"Take Care Of Old Squire"
Sylvia hadn't seen Chuck in several days. She missed him coming over for dinner and to watch television. Life alone wasn't all she thought it'd be. She loved her house, but it was so quiet in the evenings. There was nothing worth watching on the television, so she went out to the porch. The crickets were chirping, and she could hear a bird singing from his perch on the power line. The porch was her quiet retreat. It was always peaceful there, and the breeze seemed to whisper to her in times of stress or loneliness.
It was late when she went to take her bath. She passed the closet in the hallway and thought of the old note. She hadn't thrown it away, and wasn't sure why. "What was that name?" she mumbled. Mr. Abernathy had called the name, but she couldn't seem to recall. "Squire; Old Squire." she said aloud. Sylvia turned to enter the bathroom, and suddenly screamed! The old man from the barn was standing in the hallway. She looked for something to defend herself with, but saw nothing. She reasoned that she needed to remain calm and try not to show any fear. She'd just try to talk to him and get him out of the house, she thought. Then she could call the Sheriff.
"Who are you exactly, and how did you get in my house?"
"I's Ole Squire, Chille. I done met you in dat barn. You call an' I come. Cain't find my Molly, an' cain't leave dis place. Dis me an' Molly's place. Been here long time."
She knew the house had been closed up for years. He wasn't making sense! She noticed that he hadn't changed his clothing since the night in the barn. She wasn't sure of the material. The old coat was thin, and his pants were worn and too short for his height. The lines on his old face seemed at home. He was tall and darker skinned than anyone she'd ever seen. His hands were large and callused. His eyes were dark, and hauntingly sad. Still, he seemed kind, like an old grandfather. She calmed herself and was no longer frightened of him.
"I haven't called anyone Sir. I think you should leave now!"
"I heard you call Ole Squire, an' I come. Done tole you Chille, cain't leave here, jest cain't."
Sylvia couldn't understand what he meant. She knew her doors had been locked and she'd heard no one break a window! She thought of Mrs. Cotton. Perhaps he was a spirit, and the old woman hadn't made up the stories.
"Are you telling me that you're a ghost?"
"Naw, Chille. I ain't said dat."
"You said this place was yours and Molly's. When did you buy this place?"
The old man laughed.
"Slave cain't buy nuttin'. We's had a cabin here. Long gone now doe. Miz Cotton long gone now too."
"You knew Mrs. Cotton?"
"Yep, tried a get rid a me too. I kep telling her cain't go nowhere. Jest cain't."
"I didn't call you that night in the barn. Why'd you come out there?"
"Guess you call on de Lawd. He musta set me in dat barn a hep you."
Sylvia realized that it was the old man who smelled of sweet hay. He'd said he tended horses. That would explain the odor, but she couldn't accept that he was a ghost. Here stood a man who looked quite ordinary, but claimed to be a slave. She knew it was impossible.
"Squire, can anyone see you? I mean if people come to my house they can see you too, right?"
"Naw. Me an' Miz Cotton, we try dat. She say "Ole Squire, dis Miz Martin." Dat woman, look rite through me. I try talkin' other fokes too. Did'n work."
Sylvia was disappointed. How would anyone believe her? Without being able to show them, she knew they wouldn't.
"So you say that God put you in the barn, and you're in here because I called out your name?"
"Dat rite. Awmighty knowed I hep hawses. Cain't touch um doe. Cain't do much a nuttin'. Jest be here. Some thangs I do. Dat box wid fokes in it? Ole Squire made it go way."
"My television! You really scared me that night. What about the knocking, and in the kitchen when I fainted? Did you wipe my face?"
"Wipe it wid dis rag."
He pulled an old faded cloth from his pocket.
"Lawd let me hep fokes, but jest if he say. Cain't work wid des hands no moe. I's feel bad a scarin' you. Don't know bout no knockin'. Gots me some big feets. Might be Ole Squire walkin' roun'."
"Did you turn off the stove?"
"Yep, gone catch fire. No body watchin'."
"When did you die?"
"Don't reckon I's dead, Chille. I'd be gone a glory if I's dead! You thank Ole Squire dead?"
She didn't know what to say. He had to realize that things had changed. He said he couldn't do anything!
"Are you hungry?"
"Don't eat. Don't sleep no moe neither. Jest calls Molly. Figure dey sent her get sompin'. She be back. Dey won't send her far."
"If you're still living, why wouldn't you get hungry?"
"I figure Awmighty want Ole Squire rest now. He fix it so's I don't get hungry, don't works no moe. Jest stays here waitin' fo' Molly. Reckon he done seen how hard I work afo'."
The old man laughed as if he'd thought of something funny.
"Wait'll my Molly see me! She gone be proud I ain't workin' so hard. She ustah cry bout des hands. She rub um an' jest cry."
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