Fixing up the house, helping Winnie in the kitchen, looking after little Rose is one thing. But come night-time, now that is when the real work begin. Mistress Josephine like me to serve her a late supper, up in her bedroom. She have me dressed like a savage she call it. Have nothing on but a loincloth. While she eating, I must fill up the little copper bathtub she have sitting in one corner with hot water. When it ready, I help her to undress while she stand in front of the mirror to admire herself.

‘Do you find me beautiful, little Will?’

‘Yes, Mistress Josephine, the most beautiful woman in Montego Bay.’

Mind you, not hard. She is the prettiest woman I ever seen.

When she naked, she settle herself into the tub. Get me to wash her. Wash her all over, before I wrap a sheet round her. Lift her out and take her to bed.

Is like living in a dream, one that I know soon going have to end. So while it last, I make the best of it. Indulge in whatever little whim or fancy Mistress Josephine instruct me to do. Back on the plantation, I favour a few of the giggling indoor slave girls. Meet them in secret, do me business and leave. Nothing fancy, never make no promises. I know Stella going choose for me. But spending time with Mistress Josephine, I come to understand what it mean to be a juicy mango and delight in the pleasure it bring Mistress Josephine. She also teach me to give her pleasure, before taking mine. Best of all though, she teach me the power, strength and beauty of me own kind.

The day come for me to leave, and it seem to come up so fast. I say goodbye to Winnie in the kitchen. She hug me up good, give me her own fortified cake to send back to Melon. Little Rose start to cry and she cling to me, trying to make me stay. Even Mistress Josephine seem to have a watery look in her eyes. Was hard to say goodbye, put back on the raggedy slave clothes, sling me crocus bag over me shoulder. This time, I head out the front door, not the back, before I walk to the stable where me house that old mule me ride in on. Get up on him back and take the coast road leading out of town. Hoping that one day, I don’t know how, me going be like the town people them, like James, walking free down the street, holding me head up high.

World of Loss