Beside the Golden Door

By gawjj

Beside the Golden Door tells the dreams and travels of migrant families along the East Coast. One family is central to the tales spun of life on labor camps. Their humility is the focus of fascinating dynamics experienced daily in an unpredictable existence.

The novel depicts one family who, in the middle of their travels, holds on to their dreams as they overcome the obstacles that confront them.

The author upholds two of these wayfarers as characters to remember. The reader will enjoy the candor and down-to-earth dialogue. One might even transpose and find themselves into the characterizations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 24, 2021
• ISBN: 9781664176362

Book preview

BESIDE

THE

GOLDEN

DOOR

GAWJJ

Copyright © 2021 by gawjj.

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to any actual persons, living or dead, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.

Any people depicted in stock imagery provided by Getty Images are models, and such images are being used for illustrative purposes only.

Certain stock imagery © Getty Images.

Rev. date: 05/21/2021

Xlibris

844-714-8691

www.Xlibris.com

829329

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

SYNOPSIS

BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR

BY

GAWJJ

Beside the Golden Door tells the dreams and travels of migrant families along the East Coast. One family is central to the tales spun of life on labor camps. Their humble humility is the focus of fascinating dynamics experienced daily in an unpredictable existence.

The novel depicts one family who, in the middle of their travels, holds on to their dreams as they overcome the obstacles that confront them.

The author upholds two of these wayfarers as characters to remember. The reader will enjoy the candor and down-to-earth dialogue. One might even transpose and find themselves into the characterizations.

The inscription found on the Statue of Liberty professes our heritage and our endowed inalienable rights for which each seeks and searches—and (often) takes for granted.

Highlights:

"We can starts a new life up there. There must be

plenty that a mans can to do in that place."

And the moonlit shadow fell peacefully over the

smiling Willie as he slept, as he dreamed.

BESIDE THE GOLDEN DOOR

Give me your tired, your poor,

Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free.

The wretched refuge of your teeming shores.

Send these the homeless, tempest, tossed to me.

I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

—Inscription on the Statue of Liberty

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W illie James Gilmore slept restlessly in an old squeaky chair, under a shade tree, while the air around him was hot and the sun beat endlessly on the dry land that was no longer useful, even unto itself. He was not awakened by the noise or the excited yells of his children. Someone was coming up the dusty dirt lane.

Willie stretched, opened his eyes, and spat out a swig of snuff juice. As the dust cloud grew closer to the house, he could see a truck bouncing up the road. You chillen stop dat racket! Git! Git, git som’ers! he ordered, as the children remained immobilized.

Willie got up from his chair, pushed back his sweaty odor-filled hat, and walked toward the vehicle. Howdy, stranger! What kin I do for ya?

How’s crops? yelled the voice from the truck, as if he had failed to notice the barren, dry land—with no signs of life.

Not . . . too . . . well, stammered Willie who intuitively and quickly decided to play along with this cat-and-mouse game.

How manys you gots in yor family? the stranger inquired.

Oh, ther’s bout eight of us, ’cludin’ me and my woman, Willie spoke proudly.

As Willie spoke, all the children lined up beside him as one would at an auction. Git way from hil, all of you! yelled Willie, spitting a swig of snuff juice in the direction of the children.

He turned back to speak with the visitor. They axes like they ain’t never saw’d folkes afore.

Um . . . uh, the stranger replied, quite unconcerned. I’m taken’ a crew up north in two week to work, the visitor spoke with a thick accent.

He stepped out of his late-model truck. Although he was tall, he was not as tall as Willie, just huskier. Then the man pulled out two big cigars and offered one to Willie who had not had a cigar in months—not since Captain Fry had paid him for a day’s work with cigars, meal, and fatback. And that was just before Christmas.

The man wore a wide-brimmed hat, green peg-legged trousers, and a yellow Mr. B shirt. Resting his leg on the fender of the truck, he eased up his pants leg to reveal a pair of pink argyle socks, as his cut-glass ring reflected in the shadow of the truck.

Where ’bouts up norf ya goin’, friend? Willie asked.

The man turned and stared at Willie. He knew this show was having its effect on his poor hungry victim. He could barely remember how many times he had made this same speech to so many other Willies. He spoke the same words again out of habit. Delaware . . . ’bout eight hunnerrit mile from heel.

By Gawd, man, dat’s a might long ways . . . ain’t it? Willie slurred, nervously and unsure of himself, prompting him to scratch the top of his hat.

Well, we’ll takes ya up der and brings ya back. Ain’t gonna cost ya noffin’. You all kin work. Make ’bout eight dollar a day.

The man’s mind began to spin. He needed a family this size. Although he would not tell his newly acquired friend, each one of them could bring him twenty dollars. But he did not lose his control. He was used to some opposition, at least to start. He had known it would not be easy—or difficult. He knew the people in these parts of the country and just how to handle them.

By gawd! yelled Willie James, slapping his hand against his thigh and at the same time scratching the top of his hat. Willie’s eyes swirled and appeared fixated on something that was not there.

But the man continued. He was determined to get Willie James to go to Delaware. He knew that mentioning the wages would be good bait. He had to continue to talk so that Willie would not have time to change his mind or think about changing his mind. He wanted to leave Willie thinking and breathing and dreaming of going up north to Delaware.

You can haves yor own place—rent-free. The work ain’t hard, man! You know up north things is different than down heel. Ya herd of New Yoke wid all dem bright lights. Well, Delaware ain’t too fer from der. Plenty money up der . . . jest waitin’ to be had, man.

Willie had heard his mother talk about her sister Bessie Marie moving away. Just where it was,