Coloured Love

“The trouble with living to a ripe old age is- you have too many regrets,” Rosa mumbles to herself.1

“Mama, I was to go down to Mass Benji to help clean. Him look like him will die tomorrow, yuh know. Wha’ is so i’portan’ that you keep me?” her son asks miserably.2

“A tale. Is a vital tale passed down to me that I intented to tell you so listen good.”3

Rosa begins the tale.4

Louise could feel Mr. Benjamin Prendergast watching her. It made goose-bumps appear of her dark skin. However it wasn’t out of fear to know that it was a white man, the son of the plantation owner, who watched her, but rather it was out of embarrassment. She loved Mr. Benjamin Prendergast, and thanks to the sun, the moon and the stars of Mama Africa, Mr. Benjamin loved her back. He had made that very clear when he snuck her into the shack behind the Great House last night and many nights before. 5

Louise was a black domestic slave on the Prendergast plantation. Benjamin was the heir to this very same plantation. Not only was their love affair unacceptable since she was black and he was white, but also, a week ago the wife-to-be of Mr. Benjamin was announced to the household. 6

“Wait, mama, dem love each other...so yuh know I just don’ understands why di colour matter.” Rosa looks at her son intensely and realises he is still a bit ignorant of life. She tries to explain.7

“Memba Mass Jackie’s son...”8

“Di mulatto...” Roy answers.9

“Yes, dat same one, dat dem murder. Is ‘cause the father was a whiteman and the white don’t like us negroes at all.”10

“But slavery done ma...” Rosa smiles a soft smile.11

“Well di tale a telling you tek place during slavery son. Listen again...”12

Six months later, in the shack, Louise sat stiffly on a cloth spread upon dirt floor. The lovers had planned to elope tonight. However Louise waited hours...13

Suddenly there was life to the house; and far too much so to say. Looking outside a window she realized it was early morning, an hour or two before slaves were to awake. Something was wrong. Dogs began to bark. Mr. Gerald Prendergast’s voice echoed to every distant corner of the plantation. Her name being called. Louise panicked. They knew the truth.14

“Wha’ truth ma?” Roy questions eagerly. 15

“She had a chile mi son, a molatto girl...”16

“Jesas’ fi real? Wha’ happen to Louise and whey di white man was, ma?” Roy asks, sounding confused and angry.17

“...Son...they hang Miss Louise...” Her son looks aghast. “Mr. Benjamin come from England anada day, cause he was ‘fraid,” she says. Roy has begun to cry. 18

“A-And mama...” he says quietly. “Did dey kill di molatto girl?” 19

Rosa is silent for a while as she places her palm to her beating heart. She looks dead-panned into the eyes of her son.20

She states, and with a sad smile, “Rosa is the child of Louise and...Mass Benji.”21

Roy gasps at the revelation.22