses, I’ve found. Mostly I buy mine though. Great story, Alicia.
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Excellent plan. Knocking off the neighbors might get suspicious. Thanks, Sandra
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“Raised his childrens and his chickens”
“I drew one big ol line when they shot my man; sold our baby girl.”
“though most peoples think dey be servin in the da war”
Fantastic.
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Thanks very much! I appreciate your stopping by and commenting.
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Loved the writing. The dialect lends its own flavor and it is beautiful.
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Thank you very much.
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Love the history, sad as it is, but loved even more that she got justice for her losses. Perfect.
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Oh, I hope she got more justice! Thanks.
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When the archaeologists dig the bones up, they is going to wonder what happened. A wonderful story.
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Oh, yes they is!!!! Thanks, Michael
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What an excellently woven tale of revenge. Great one, Alicia!
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Oh! So glad you liked it.
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What a powerful voice expressing sadness, rage and revenge, with no trace of remorse. Love the woman and your writing.
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Blush! thank you so much for your kind words. Alicia
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Revenge is sweet.
DJ
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Indeed
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Wow! Loved the matter of fact tone in this story.
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Thank you very much for reading and leaving such a nice comment.
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I don’t know where to start. This is so… there’s a wow in every turn of phrase. I think no one else can twist the humour around the tragedy just like you can. Wild applause.
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What a wonderful comment! Thank you Thank you and Thank you again. Alicia
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Love the tone.
That’s on clear line.
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Thanks. Sometimes one must draw a line.
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Fabulous voice in this one. A great story of revenge.
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Thank you.
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Well those boys got what was coming to them. This is such a great story and the dialect really sets it apart. Loved it!
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Thank you.
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Oh well told. Great story Alicia. That poor woman! I hope she gets away with it
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Thanks, Laurie. I’m rooting for her too.
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Wow, what a line to cross. But then, that was the horrible culture those boys lived in, that made them think they could do anything they wanted. (shiver) I usually don’t “like” or comment on the stories about people murdering their spouses and burying them in the garden (there are an awful lot of them in these flash fiction challenges, weirdly enough) but this is different situation altogether. I hope she got away with her rightful justice.
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Thanks so much! And I love your comment about frequent garden burials. I hadn’t noticed but now will make it a point to. Alicia
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Proof positive you should never go too far with the people who keep you alive.
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Ha! This made me laugh. Thank you.
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Now that’s what I call justice! People don’t have to be nice to make good fertiliser. In fact the stinker the better. Love it. Excellently written.
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Thanks, Sarah. Stinky usually does work best. 🙂
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