Gemmy's Dreams

By K.L. Smith

Gemmy's Dreams is a fictional novel that tells of a family's day-to-day life on a small farm in eastern North Carolina. It is the third book in a series about the Lister family. Gemmy's Dreams continues the story where the second book, Life on Heartsville Farm, ends. The Listers have established a good life in the rural community of Heartsville. They have found a community that has accepted them without prejudices. The story unfolds in the mid-1950s and is told mostly through the eyes of one of the young Lister girls. Complications of family dynamics continues to place roadblocks in their lives that must be resolved, altered, or accepted. Gemmy and four of the Lister children are rejected by their paternal grandmother because they are part Cherokee. The paternal grandmother is from the Tuscarora tribe and considers the Cherokee tribe as inferior and enemies of her people. The Listers rely on faith and God's promises to navigate through the life that God has given them. Detailed are how the people that God places in the children's lives work to fill the void left by relatives that refuse to accept the Lister children. The children choose people to fill some of the holes in their hearts left by the lack of interest of others. Highlighted are the people that cross paths with the family. Gemmy has a history of having prophetic dreams that come to fruition. Gemmy considers these dreams a blessing when a good future is predicted. She considers them a curse when the dreams foretell of sadness or misfortune. These dreams cause Gemmy a great deal of stress as she watches them fulfill in her life and the lives of her family members. The Listers seek God's strength and guidance to lead them through their hardships and struggles. Deaths, family illnesses, and hurricane damages threaten to destroy the family's life on the farm. They have loving and supportive friends and neighbors that help them through their challenges. The Lister children learn that knowing how not to act is just as important as knowing how to act.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Christian Faith Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Mar 15, 2019
• ISBN: 9781644587218

Book preview

Summer’s Over

Tuesday, September 7, 1954

The Lister kitchen was a beehive of activity. It was the first day of school. Eleven-year-old Amber had just served breakfast to her four siblings. Amber was a beautiful girl. She had ebony eyes, black hair, and dark complexion. She would be in sixth grade this year at Pateville School. She was excited to be in the same school as her boyfriend, Jimmy Peel. Due to the large numbers of baby boomers, or war babies, starting school, the school systems had sent the sixth grade class to Pateville this year. This would make room to accommodate the war babies. Amber was grateful for the change.

Jimmy would be in eighth grade. Jimmy and Amber spent every spare minute together. They had a woodcraft business. Jimmy was good with the saws in his father’s wood shop. He cut out and assembled bird houses, decorative tissue boxes, stools, tables, baby cradles, and other custom items. Amber had a natural talent for art. She painted decorative images on the wooden items. Amber painted wall murals for a fee. The couple frequently sold their woodcrafts at a booth at the farmer’s market in town.

Jimmy was tall for his age with a slender build. He had blue eyes, blond curly hair, and a light complexion. He had a sprinkling of freckles across his cheeks. He was a Christian boy. He and his family attended the Methodist Church in Hearstsville. Jimmy was very mature and responsible. His time with Amber was limited during growing season. They were able to work in the shop together after harvest season. His family adored Amber and considered her a part of their family. Amber’s best friend was Jimmy’s sister, Joyce.

Fourteen-year-old Doodle was taking extra care with his appearance. He was a handsome boy with black hair, ebony eyes, and dark complexion. He was not required to help in the kitchen or the house. These tasks were considered woman’s work. Doodle had gotten up early this morning and milked the cow, slopped the hogs, and fed the chickens. He had staked the cow and calf out in the pasture, collected the hen eggs, and run the chickens into their fenced yards. He had allowed himself extra time for grooming. He was in ninth grade at Pateville School. This was considered his freshman year of high school. He was proudly sporting at duck’s tail hairstyle. It required a lot of combing. His hair was heavily greased with wild root cream oil hair tonic. His hair was piled high on top and combed back around the sides of his head to form a seam in back. With the teeth of the comb, a part was made running from the crown to the nape at the back of his head. The side combing resembled the folded wings of a duck. With the part down the back of his head where the hair lapped together, it resembled the rear end of a duck. Doodle deliberately pulled strands of hair from the top front of his head to hang down over his forehead. With his new black pegged-legged pants and pink silk shirt, he felt like Mr. Cool. He wanted to impress his girlfriend, Henrietta. They were both in ninth grade.

He and Henrietta had been going together since the Listers moved to Heartsville. She was an only child and loved spending time with Doodle. She was a skinny girl with an overly large bosom. Henrietta had bright blue eyes, mousy brown hair, and an ivory complexion. She was scatterbrained and immature. The two teens were inseparable. Doodle spent every spare minute at Henrietta’s house. She lived on a farm five miles from the Listers. Doodle occasionally hung out with his friend Wally Best, but most of his spare time belonged to Henrietta.

Pansy had eaten a light breakfast and was cleaning the kitchen and washing dishes. Nine-year-old Pansy was excited about going to school. She hated farm work and found school to be a reprieve from what she considered unjust punishment. She would be in fourth grade at Heartsville Elementary this year. Her best friend was Jimmy’s sister, Susie Peel. These two girls could have been sisters. They both had bright blue eyes, red hair, and light complexion. They both had freckled faces.

Pansy was so different from her siblings. Pansy often declared that she was adopted because she didn’t look like any of her siblings. She was looking forward to spending time at school with Susie. Pansy was fun-loving and free-spirited. She looked forward to the day that she could leave her dull life behind for the bright lights of a big city.

Kay was seven years old and would be in second grade at Heartsville Elementary. She was packing lunches for herself and her three siblings. They would need to leave soon to catch the school bus at Ms. Annie’s up on the highway. She didn’t like a heavy breakfast on school days. She had eaten a biscuit with blackberry preserves.

Patricia Casey was Kay’s best friend. She was an only child. Patricia lived on a farm directly across the highway from the school. She walked to and from school. She loved to spend weekends with the Lister family. It made her feel a part of a big family. Patricia and Kay looked like sisters. They both had black hair, ebony eyes, and dark complexions. Kay’s hair was straight. Patricia had naturally curly hair.

Kay was occasionally allowed to spend a night at Patricia’s house. Patricia’s family liked Kay and felt she had a positive influence on their daughter. Kay was looking forward to seeing Patricia again. During the growing season and harvest time, Kay had too much work on the farm to spend time away from home. During the school year, Kay enjoyed some time with friends.

Amber called out, We need to leave in five minutes. It’s a three-mile walk to Ms. Annie’s. We don’t want to miss the bus on the first day of school.

Everybody rushed to complete their morning tasks so they would be ready to leave in five minutes.

Their four-year-old baby sister, Phyllis, would be the only one home with Gemmy during the school day. Gemmy would miss the help of her children. There was still a lot of work to be done before harvest season was over. Phyllis was not much help. Gemmy and Leo had never required Phyllis to do chores. They had pampered her because she was the baby. Gemmy was trying to give Phyllis some responsibilities, but Phyllis was not interested. She was used to having her way and doing as she pleased. If she didn’t get her way, she threw temper tantrums. When Phyllis was angry, her skin turned red and was splotched with pink-and-white patches.

Phyllis was overweight. Leo called her his little piggy. She had brown hair and light-brown eyes. She had an ivory complexion with a sprinkling of freckles across her nose and cheeks.

Gemmy had a problem with high blood pressure. The doctor had ordered that she take a nap every afternoon. She would be unable to take naps with her older children in school. All the farm work would fall on her shoulders during school hours. Keeping Phyllis out of things was almost a full-time job.

Gemmy was a beautiful woman. She had black naturally curly hair, light-brown eyes, and an ivory complexion. She had high cheek bones and full, supple lips. She was a mix of Cherokee Indian and Irish. Her father was a full-blooded Cherokee Indian. Her mother was Irish. Three of her children had Indian features. Pansy had taken after Gemmy’s Irish mother. Phyllis was a mix of both races.

Amber called out, Let’s go!

Kay handed out the lunch pails to her siblings. I’ve packed everyone peanut butter and grape preserve sandwiches, two boiled eggs wrapped with salt and pepper in the waxed paper, an apple, four raisin-oatmeal cookies, and a pint jar of milk. If you don’t like what I’ve packed, pack your own tomorrow.

Gemmy told the children, Behave and pay attention in school. Learn all you can. You don’t have to be the smartest children in school, but you can be among the best behaved. Be careful and stay safe. Look out for one another. Check the mailbox when the bus puts you off this afternoon. Come straight home. There’s still a lot of work to do before harvest season is over. May God go with you.

The four Lister children headed out to the dirt road for the three-mile walk to Ms. Annie’s.

Ms. Annie’s Store

Ms. Annie’s store was the bus stop for most of the children in the community. The buses from the different schools stopped at the store to pick up the children to take them to the appropriate schools. Ms. Annie made sure the children got on the right buses.

Ms. Annie had a shelter over her gas pumps that connected to the store. It provided shelter in the rain and shade to block the hot sun. She was glad for the children to gather at her store. When the weather turned cold, the children were welcomed inside the store to gather around her potbellied wood heater. The children often had money to buy drinks and candy.

Ms. Annie was an old maid. She wore men’s pants and smoked cigars. Winter or summer, she always wore a black leather cabby’s cap with wild red hair sticking out all around. She spoke with a gravelly voice. She always had a pleasant smile on her face and a twinkle in her blue eyes. She loved to tease the children in a pleasant way. She laughed often with the children. All the children loved Ms. Annie.

As the Lister children passed the Spencer farm, Nettie Belle, Emily, and Russell joined them for the walk to the bus stop. The Spencer children attended the school for Negro children in Pateville.

Amber greeted the children, Good morning! Are ya’ll ready to go back to school? It seems like the summer flew by.

Nine-year-old Russell responded, I’m glad. It’ll be nice to sit for a while. There’ll be plenty of work left when we get home. I look forward to Christmas time. By then, we’ll be able to catch our breath for a while, until it’s time for spring planting.

I’ll be glad when I grow up and leave the farm behind. I want to live in a big city with bright lights and lots of action! Pansy exclaimed.

Fourteen-year-old Nettie Belle added, I don’t know about the big cities. Our aunt lives in Chicago. She tells us about all the crimes that take place there. I had rather stay in this quiet community. There’s a lot to be said about feeling and being safe.

I just want to go somewhere that I don’t have to hoe weeds and slop hogs. I want inside plumbing. I want a job that I can dress up to go to work, Pansy explained.

Eleven-year-old Emily asked, Before I forget, Mama wanted me to ask if your family needs any pears. We’ve got more than we need. She was hoping to trade the pears for some apples.

Amber answered, I know Mama would like to put up some pear preserves. I know we’ll have more than enough apples. The apple trees are hanging full. They’ll be ready soon. I’ll talk to Mama and let you know for sure tomorrow.

The Spencer family was a treasure to everyone in the Heartsville community. Will and Ethel Spencer were hardworking Christians. Will, Ethel, and his brothers harvested most of the hogs in the area. The Spencers were considered masters of this craft. Mr. Will owned horses and a plow. He and his son, Russell, plowed the fields for the families in the community that didn’t have horses and plows of their own. They plowed the fields each spring and fall for the Lister family. In icy, winter weather, Mr. Will and Russell used their horses to pull vehicles out of ditches. If anyone in the community was in need of prayer, or any other assistance, Will and Ethel were usually the first to arrive.

The Spencers were a beautiful black family. Will’s father lived with them. He had beautiful emerald-green eyes. He was a well-educated and sophisticated gentleman. When he wasn’t helping on the farm, he wore a suit. Because of the color of his eyes, everyone called him Mr. Green. Mr. Green was one of the few people in the community with a college education. He had an interesting history. After he graduated from college, he taught school for a few years in Washington DC. In 1914, Mr. Green took a job as personal valet of President Woodrow Wilson. He held this position until 1920. In 1920, he returned to Heartsville, married his childhood sweetheart, and raised a family.

Eleven-year-old Emily Spencer had inherited Mr. Green’s beautiful emerald-green eyes. She was a beautiful girl.

The children arrived at Ms. Annie’s store. They joined all the other excited children sporting their new school clothes and all talking at the same time. It was a noisy gathering. The Peel children arrived. Jimmy and Joyce ran to Amber. Sue ran to Pansy.

Seven-year-old Pete walked up to Kay and said, You’re kind of cute this morning.

Kay laughed and asked, What’s that supposed to mean?

It just means I think you’re cute. Can’t a guy pay a girl a compliment without having to explain it? You should just say, ‘thank you, handsome,’ Pete replied.

Kay giggled and cocked her head as she gave Pete the once-over. I’ll have to think about that for a while. Don’t try to put words in my mouth, Pete Peel. You’re attractive. I wouldn’t go so far as to call you handsome.

Pete replied with a fake, pained look on his face, Wow! You really know how to hurt a guy! Here I am all ready to share my Baby Ruth with you, and you just shot me down!

I would never shoot you down. I like to count you as a special friend. I think you’re kind of cute too. And you’re kind of sweet on top of that, Kay replied.

Maybe we can be seat partners on the school bus this year. I would like that, Kay.

Sure. Everybody has to sit somewhere. You may as well sit with me, Kay teasingly responded.

Pete slapped Kay on the back, You’re a real pal, I mean for a girl and everything.

The bus arrived for the Pateville Negro school children. It was followed by the bus for Pateville White school children.

When the bus pulled up for Heartsville Elementary, Kay hooked arms with Pete. She said, Come on, sweet pal of mine and new seat partner. Let’s take a plunge into a new school year.

Sue and Pansy watched Kay and Pete get on the bus in front of them. Sue said, Another one bites the dust. There goes another Peel boy smitten with another Lister girl. What is it about you, girls?

School’s Now in Session

The school bus pulled into the school yard at Heartsville Elementary School. As soon as Kay stepped off the bus, Patricia Casey ran up and gave her a big hug.

Patricia said, I am so excited to start a new school year. Let’s hurry to Mrs. Parks’s class so we can get a seat together.

Patricia hooked arms with Kay, and Pete walked behind the girls. All three of them were in Mrs. Parks’s second grade class.

As they walked along, Kay asked, How was your summer at the beach with your grandparents?

Patricia answered, It was great! I wish you could have gone with me. You were invited.

I have too much work to do on the farm. My family depends on me to help. We never go on vacation. Daddy has to check the dry kilns at the mill every day. We have animals to feed and care for. If we ever go anywhere, we can only stay gone a half day at the most. I would like to go to the beach. Maybe I’ll get there one day, Kay responded.

I’m glad we have hired help to run our farm. I don’t believe I could do all that work, like you and Pete do. I admire you both for being able to do it, Patricia stated.

Patricia, you could do it if you had to. God’s good like that. He gives us the strength and the ability to meet all life’s challenges. I like to keep busy. Mama says idleness is the devil’s workshop. Staying busy will keep us out of trouble, Kay responded.

Do you think your parents will let you come home with me after school Thursday? I brought you a conch shell from the beach. If you put it up to your ear, you can hear the ocean in it. It’s a beautiful shell. I can’t wait to give it to you. I know they won’t let you spend the night. Daddy can take you home after supper, Patricia pleaded.

I appreciate you thinking about me. I’ll have to leave the conch shell at your house. If Phyllis sees it, she’ll have to have it. If there’s any way she can break it, she will. I’ll ask Mama about Thursday and let you know tomorrow. I’ll ask Mama if you can come home with me Friday and spend the weekend. I know how much you enjoy going to the Jacobs’s prayer garden for worship services on Sundays, Kay stated.

Patricia asked, Where do the Jacobs’s children go to school? I’ve never seen them here.

Kay answered, They are homeschooled by their mother, Joy. She wants them to learn about the history and customs of their Saponi Indian culture. She teaches them the three Rs too, reading, ’riting, and ’rithmetic.

The three children reached their new second-grade classroom. Pete ran ahead of the girls. He said, Here are three seats together. Kay can sit in the middle. That way we can both sit next to her.

Kay saw a new girl standing alone at the back of the class. She was taller than the other children in the class. She had straight blonde hair and green eyes. Her skin was clear and white like cotton.

Kay approached her and held out her hand and said, Hello. I’m Kay Lister. Did your family just move here?

Hi. I’m Patricia Maxwell. I came to live with my grandfather this summer. Both my parents were killed in an automobile accident in June. Grandpa Maxwell is my only living relative. I had nowhere else to go. Grandpa lost two of his sons in the war. My dad was the last one of his children. Grandma died two years ago. Grandpa said we are all each other has now.

Kay responded, I’m sorry about your family. That has to be hard. Where does your grandpa live?

We live a mile past Ms. Annie’s. Our farm is back off the highway, Patricia answered.

Kay asked, Are you going to catch the school bus at Ms. Annie’s?

Grandpa brought me today. He’s going to pick me up after school. I’ll ask him. Is that where you catch the bus? Patricia Maxwell asked.

Yes. Many of the school children around here do. My friend Patricia Casey lives across the highway from the school. She walks to and from school. Why don’t you come sit with us. I’m sitting with Patricia Casey and Pete Peel. You can be our lunch partner too, Kay offered.

Patricia Maxwell walked with Kay to meet her friends.

Kay introduced them, Hey. I found another Patricia. Her name is Patricia Maxwell. Patricia, this is Patricia Casey and Pete Peel. Patricia came to live with her Grandpa Maxwell this summer. Now we have two Patricias. I invited Patricia to sit with us and be our lunch partner.

Pete said, I know your grandpa. His farm is next to ours. Where did you live before you moved here?

We lived in Atlanta. Living here is quite a bit different than Atlanta. It’s so quiet here, Patricia Maxwell answered.

Patricia sat in an empty desk on the row next to Kay. Patricia Casey greeted her, We’re glad to have you here Patricia Maxwell. This might get confusing having two Patricias around.

Mrs. Parks entered the classroom. Get in your seats everybody. For now, sit wherever you like. I will make some seating adjustments later, after I get to know each one of you. Most of you know me and have seen me around the school. I have taught a lot of your older siblings. All of you were in first grade together last year. We’ve added another second grade class this year. We have an overabundance of first and second graders this year. A lot of your first grade classmates are in the other second grade class. We have one new student, Patricia Maxwell. Everybody, welcome her and make sure she has lunch partners. We have two Patricias. Do either of you have a nickname that you would like to be called?

Patricia Casey shook her head indicating that she did not have a nickname.

Patricia Maxwell spoke up, My family has always called me Patty. It will be fine for everyone here to call me Patty.

Mrs. Parks responded, Okay, then Patty it is. Before we start our lessons, let’s all stand and pledge allegiance to our flag.

All the children stood and faced the flag in front of their classroom. They placed their right hands over their hearts, and all the boys removed their caps. They pledged in unison: I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Mrs. Parks continued, I am going to lead devotional and prayer this morning. We will rotate that responsibility among all of you. We’ll start in alphabetical order. Joy Anderson, you’ll be the first to start tomorrow. I have posted the devotional list for this week on the bulletin board. If you are absent on your turn, I’ll fill in for you. I can always find a reason to praise our Lord. You may use my devotional book to prepare. You may use your Sunday school lesson books, vacation Bible school material, or you may speak from your heart about how God has helped in your life. It’s whatever you’re comfortable with. It doesn’t matter what religion you practice. We all serve the same God. If there is anyone who does not feel comfortable with the devotional, or leading the devotional, see me after class. We will work something out.

She continued, "My devotional this morning is based on Ephesians 4:31–32. ‘Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.’

"God has given each of us different talents. Some of you are good students. Some of you learn academics easier than others. Some are more athletic and have stronger bodies than others. Some of you are talented in music or drawing beautiful pictures or writing wonderful stories. God needs all these talents to help make His world a better place to live. We learn at different paces. We need to be kind and patient toward each other. We need to value each other as unique individuals. Some of you can take knowledge in big bites and digest it quickly. Others have to take small bites and chew it slowly in order to digest it. We should help one another learn and be tolerant of one another’s speed in learning, without being critical or judgmental. We have some exciting lessons this year. I want everyone to enjoy this year and learn as much as possible.

"Now, let’s bow our heads and pray. Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for all your blessings, great and small. Thank you for another school year. Be with each of us as we learn. Give us the ability to learn and prepare for our futures. Keep us healthy and strong. Let us be kind and love one another. In Your Holy Name, I pray, Amen.

"Our first assignment today is to write a few sentences telling what you did this summer. We’ll then share what we’ve written with the class. I’ll start by telling you what I did this summer.

"My husband and I visited New York City this summer. We were in awe of the tall buildings called skyscrapers. We visited the tallest building in the world, the Empire State Building. It is 102-stories high. It stands a total of 1054-feet tall. There are 1,860 steps from the street level to the top floor. The base of the building covers two acres. It cost approximately forty-one million dollars to build.

"We visited Grand Central Station. It is the biggest railroad station in the world. The main lobby is the center of Grand Central Station. It is 275-feet long by 120-feet wide. From the floor to the ceiling is 125 feet. The cavernous lobby was filled with bustling crowds of people.

"We saw a Broadway musical while we were there. It was titled By the Beautiful Sea. The singing and dancing were superb. It was a lovely way to spend an evening.

It was a delightful vacation!

Mrs. Parks continued, Now, write your summer experiences so you can share them with the class. You’ll hand in your paper after you read it to the class.

The students pulled out pencil and paper and began to write.

Kay didn’t go anywhere this summer. She had worked in the fields and helped Gemmy can and freeze vegetables. She had helped care for their farm animals. No one wanted to hear about that. She thought about the things she had done that she enjoyed on the farm. She picked up her pencil and wrote:

The things that brought me the greatest joy this summer are simple pleasures. There is nothing more refreshing than an afternoon rain shower to cool the heat of a summer day. There is no greater ecstasy than dancing in the rain, while the cooling waters flow from the top of my head to my feet and wash the heat from my body, a body parched by working in the fields under the intense heat of the sun.

There is no greater pleasure than taking a bite of a tomato, picked fresh from the vine that has been warmed by the sun all day, and feeling the warm juices flow down my throat, spilling onto my chin and over my fingers.

After a long hot day in the fields, busting a watermelon close to its running vines, and eating it with my hands, while letting the juices flow all over my body, is a treat. Then taking a plunge into the cool creek to wash the watermelon juices from my clothes and body is pure bliss.

I enjoyed many of God’s beautiful sunsets while resting on our screened back porch in the evenings. He paints the sky with many colorful hues of