The squabble

Day Four
SALLY ANN VOLUME II
BY Kateb Shunnar.



The squabble





Day four, and the morning is just creeping in through the curtains of the dawn as it prepares to change shifts with the moonlight and its starlit skies for their appointed hours as all the souls and flowers anticipate their rise as the sunlight wipes the darkened face from the sky. When the winds blew and a drop of dew kissed Sally Ann’s face, she woke up, yawned, and said,
“All praise due to the Lawd for letting me see another day, for he knows we are not even worthy to receive his mercy and grace, but still, he gives us a chance to see another day. For if he judged me with his justice, I would not be here on the Earth’s face, but by his mercy, I am here to say God is great. God is great, ani’t that right, Peachy... I said, ani’t that right, Peachy?”

Peachy just turned over from her sleep and moaned, “Yeah sis, save me a slice, I’ll get it in the morning.”

Sally Ann frowned and then pinched Peachy on the butt and said, “Peachy, get your sleep-drunken self up and go see if you can get us some fruit, water, and bread from the breakfast cart, and come right back, you hear me? Peachy, do not roam the train, and do not converse with no one other than the second-hand cooks in the kitchen and the train police if they ask you anything.”



“Oh yeah sis, I can do that with no problem; look, I’ll be back in a jiffy,” Peachy replied, and then she walked off towards the dining cart.

She was stopped by an officer who asked her, “Hey, little colored girl, where do you think you’re going ?”

Peachy replied, “I’m going to the kitchen, would you like anything, sir?”

The officer replied, “Yes, I would like you to go back where you just came from, for you know colored folk ani’t allowed to dine on the cart with White folk, so head back to your mother before trouble comes.”

Peachy laughed and chuckled, and then she said, “Officer, sir, I’m going fetch some fruits ,bread, and water for Lady Louise. She sent me this way, sir, and I’s don’t want to disappoint her.”

“Lady Louise? You mean the jazz singer from Kentucky? Oh my, she is a hot dame O’ did the Lawd bless her with a nice a*s and some beautiful b***s and on all top of that she is sweet; I’s hear she likes to adopt little colored children. Hey look, I tell you this: If you promise to ask Lady Louise can I come by her room and have a Cowboy lemonade later on today, I’ll let you go in the diner, and I’ll supervise you so no one would bother you,” said the officer.

Peachy smirked and said, “Oh yeah boss, I’s gonna put in a good word for you, I reckon you like that boss, but as for your protection, I’m fine; the good Lawd is all I need, sir. Now excuse me, Lady Louise is awaiting my return and if I take too long coming back she most definitely would not want to hear anything about you and your fantasy Cowboy.”The officer quickly jumped out the way and proceeded to open the car door to the diner, and as Peachy walked through the door, she said, “Well thank you kindly, sir, what hospitality, and a gentleman you are; good day, and once again I’s thank you.” As Peachy walked through the diner towards the kitchen, a little girl stuck her foot out and clipped her, and Peachy fell and hit her head on the floor. As Peachy was lying on the floor, she began to grind her teeth and ball her fists; she then licked her lips and tasted blood, and at that moment she slowly got up and walked up to the girl who tripped her and said, “Look here, you pale face b*****d, I don’t know what your got damn problem is, but thank Gawd I’m not in a rush, for I have time to help you solve it.”

The little girl laughed loudly and said, “Oh my, what a feisty little colored gal you are. Oh my, you are sure talking all sassy, now you better watch your mouth before you get dealt with, for you know you are the wrong color to stand up to me! My paw would lynch you if you put one hand on me, so go back to your cage. You are not welcome to come into a car for Whites only, so step back, big eye coon, oh, and I hope I made you feel as bad as you look heifer!”

At that moment Peachy was trying her hardest to hold her tongue, but it was too heavy to lift, so she dropped it completely to the floor and said, “Well, look like your paw gonna have to lynch me after I kick your a*s, cause no one talks to me like that, especially a scrawny pale heifer like you, and oh, I am gonna enjoy dragging you and putting a little color on your face. I tell you, my lynching will be worth it; what a blessing it will be, for heaven will be guaranteed for me and I will be at peace, but you will be miserable and handicapped till you die.” Peachy then punched the girl in the eye, then she jabbed her in the ribs and clipped her to the ground and kicked her[O1] in the throat as the girl grasped for breath. Peachy grabbed her by the hair, and was about to drag her off the train, but everyone got up from their seats and begun to throw food at and glasses at Peachy, yelling apple from the top of their lungs. Peachy let her hair go and started back hitting on her hysterically till the police officer who stopped her jumped in and broke the fight up.

Once the fight was broken up, and the officer calmed the crowd, he grabbed the two girls and pulled them to the side and said, “What the heck are you two doing? Do you know what kind of trouble and tension you just caused? You two are nuts, and you, colored girl, you made a big mistake. Do you know who you just jumped on?”

“Yeah a pale face heifer, and if you let me go I’ll jump on her again. I don’t fear her and I am not scared to be an apple, so your threats don’t frighten me,” said Peachy.

The officer then replied, “Well, you should worry much, for you jumped on Claudette Wilson, the daughter of Mr. Tate Wilson, who happens to be the leader of a M.O.B in Detroit, and by the way, he hates colored people unlike Lady Louise who likes them and ask them to do favors like go get fruit, bread, and water, but no…you had to stop and beat up Claudette, and now my chances of a drink are over.”

Peachy smacked her teeth and rolled her eyes and said, “I did not beat up Claudette,

she beat up herself when she decided to trip me and call me a coon, so don’t blame me, blame Claudette. She is the one who set that fire; all I did is let it burn.”

Claudette then kicked the officer in the shin and said, “Yeah, I tripped that coon, so what? I would do it again, and to be honest I enjoyed it; I like to see colored people down on their backs; that’s where they supposed to be in life�"down, but don’t worry colored gal, my paw gone take care of you and this sorry excuse of a police officer. Ahh, I hate you! Look what you did to me! I swear you will be dropping like the Macintosh in the middle of September, so enjoy your moment. Mine will come soon, and it will be extremely painful. Bye-bye, losers, see you in the orchard in September.”

Don’t worry Claudette I’ll meet you there in June see you soon I am not worried I have lived my life don’t you know a flower is successful as soon as it grows added time is just blessings undeserved so anytime I’m given I am happy with it said Peachy to Claudette in a disgruntled tone then she put her fist up and Claudette said “ Negro not now just wait I ‘s a true southern gal and I loves my apples ripe and my paw just knows how to pick apples when it’s their time so go on and keep running your mouth keep barking like a female dog in heat but I am going to irritate you like a bunch of fleas when it is my time. Ha you colored girl just to let you know I hear your bark but I swear by Gawd you gon feel my bite I’m gone scar you for the rest of your cursed life.” After Claudette spoke she turned around and walked away singing”

I’m a southern bell.

I’m a southern gal.

I’m refreshing like an autumn breeze.

I’m pure and precious like a salt water pearl.

I’m sweet like potato pie

I’m zesty like a lemon swirl

I’m a southern gal.”

What a pathetic vocalist she sounds like she dress horrible that is and her attitude is like her bloomers stuck in her butt that is and her confidence is like that of a horse and last of all her breath reek like sour collard greens but, you know what she means nothing to me so I’m about to let go and carry on cause if I wanted drama I would have stayed on my mama’s farm putting up with my paw and uncle mess but look I’m here so I put behind mess Peachy said to the officer then she walked off to the kitchen and grabbed a few items and made her way back to Sally Ann. Once Peachy got back to the cart with her sister she bent over to put the food down and Sally looked at her face then said “Sidda Sajidah, Owens what the heck happen to your face “Alvin quickly replied “Somebody must have seen her in the dark and slapped her out of fear that they were being attacked by a monster.” Boy shut up before I slap you now Peachy what happen to your face Sally Ann asked once more and Peachy responded “Well I was going to go get the things you asked me fetch from the kitchen and a white girl tripped me and started to call me all kind of names so I got up and beat her up then all the white folk in the diner cart started calling me apple and throwing food and glasses at me so I started back hitting the girl then a police broke us up.” O’ my Gawd Peachy what the hell did you do “I beat that pale girl up is what I did. I mean Sally Ann she tripped me and called me a coon I had to defend myself and my honor is that not what you taught us to do is it so leave me alone about this I did what was right and I don’t care who says I am wrong said Peachy to Sally Ann. Sally Ann frowned and put her hand on her forehead and said to her sister “Peachy maybe what you did was right but let me ask you was it right to endanger the lives of the ones you love? Is it right to defend your honor and have everyone in shame? Yes I told you all to be firm and stand up for yourself ,but I never told you all to go around fighting folks especially when will put us and all the people of color in broiling water to be cooked like crabs. Peachy don’t you recall when Reverend Trotter and Hezekiah went to bum rush Sheriff Brady house with their mob do you remember all the problems it caused for everyone. I see you must have forgot that oh do you remember when Hezekiah invited Sheriff Brady to church trying to preach salvation and repentance to him do you recall all the people his mouth put endanger ? Oh speak up! speak up! do you remember? do you remember this why we left Albany so why would you do that? Peachy let me learn you something child sometimes it is better to walk away from things even though you may have all right to perform any action but always remember sometimes the reaction is greater than the action for example if I set the fuel cart on fire the reaction would be a great explosion that would kill all of us it would also prevent others from traveling on this rail and it would hold trade and goods that people need to survive. My dear sister please take my advice control your anger before it controls you. Peachy I remember grandmamma telling me granddaddy told her he was told by his Bello "The strong is not the one who overcomes the people by his strength, but the strong is the one who controls himself while in anger. My sister I love you very much and you too Alvin so take my advice do not become angry and furious for all the baggage that it travels along with is not
worth it ...it's value is not even worth a mosquito wing ... It's not worth it... all that confusion ,depression, trouble, misery and stress... The things we chase in this world will leave us behind once we close our eyes and the shovels of dirt are begun to be thrown... We must try hard to do right even though in honesty the fight is hard...It’s better to fight and struggle than to just sit there in despair. May Gawd have mercy on us and save from all the things that will tare our hearts body and soul down, but if we slip and fall may Gawd mercy lift us up off the ground with his grace we look forward for another chance. O my sister I’m not asking you to do something I have not done for I too have been dealing with my anger for years I remember countless nights I would sit in my closet swimming in tears my mind was cramping in pain but I would pray and sing I would also write these were my tools I used to climb to a new height so if I can struggle with it I know you can also fight now Peachy am I right.” Yes sis in fact you may be but I can’t promise you anything for this will take time just as it took you Sally Ann remember I am just a young girl I suppose to be a sassy being calm is for older people and I hope to be a child at heart forever replied Peachy. Sally Ann smirked at Peachy silly remark and replied “ Peachy have you heard the story of the Roe?” no I have not can you tell me tomorrow I’m just to cranky now and I may not take it to heart Peachy told Sally but Sally Ann paid her request no mind and said “ Who cares if your cranky and if your heart won’t take it i would be ever so honored to run this along the side of your behind and head now sit down little girl and Alvin you come sit down too.
Once on the island of Comoros there was a little girl by the name of Amala who one day went fishing with her father and discovered a single roe sitting in shallow water so she carefully collected it and put it into a clear topless container and filled it with water. Amala then walked carefully to her father who was sitting down fishing and said “Excuse me baba look I found a roe can I keep it please” The father smiled and replied “ Of course Amala” Weeks passed and one morning Amala woke and saw a her roe was gone and there was a fingerling in her container ;in complete shock she ran to her baba and said “ Baba my roe is gone and someone put a fingerling in its place we have to go find my roe for I do not want a fingerling” Amala baba smiled and said “ Amala that fingerling is your roe did you think the roe would stay a roe forever and never develop as it was intended to by Gawd?” Amala replied “Baba ok can I keep this fingerling please?” Yes replied her baba. As time passed the fingerling grew and one morning Amala woke up and big fish was about stuck in her container so out of shock she ran to her baba and said “Baba my fingerling is a big fish now and it looks so unhappy and sad can you go talk to it and ask it to go back to a little fingerling because I don’t like it all grown up.” Amala baba laughed and said “O’ my child did you think that the fingerling was going to stay a fingerling forever? For it had to develop to be what it was created to be. O’ my child you have to set this fish free now for it has a purpose in life I however, do not know its purpose for I am not his creator but for whatever reason it was created for it has to fulfill it and you and I cannot hold it hostage for amusement for it is now a great wrong to keep it from experiencing life. Amala when it was a single roe it was fine to keep it and when it was a fingerling is was fine but now it’s grown so set it free.” Amala took her fish and set it free in the sea to live. I know you’re wondering why I told you this story well I told you this because I wanted you to that you cannot hold you’re self or nobody in a stage obstruction for you must allow you’re self to grow for you do not know what your creator has in store for you at the next level so allow yourself to grow. Peachy I know it’s hard but I just know you will sprout and break through this trouble world without notice like a planted seed, but remember a seed cannot sprout if it is not watered and covered .Oh my sister I remember Francis telling me the seed is an outstanding phenomenon: if one really wanted to understand the complexity of development I would suggest that they take a look at a seed. A seed is a reclusive occurrence, it is centripetal nonetheless its vigor is moving internally. This is why a seed is sheltered and closed from the external world completely. Nevertheless, its shell also protects it in its undeveloped stage from the outside world’s radicals. In truth the seed is the loneliest, most secluded object on the planet. It has no roots in the soil and no undergrowth. The seed appears to languish, but it is full of life. A seed is utterly an island in a number of ways. However, when the seed is planted into the womb of time it is then nurtured and it comes out of its shell and grows outwardly from the inward genetic coding, which gives it the blueprint to grow.” A seed yeah I rather be a seed Sally Ann not sprouted that is I enjoy being alone I enjoy being shaded from the outside world and if I decided to grow it is going to be inward I’m not trying to grow outward I do not want to be a tree don’t want no fruit bearing on me and I definitely do not want any one spraying water on me and picking on me every time they want to feed whatever desire that is dancing in the back of their mind. Sally Ann big sister I’m just tired of all this hell and stupid people who think they are better than others because of their status and skin tone. I’m sick and feed up with chasing dreams for I have no wings to catch them for they fly so high in the sky just look at them you see them soaring by? I am sick of being sweet and nice for people always stab you with a knife and kick you in your tail. Sally Ann do you remember how in Albany you were so sweet and nice to everyone and they still did you wrong they sent you crazy now we running from home where to? Lord only knows and funny thing is we are not even prepared for what comes our way we just traveling hoping thing go our way I am tired of running from our troubles dislikes and fears I just want my life to be what the good Lord attended and I know for sure the life we living is not what he planned for us because its tiresome and rough so from this day I am not fighting for failure and stupid dreams all our life it has been autumn and everyday it has rained; every day has been pain but we just ignore it and accept it why? Replied Peachy to her sister with tears rolling down her eyes and snot down her cheeks holding her head and patting her feet Sally Ann then begin to cry and said “ Peachy I over-stand how you feel but what we are going through is the Lord will yes we may tumble slip and slide and we may even make a mess but we can’t give up for I know we can pass all of our test ,but we will fail if we drink form the fountain of stress and eat from the café of anger we have to be careful for the devil always comes as a stranger and he whispers negativity in the heart not the mind and at that moment your dreams begin to start flying with your wings. Oh my sister I over-stand how you feel







[O1]Note the little girl Peachy beats up is the daughter of the leader of gang green in Detroit . Gang green beats and rape Peachy in the chapter …… The scream heard all over Detroit.]