Is the first time Massa single me out. Want to give me a special job that him seem to think I can do. Must be Mistress Caroline what change him, make him think bout him children in a new light. Maybe him even feel bad bout choosing James over him firstborn son, even if him never call me that. Ever since that time at old cripple Jonnie funeral, when me stand up for Stella, him look at me a little different. Even so, most times, he barely say anything to me. And then him still say, ‘Boy, come here. Boy, do this. Boy, do that.’ If him see me talking to Stella, he tell me to get back to work. The thorn must be prick him.

Things a little different with Sammy, too, since James got sent to the Mother Country. Him still serving in the Great House, looking after Massa’s clothes, but him don’t run round after Massa, the way him used to like some dog following a hand holding a bone.

The next morning I get up early. Saddle up the horses and take them round to the front of the Great House. I also bring up the mule and cart because Massa send word Mister Buchanan want to collect some samples. Sitting on the verandah is a big bag of tools I heave onto the cart. It join a basket of food Melon prepare the night before. Finally Massa and Mister Buchanan is ready, and they come down the steps in them riding clothes. The quarry is right at the edge of the plantation. If we walk, it going only take a few hours. With the mule and cart, we have to take the long way round. After they mount up, we head off down the wide carriageway that lead to the front gate and out the plantation. Follow it till we meet up with the main road. Like always the dogs run long side us barking and yelping till Massa crack him whip over them heads, make them scatter.

By the time we reach bout halfway, the sun sitting high in the sky and it getting hot. The shadow them tell me is not yet noon, but must be soon come. Massa and Mister Buchanan decide they need a little rest and Massa tell me to spread out the food Melon send. So I set up a little place under the shade of a big silk-cotton tree. Sit to one side as they eat and drink them fill, help meself to what leave-over.