TOO MANY GOOD-BYES,
TOO MANY TEARS
21

WHEN FRIDAY MORNING ARRIVED THERE WERE three rolled-up blankets and three pillow slips stuffed full of our things sitting on the kitchen floor.

Emma and Josepha and I had already had several quiet private talks amongst ourselves about our plans and what we would do and which way we would go. Josepha said she knew of some free coloreds about fifty miles north, and we decided to try to find them first. The money Katie had given us kept sitting on the kitchen table for more than twenty-four hours after we’d talked about it. I knew Katie was serious and that if we didn’t take it, it would still be sitting there when her uncle came. So finally I took all three stacks and gave Josepha hers, and put Emma’s and mine in my bag. I figured Emma’s would be safer if I kept it for her.

Sometime after we’d gone to bed the night before, Katie’s suitcase appeared on the floor sitting next to our three bags. I don’t know when Katie brought it downstairs, but it looked like she was serious about leaving too. I didn’t know what her plans were, if she was still determined to come with us or go someplace else.

When I first saw Katie that morning, her eyes were red from crying. She walked past me without looking in my direction and began bustling around in the kitchen, as if by staying busy she could avoid the painful good-bye that was hurrying our way. I just stood there in the kitchen doorway and watched her until she finally turned around. We looked at each other for a long moment, then we crossed the room and embraced. We stood in each other’s arms for the longest time.

‘‘I love you, Mayme,’’ Katie finally whispered in my ear.

That did it. I started blubbering like a baby and cried and cried.

‘‘Oh, Katie,’’ I said. ‘‘I love you so much. I’ll never forget you.’’

‘‘Whatever happens,’’ she said, ‘‘write to me at Mrs. Hammond’s or Rosewood. Wherever I go, I’ll be sure to keep in touch with her and Uncle Burchard. They’ll keep my mail for me.’’

‘‘I will, Katie,’’ I said. ‘‘As soon as me and Emma and Josepha are settled someplace, I’ll let you know where we are. I promise. But . . . but what are you going to do?’’

‘‘I don’t know,’’ said Katie. ‘‘I think today I’ll walk to Oak-wood, unless Uncle Burchard will let me keep one of the horses. I’ve got the fifty dollars. I’ll stay in the hotel there for a night and maybe try to find a job or something. You said there was a job there once. I’ll learn to work, Mayme. I’ll work hard. And if I can get a job, maybe I’ll rent a room somewhere and wait until Uncle Templeton comes back. If I can’t find anything to do, I’ll go to Charlotte and try to find a job there.’’

‘‘What about Papa, then?’’ I asked. ‘‘How will he find us?’’

‘‘After I leave, I’ll talk to Henry and Mrs. Hammond,’’ said Katie. ‘‘When Uncle Templeton comes back, whenever that is, he’ll ask questions and I’ll make sure they know where I am. Then once he and I get together again, I’ll tell him what happened and we’ll come find you. That’s why you have to make sure that Henry and Mrs. Hammond know where you are. Then we’ll all get together again. Uncle Templeton will know what to do.’’