All But One Read online

  ALL BUT ONE

  FICTION BLENDED

  WITH

  NON-FICTION

  By

  Sandra L. LaVaughn

  ©2019 by Sandra L. LaVaughn

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the author or publisher. The exception is by a reviewer who may quote brief passages in a review to be printed in a newspaper, online, blog, magazine, video review, or journal.

  Printed in the United States of America

  All characters and events are fiction. Any resemblance to real people or incidents is purely coincidental.

  Published by LaVauri Publishing House

  Edited by Ricky LaVaughn

  Revised editing by Esther L. Truth

  For more on this book go to:

  http://www.lavauri.com/allbutone.html

  Sandra L LaVaughn has written another book on the process of writing, producing, and directing a feature-length independent film titled: “How I Produced A Movie with Eight Thousand Dollars.”

  Sandra L LaVaughn has a feature film that is available entitled: “The Blue Room.”

  A documentary entitled: “A Walk On The Wild Side.”

  A WORD FROM THE AUTHOR

  All But One is not a religious book, it is an adventurous story about everyday life’s victories and failures, whether the characters believe in God or not. This imaginary tale follows their relationship with each other through their religious belief, respect, jealousy, love, and hate. The story shadows the characters struggle with overcoming abuse as they wrestle with the decision to make the right choice. Occasionally, they make mistakes when deciding. Unfortunately, too often, several of the characters elect to go down the wrong path, in the state of mine that they do not care.

  Sometimes, they are happy with life, so they rejoice, other times, quick as a wink, life will serve them a green tomato, a few become confused. Others are pitched a rotten tomato, they feel cursed, get angry and lash out.

  A few of the characters developed a relationship with God, even so, it’s no guarantee that all their tomatoes will be perfect. Now and then, a tainted tomato may feel dreadful, but then again, it was their savior.

  All But One,

  All About Life,

  All About Choices

  God can hear the prayers of His people, generations away.

  ACKNOWLEDGMENT

  All But One could not have been possible without the untiring efforts of my son, Elder Ricky LaVaughn. Rick was an encouraging supporter and prayer partner as this book took on a life of its own. He is a great accomplished author; he’s written six books and is working on his seventh. Rick supplied me with the jots and tittles that I never knew were needed for a work of this kind. Son, thank you for taking time away from completing your book, to help finish mine. Rick spearheaded the creation of the book cover with a professional artist.

  Thank you, Sonny, from the bottom of my heart, for being what I and this book needed. I am grateful for your executive skills and hard work to make All But One a reality.

  You’re wonderful.

  Without my daughter, Esther “Missy” L. Truth, professionalism as the editor of All But One, the story would have been factually incorrect. Missy like myself, is a historian, unlike me, she is a teacher. She thoroughly read the book, even did research to make sure the historical satire was accurate according to the time-period; thus, her critique of the manuscript was on point. While I was writing, Missy called asking, “how’s the book coming?” I was so happy to finally say, it’s done.

  Thank you, Missy, for the encouragement, prayers, and being my cheerleader. In addition, through your editing skills, the story is kept precise according to its time.

  You’re wonderful.

  God blessed me with children that believe in the power of prayer.

  Thank You, Jesus, for Your blessings and my little family.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  Map Of The Plantation

  Prologue:

  PART I

  Chapter I: Moe’s Escape

  Chapter II: Help From The Underground Railroad Stations

  Chapter III: The Beginning

  Chapter IV: Harry’s True Color

  Chapter V: H.B. Metropolis

  Chapter VI: The Hired Hands

  Chapter VII: Last Phase of HB Metropolis

  Chapter VIII: Moses

  Chapter IX: Charles Brown

  Chapter X: MacCall Family Lies

  Chapter XI: Paula

  Chapter XII: Happy Harry

  Chapter XIII: Hoodwinked

  Chapter XIV: Back To Boston

  Chapter XV: Forever Apart

  Chapter XVI: Two Slaves and One Friend Got Away

  PART II

  Chapter XVII: Paula and Moses Offspring

  Chapter XVIII: Donovan Victor Bright

  Chapter XIX: Ogville and MacCall

  Chapter XX: The Magazine That Changed Lives

  Chapter XXI: Valentine Day

  Chapter XXII: Valentine Night

  Chapter XXIII: Becky Lou Brown

  Chapter XXIV: The First Meeting

  Chapter XXV: After The Storm

  Chapter XXVI: NAACP

  Chapter XXVII: Hidden Gates

  Chapter XXVIII: Becky Lou Brown – Discovery

  Chapter XXIX: Smarter Than

  Chapter XXX: Harry’s Prayer

  Chapter XXXI: Easter Sunday

  Chapter XXXII: The Day After

  Chapter XXXIII: Trouble

  Chapter XXXIV: Theenda’s Mom

  Chapter XXXV: A Place To Meet

  Chapter XXXVI: Haze Return

  Chapter XXXVII: The Day Before

  Chapter XXXVIII: Night Of The Escape

  Chapter XXXIX: Save The Children

  Chapter XL: Harry, It’s Over

  Chapter XLI: All But One

  Chapter XLII: Jeff Brown Return To Ogville

  Chapter XLIII: Freedom Home

  Chapter XLIV: March 2018

  Epilogue:

  A MAP OF THE PLANTATION

  Below is a map that Donovan received and used to help the slaves.

  It was created by the nurses and teachers’ over time.

  PROLOGUE

  January 1865, the Confederacy was on a decline, yet during the war the Southern Officials boldly sought-after power and control. They desperately wanted to keep America divided.

  February of that year, Confederate President Jefferson Davis agreed to send delegates to a Peace Conference with President Lincoln, and Secretary of State William Seward. At this meeting, President Davis strategy was to resolve the South weakening structure by insisting on President Lincoln’s resignation. However, Lincoln refused to attend, thus the Conference never occurred. Lincoln being President of America, did away with the Southern states determination to divide. Davis Peace Conference did not help his cause, it backfired, he was accused of treason and stripped of his Presidential position.

  Abraham Lincoln won the Presidential nomination, November 6, 1860. The Civil War broke out on April 12, 1861. On March 25, 1865, General Lee unsuccessfully attacked General Grant forces near Petersburg. In the South East, General Gorden and Johnson surrendered to the Yankees on April 26, 1865, the Civil War officially ended in April 1865.

  Many of the slaves joined the Union or Confederate army to get off the plantation compound. The Civil War was a personal vendetta for the slaves, they fought to be free and to end the chattel of slavery. They fought for trade tariffs, states’ rights, industry vs. farming, Abraham Lincoln, and many other reasons the Civil War broke out. The freedmen and women did not understand all the details for the Civil War; however, they totally grasped tha
t part of the war was for their freedom.

  By the early 1900s, slavery supposedly ended across America, in most southern states freedmen and women could go about their way without a threat of being forced back into slavery. Regrettably, the Indians were forced on reservations throughout the country, where even today several live and work.

  Harry V. Brown, like tornado winds blended with a volcano eruption, vaulted into a sequestered course of hostile combat, to keep slaves on his plantation forever. His plan and twisted plot were a nauseating success, from 1865, until the twenty-first century.

  Harry lived deep in the heart of Dixie where the land was spectacular, and the gleaming bright yellow sun hung brilliantly in the beautiful alabaster sky. The vivid green grass blanketed the Deltas lustrous land, the trees grew thick and dramatic with leaves that gracefully bowed down to their maker. Harry loved the Delta and all its loveliness. He was aggravated that the South had lost, and the Southern Generals were surrendering to the Yankees. However, Harry had great hope in a Cherokee Indian fellow, named Stand Waite, he learned that Waite was born in Oothcaloa and fought with the Confederates. Harry admired that the young Indian did not back down from the Yankees. Watie was promoted to the position of Brigadier General, of the Cherokee Brigade. Nevertheless, on June 23, 1865, with no one by his side, Watie was the last Confederate general to lay down his arms. Harry’s ignited hope in the last man standing, ended.

  In 1865, Harry heard of a man named Nathan Bedford Forrest, he was a Confederate Army General during the American Civil War, and the founder and leader of the Ku Klux Klan. Before the war, General Forrest gained his wealth as a cotton planter, horse and cattle trader, real estate broker, and selling slaves. He was a crude malicious man, whose campaign of intimidation and violence against Southern blacks and whites, who worked to end slavery were atrocious. Harry sat amidst powerful wealthy slave owners, that joined General Forrest wicked craving to keep the institution of slavery. General Forrest began his speech with, “get their first with the most.”

  General Forrest was a self-made millionaire. Harry loved the guy, the KKK founder quote became Harry’s favorite, he heard, “get rich more than the most.” Though it was not the quotation of the General, Harry believed that he heard and recited the General verbatim. One evening Harry was in his bedroom, he looked in the mirror and quoted what he thought Forest had said, “get rich more than the most.” Harry smiled at himself, he pointed at his face in the mirror and continued, “that is your plan.” Harry became a loyal follower and supporter of the General.

  The KKK founder, spoke loud and hard to get his point across at a rally that was held in his honor. Forest and the men were angry, the north was winning the war, he ended his speech with the way he began only louder and more forceful with revulsion and rage, “Get there first with the most!” He sat down.

  Though most of the men did not get the full meaning of the General’s quote, still they stood and cheered, Harry’s heart burst with excitement. He adored the man and thought he was right about slavery and their loyalist. If the north didn’t allow the south to maintain their ways, Harry yelled out, “I will acquire wealth then fight the fight as an individual.” He then chanted, “get rich more than the most.” Harry’s bass voice roared with eagerness.

  Harry attended General Forest meetings, though personally, he was not a fan of the KKK’s outfits, Harry liked wearing suits that made him look affluent. When they insisted that he wear their attire he stopped attending their meeting but maintain their hateful philosophies. The KKK hatred ignited within the heart and mind of Harry, he triggered a deliberately cruel deceptive plan. He concocted a malicious decision to keep slaves forever. Harry was going to use them to become the wealthiest man in the south.

  His heinous strategy lasted until his nemesis, Donovan Victor Bright, born 1993, discovered Harry’s secret plantation. Harry’s harrowing journey began as a ten-year-old boy, named Moe.

  All But One

  Part I

  I

  Moe’s Escape

  Ten-year-old Moe birthday fell on a Sunday in 1825. Jeb’s colored and white slaves worked side by side in the sugarcane fields. To him they were the same, Jeb simply believed that poor people were better off being a slave, after all, they had housing, a job, and food. One day Jeb said to himself as he galloped from the sugarcane field to home, “what more could a slave want. On my land, I give them everything,” he said out loud before entering his house.

  Jeb had twelve slaves working at the shoe factory. Moe was one of Jeb’s trusted slaves that could work in the factory. In the sugarcane fields, the twelve slaves worked from five o`clock in the morning to noon, then walked to town to work in the shoe factory for five hours. At the end of the month, the slaves were paid three dollars. Out of their hard-earned money, Jeb gave them a nickel and kept the rest. The slaves received the nickel due to the manager insisting that Jeb pay his property for their work.

  Moe was happy, he saved his nickels over the years in a small tin can, that he buried in the woods at the base of a tree. He had worked at the factory for twenty-eight months, Moe said to himself, “I’s rich.”

  However, out of the twelve, only Moe worked on Sunday’s. On his birthday, Moe entered the factory doors just before it started raining. Buckets of rain poured out of the sky, giving Moe a reason to stay the night. Moe said to himself, “perfect.” He asked the manager if he could stay all night in the factory and be back on the plantation in the morning.

  The manager said, “yes, you may stay.”

  To make time go faster Moe swept, mopped, took all the trash out back, dumped it in the pit, set it on fire, went back inside, and straighten up. The guard that stayed there in the evenings saw Moe working hard, he said, “my wife packed extra food, would you like to eat with me?”

  Moe had hard bread he’d stolen from his mom, the guard had fresh bread and meat, “yes Sir.” Moe’s eyes shined as the guard unwrapped the food, he even had a big piece of cake. Moe got two tin cups sitting on a nearby table, he said, “I’s gits’ us some water.” He ran out back and filled the cups from the well. The two sat talking and laughing, Moe wished the man was his father.

  At 11:00 PM, Moe was in that great big factory with only the guard who after they ate, stayed to himself. Moe thought, “I need more food to take with me.”

  Moe had planned to escape his Massa and mom; he was running away. He remembered the company’s owner always had nuts, candy, and cookies in his office. He entered the manager’s office and saw a half-eaten cake, dried beef, and other snacks. As Moe wrapped the food in a newspaper that was lying on the desk, he saw sitting in a corner his boss [RL1]black business case leaning against the wall. Moe smiled as he put the food in the case, he went out back and filled his flask.

  Moe looked around the shoe factory, everything was clean and in place, he was ready to head north. He looked at the clock, it read 11:15. For two years, Moe had returned to the plantation in the dark all by himself. At that time, he was going to a familiar place. Fright encased Moe’s nerves, he was running away from what and who he knew, he was going alone to an unknown. Moe stepped outside into the dark, it had stopped raining, the frogs and crickets sounded louder than normal, the dark was darker, the sky blacker, his heart beat so hard it felt like it was trying to escape his chest. [RL2]When the door closed the latch click echoed in the night, the noise startled Moe. Then Moe had an idea, he thought, maybe I’ll go home and tomorrow escape with my brothers. He took off running fast as he could, then quick as a wink stopped.

  It [RL3]was as if he ran into a wall of flashbacks. Moe stood frozen, remembering earlier that day.

  Instead of getting cake and ice-cream for his birthday, that morning, Moe’s mother was drunk and in a fussing mood. She lied yelling that she had saved money to get a shack for them, and no longer work for their Massa. She told Moe that it was his fault that their Massa swapped his brother and sister, Bo and Jo, for a slave cook. His mom ranted and raved for hours. Moe’s b
rothers ran out the slave shack, since this time it wasn’t one of them that she chose to beat with her vocals. That morning, it was their little brother’s turn.

  Moe’s mom walked towards him with her fist balled up and punched him in his face. Moe stumbled back towards the door, she grabbed him, [RL4]bent low to his level, held him close to her face as she spouted, “Massa be giben’ me yo’ nickel from da’ shoe factree,” she heaved Moe towards the door, he fell to the floor with a loud thump.

  He mumbled under his breath as he got off the floor, but loud enough for her to hear, “you's be an evil bugger.”

  She slapped Moe hard.

  Moe kicked at his mom but missed, she yanked the door open and pushed him out, he fell on his back partially on the stoop and ground. As she closed the door she said looking down at Moe, “I’s git yo’ nickel, it be da’ end of da’ month.”

  Normally on Sundays, Moe would leave early going to the shoe factory, he would take his time and play along the way. But not on his tenth birthday, Moe had a plan.

  Picking himself off the ground, Moe watched her disappear out of sight. He ran back in the shack and grabbed his quilt, his other pair of pants and shirt. He looked around the room for anything else he could take. On the table was a big piece of bread Massa had given his mom, he took it, and wrapped it in his dirty handkerchief. Hanging on the wall was his father’s flask with a strap, he grabbed that as well. When realizing there was nothing more to take, Moe put everything in the middle of the quilt and tied the four corners together. He had seen pictures of runaways with a makeshift pack, tied together with a stick going through the top. He quickly went outside and found a long stick. The quilt and stick were too big and heavy for him to carry. He put the quilt and flask over his head and shoulder like a crossover purse. Moe went deep into the woods where at the base of a tree he had buried his nickels for the past two years in a small tin can.