My Best Friend
We grew up together, practically sister and brother-like. Daddy carried on, Mother sat lookin' pretty, but Gertrude nursed us both. Tobias called her Momma and I did too, 'til Daddy told me not to do it no more, said, "That white woman sittin' on that couch? That's your Momma, and you know it. Ain't never want you callin' no black ‘momma’, hear?" I didn't understand why Tobias couldn't go to school with me, but I shared everything I learnt. Daddy didn't like that. Said we couldn't talk together no more. Soon, Tobias had his own work in the field with the other negroes. We'd still sneak and meet sometimes, though.
As I got older, I understood. Tobias was a slave, too. His Papa was out there workin' hard as he could and gettin' whipped when he couldn't. Wasn't fair atall. They was people too. One time, I was walkin' in the field, heard Tobias say, "'Twas a accident, Master," but Daddy wasn't listenin'. Got to fussin', cussin' and whippin'. Couldn't believe my eyes. "Stop it, Daddy! Leave my best friend alone!" Didn't realize how loud I was 'til he shot me a look like he was fixin' to whip me next. In the house, he slapped me clean ’cross the face, told me never to call a negro my 'best friend'.
Next day when we met, I told Tobias I was runnin' away, wanted him to come along. "Won't help anyways much if I did. Master's just gon' bring out the ol' hound dog, get ta sniffin' an' shoot me down," he said, "Besides, the whippin' don't hurt much." I could tell he was lyin', but his smile was just enough to keep me from runnin' away.
Pitty we didn't run ‘cause, soon as we got back, Daddy was over there threatenin' to hang Tobias' Papa. I'd never seen Tobias so mad in his life. "Don't do nothin' you gonna regret, now! Hear?" I warned, but that boy took off runnin' faster than a scalded haint. “You got no right. He ain’t done nothin’ wrong!” he growled, but Daddy just carried on fussin’. “Hears what I said?” Tobias spoke up. “Get back, son. Master knows what he’s talkin’ ‘bout,” Papa stated. Daddy turnt to Tobias, sayin’ “You best leave me and your Pa alone ‘fore I hang you, too.” “Guess ya gon’ have to, ‘cause I ain’t lettin’ ya hang my Pa,” Tobias’ lips was shakin’, and his eyebrows was mad. Daddy slapped him, but Tobias just stood there starin’ him down. “Said, get back, boy!” Papa shouted. Daddy turnt to Papa, but Tobias grabbed his shoulder, turnt him back around. “Listen when I’s talkin’, boy,” he said sternly. My Daddy was red as a beet fixin’ to pitch a dyin’ duck fit. “How dare you call me ‘boy’, boy?”
Daddy rode off wit ‘em both and I never seen ’em again. I pray to the good Lord every night that maybe they’re alive somehow, but I’m sure they both was hanged.