A Change in the Weather

By George Fluellen

Joe and Charlotte will face incredible odds to find what few people truly acquire in this lifetime, a true soulmate.  Joe newly snatched from his home land is the newest slave on the plantation and Charlotte is the master’s daughter.  Their stormy love affair will endure all time and keep you on edge, guessing.  You will be

• Language: English
• Publisher: LitFire Publishing
• Release date: Oct 29, 2018
• ISBN: 9781643984674

George Fluellen

George Fluellen is the pastor of two small churches in Middle Georgia. After graduating high school, he worked odd jobs one of which was a custodian at the First Baptist Church in his hometown. It was during this time he received the calling of the Lord. The pastor of that church encouraged him to begin theology classes. He attended the Union Baptist Seminary where he obtained his master's in theology and a Doctor of Divinity Degree. He grew up hearing the stories of his forefathers from his parents. He was always fascinated of how they had to overcome many obstacles and struggles. This interest in his ancestry motivated him to begin his documentation and research into the lives of his ancestors.

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A Change In The Weather

Copyright © 2018 by George Fluellen

ISBN: 978-1-64398-467-4

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher or author, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

Although every precaution has been taken to verify the accuracy of the information contained herein, the author and publisher assume no responsibility for any errors or omissions. No liability is assumed for damages that may result from the use of information contained within.

Printed in the United States of America

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A Change

in the

Weather

George Fluellen

Contents

Introduction

Chapter One

Chapter Two The Big Race

Chapter Three

Chapter Four War

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Introduction

Growing up in rural Georgia during the eighties was a very difficult time in my life. The death of my father brought on many changes. I became the prodigal son as with many other young African American boys. But my mischief cost me my freedom. Not only did I have an addiction problem, I was now a convicted felon. Using this as an excuse for my setbacks, it became easy for me to give up on life. Looking back now I thank God, every day for a praying mother. Through her I found the courage to never give up on myself. So, my journey began.

As a young man, one day I was looking from the back porch of our country home, wondering what my future would have been like had I made different choices. What’s on your mind baby? Momma said as she put her arms around me. I told her I was just wishing that I could be somebody she could be proud of. She then said something I have never forgotten Son, I have always been proud of you. You have to learn to be proud of yourself. She went on to say, you see there are always opportunities in your own backyard. One thing you must never forget, there is always going to be a change in the weather. Puzzled I asked what she meant. She said well, let me tell you about my granddaddy Joe.

She started his story……. As a young boy, about eleven years of age, he and his sisters and brothers were taken from their parents. His little sister was literally torn from his mother’s arms. Only the young and strong were taken aboard the slave ships destine for a distant land, this land. Imagine being a young child yourself taken from me to a strange land with strange people and language you couldn’t understand. The fear your great granddaddy must have had.

It all started when he was taken from his home in Africa, the Kaizer Islands, a part of northern Germany, and sold as a slave to a family who had managed to buy passage on a slave ship bound for America. However, the journey did not farewell for the family. The husband died during the voyage. All their possessions including their slaves had to be auctioned off for debt. Joe was bought by the McHamilton plantation. That plantation was right here on this very land that we now own. You see child, Joe didn’t let his circumstances defeat him. Even back then he must have known that there would be a change in the weather.

When he arrived at the estate a scared, frighten frail little boy he was taken in by a little old lady known as Mama Pearl. She took him to her shack in the slave quarters. He was given a feather mattress on wooden planks in a corner of the room. Nightmares constantly haunted his sleep. Many nights he would toss and turn as vivid images of the death ship filled his subconscious mind. Even the stench of decaying flesh filled his nostrils as the faces of many who died aboard that vessel flashed before him. He dreamed of the trading block, in Louisville Georgia, where he last saw each of his family members sold off one by one. He feared he would never see or hear from them again.

He would often be awakened from this nightmare screaming with fear and pain so loud it would alarm the others living in the slave quarters. Mama Pearl, Mama Pearl he’d scream dripping with sweat in the thick muggy heat of the night. I’m here baby, she would cry out as she leaped from her bed. Everything is alright now. It’s over. Come on and go back to sleep, she’d say as she held him the rest of the night.

Chapter One

As time passed he became proficient at his chores as well as the language. Exhausted most mornings from his battle with his personal demons, he would tirelessly get up to get the mules ready for the fields. Then he would hurry to the garden to gather the vegetables for the McHamilton’s dinner. As dawn approached each day this became his morning routine. Mama Pearl was the McHamilton’s cook and Joe became what was known as the apron boy.

He didn’t mind taking the fresh vegetables to the big house because he would always get there in time for breakfast. As he approached the back door he could smell Mama Pearl’s biscuits coming from the oven. She was a good cook and would often sneak a fresh biscuit for him. Get on boy and finish your chores! she would call to him with a smile. Joe was just like the son she never talked about. It wasn’t until years later Joe learned that her son, Willy, had been killed by Hank Younger, the foreman.

Yum, Yum Mama Pearl’s biscuits are the best Joe thought to himself. Like Master McHamilton always say Yes sir! Pearl you’re the best biscuit maker in all this here great country. Bessie, Bessie! We got work to do, ain’t no sense in trying to hide, yelled Joe. Bessie was the mule he uses to take fresh water down to the field hands. After hitching her up to the wagon, they would pass the cattle farm where Jim McHamilton and Sonny Boy, Mama Pearl’s boa as Joe called him, were overseeing the dairy business. The McHamilton’s were a large and wealthy family. They owned hundreds and hundreds of acres of land.

Master McHamilton had three brothers; Mr. Jim, Mr. Willard and Mr. Fred. He also had two sisters; Mrs. Katy who married Mr. Bud Jones the local supply store owner and Miss Hannah who shacked up with Hank in the family cottage. Often, after the family supper, Miss. Hannah and Mr. Willard would get into a big fuss on the porch about her living in sin. You see he was a