THE WEEKSVILLE PROJECT

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WEEKSVILLE, NEAR THE HUNTERFLY ROAD


CHAPTER ONE


     By the dawn's early light, Obadiah could see from his window the star cluster known as the drinking gourd fading from the sky. He had heard many stories about how slaves in the South followed that star to freedom as it led them North. Having been born free, he could only imagine what that experience must have been like.
     It would soon be day, and he was looking forward to starting his first day as Mr. O'Brien's apprentice. He would be learning a skilled trade that would help him to gain his own personal freedom as a man. He would soon be a carpenter.
     "Okay, boy, you better get to steppin', Old Simon gon' be here soon, breakfast 'bout ready." Obadiah turned over in his bed as his mother brushed past on her way to the stove. The smell of hot coffee perking in the pot on the stove and salt pork bacon sizzling in the frying pan stirred his senses. He pulled on his overalls and headed out back to the pump to wash up. He hurried his steps. He should have been up and ready. He must have fell back to sleep, dreaming he was already woke..Back in the kitchen at the table he quickly ate the eggs, salt pork and bread his mother served him and washed it down with hot coffee. He wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, pushed his chair back from the table and stretched his legs. He stood up yawning.
     "Git on down the road now boy. Old Simon gon'  be here soon."
     "Kay Mama, I am."
     "Don't see why I gotta keep tellin you the same thing over and over."
     "Mama, I'm leavin."
     "Don't forget your lunch bag now."
     "Kay Mama. See you at suppertime." Walking over to the stove where she busied herself stirring in a huge pot, Obadiah hugged his mother and kissed her on the side of the face.
     "Boy get on outta here with that nonsense," she cackled, "Old Simon gon be here directly." Obadiah headed out the door and down the porch steps. He looked back to see his mother watching him, wiping her hands in her apron and smiling from ear to ear.
     "Bye Mama." He waved and ran down the road. From a distance he could see Old Simon's grey mule team and wagon, with a few passengers pulling up to the sign post at the corner of Hunterfly Road. He hurried along to get on the wagon.         (to be continued)