Note: This story not passed any moderation (review is pending). Please report it if it violates our rules or contain any prohibited content. All posted stories are fiction!

Author:

My seventh day as a slave, is the day slaves are allowed to rest from hard labor. But this was going to be a rough day for both Kwaku and myself, due to the departure of people we cared about. Kwaku’s Mother would be heading to Araway’s house, to stay in my room, and Master Ansah would be heading back to Araway’s mine.

We were up early, since the trucks would be leaving early this morning. It was la full days journey to Araway’s mine, and things had to be done there upon arrival. We could hear all the commotion at the top, and just had to wait for what was to come.

The guard came down, and released us from the slaves quarters, and we were allowed to clean up for breakfast. The guard then had Kwaku get dressed, and he gave Dauda and me our food to eat. The guard then took Kwaku up to the top, where he was allowed to eat, and spend time with his Mother.

A little later, Kwaku brought his Mother down to say goodby to Dauda and me. She gave us both a hug, and wished us well, and she thanked me for the arrangements I had made for her to stay at Araway’s. Then she and Kwaku returned to the top.

Next Master Ansah came down, and I got down on my knees and bowed in respect. As usual he thanked me, but reminded me I was no longer his slave. He then hugged both Dauda and me, wishing us well and telling us he would be back in a week. He then gave me a second hug, and called me his pet, then laughed. Then he returned to the top.

It was a little after seven when I heard the trucks start up, and Dauda and I watched as they disappeard over the top of the hill. Dauda looked at me, and ask if I was ok, he could see tears in my eyes. I told him yes, that I would be fine, that seeing them go , made me sad.

He and I then went back to the slave’s quarters, and lay down on our mattresses. Dauda fell asleep, but I just lay there, thinking about what the last two days were like. I never did go back to sleep, I just kept thinking about everything. And wondering how things would workout for Kwaku’s Mother, once she was at Araway’s house.

It was some time before Kwaku returned to the slave quarters, and he was still wearing clothes. I ask about how things went, with his fair well with his Mother, and he said fine. He said both of them were looking forward to their reunion, when he got back to Araway’s. He said he had a great breakfast with his Mother before she left, and that she had made breakfast for the whole group.

I ask him about his clothing, and the Foreman had told him he could leave them on, until he was ready to sleep. I ask him how it felt wearing clothes, after being kept naked for years. He laughed and said it felt good, made him feel like he was a real person. He said when your kept naked, and forced to work, people start treating you like your not a real person. He said at times, he felt like he was just some animal, like a horse that was used for labor.

He then ask me how I had felt this last week, working there as a real slave. He said the Foreman thinks your just a dumb slave, who’s lucky to be owned and give food and a place to live. He told me the Foreman had commented on the Master calling me his pet. He said that being the Master pet, was like owning a pet dog. This made me stop and think, the Master had told me before he left, that I would always be his pet, and then he laughed. I now know what he ment, and why he laughed, he had heard the Foreman’s remarks

I ask Kwaku if he thought the Foreman.viewed me as a dumb animal. Kwaku answered, he wasn’t sure about the animal part, but the Foreman did think I was dumb. Kwaku told me the Foreman, had told him that I was lucky to have Kwaku to take care of me. Kwaku laughed and said I was his pet animal, and ask how that felt? I didn’t answer, I just barked like a dog, and we laughed.

Later when I got to thinking about what Kwaku had said, I realized I was being compared, or viewed as a dumb animal. That made me stop and think, yes, when I first came here the guards at Araway’s treated the men as slaves, ignoring their humanity. It had take me sometime to get the guards, and even Araway, to refer to the slaves as men or workers.

Dauda and I were fed our lunch, and our evening meal at the shed that day. But that evening Kwaku was called to the top, and he ate leftovers with the Foreman, and spent time talking about their home village. Kwaku returned at bedtime with the guard, and Kwaku was still fully dressed. The guard took Dauda and me to the slave quarters, while Kwaku removed his clothes and followed.

Once in the slave quarters Dauda and I were chained for the night, but once again Kwaku was left unchained. The guard locked the gate, and turned out the main light before leaving. They keep a small very dim light on, so they can look in and view the slaves.

The three of us, as usual, then had our nightly talk before sleeping. I ask Kwaku what happened when he went topside, and he told about eating regular food, and talking with the Foreman about their home village. He then volunteered the information, that he would no longer be chained at night. He also told us, that he would be spending time with the Foreman in the evenings, at times, to talk about their village and old friends. He said he would be required to wear clothing when he was topside.

Dauda and I both remarked how lucky he was to have come across a Foreman, who was from his village. We talked about a few other things before falling asleep.