A short time later, all the joy and good luck that been building up suddenly depart. Sammy send word to Eliza that the dream of freedom we been holding get crushed, dry up for good. James fall ill, die from cholera. It kill plenty people in London, but why, why it have to catch James? And when Eliza come visit to tell me, we sit and weep together like tomorrow never going come again. It take a long time to heal the blow we get from the passing of little brother James.

Fighting Words

In the beginning is only a whisper. A rumour that get passed from mouth to ear and back again in the church prayer meetings held cross the island. And the whispers, they all bout the change that is a-coming. And the best place to hear bout this change is in the Burchell Baptist Church up in Montego Bay. That church come to be like the hub in a wheel of a cart driven by a missionary man by the name of Thomas Burchell. Him come out from the Mother Country, build the church, start to preach. Don’t just talk bout the Lord, but talk about abolition. Is under him that Sam Sharpe get him training, helping out with the service, marking off attendance, collecting fees, giving out tickets, until he started preaching and ended up with him own congregation. Not just slave them mind you. Free coloureds and blacks come too. Even white folks, him is such a good preacher. And over the years, him come to be like a father to us slaves. Come to be called Reverend Daddy Sharpe, with all that wisdom pouring out of him.

Sunday services is when plenty slaves can get permission papers to go to church and, tonight, Reverend Sharpe going hold one in Black River, close to where Ginger Hill is, and many of us going.

By the time Eliza and me meet up and get to the church, is full to overflowing. One of the brothers tell me later, is not as crowded like up in Montego Bay, where up to three thousand slaves go. Tonight is hundreds and them fill the church, the yard, outside the yard, down the street and round the corner. Them line up in them Sunday best, hoping to catch a glimpse of Reverend Sharpe, even after the service long time over. And when Sam Sharpe see me, him still remember Stella boy. Is like no time pass from when I meet him up on the hill in the little white church and him welcome me like a friend.