Previous Challenge Entry (Level 3 - Advanced)
Topic: Stash (01/09/25)
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TITLE: Freedom! | Previous Challenge Entry
By Ellen Janson
01/15/25 -
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”Tighter, Sissy.” Molly told her maid, as she cinched her waist. Sissy obediently obliged. Molly’s parents had given her a slave for her thirteenth birthday, and she felt very important to be in charge of someone else. But she was still very young and asked Sissy somewhat innocently,
“Sissy, don’t you wish you had a dress like this? And a ball to go to?”
“No sense in me thinking ‘bout dresses and parties,” was all Sissy said.
”But what do you like to do?” Molly pressed.
”I don’t know.”
”Well there must be something…” Molly insisted. Sissy shrugged.
”Well…” Sissy hesitated, “I like to bake with my mama. And sing with my papa.”
Molly rolled her eyes. She couldn’t imagine her own mother baking, and she definitely couldn’t imagine her father singing.
Sissy was always humming, even while she worked - wearing that same raggedly old dress every day. Molly didn’t understand her. She knew Sissy was only a slave, but still. Sometimes Molly even saw her smile - all the way to her eyes - like when she crossed paths with her sister. Molly’s sisters definitely didn’t make her smile. And one time, from her window, Molly actually saw Sissy’s mother pull her into a giant hug. Her heart hurt a little for her own mother to show such affection. But that was so improper.
The slaves went to the same church as Molly’s family (although they had to sit in the balcony) so every Sunday both girls heard the same teaching from the pulpit. One day Molly asked Sissy,
”What did you think about that sermon, Sissy?”
”I don’t know,” Sissy said, responding in her usual cautious manner.
“Well, what do you think of those Pharisees pastor was talking about?”
”Well, I don’t know much about them Pharisees,” Sissy hesitated, “but maybe they were always worryin’ about what they looked like instead of what was in their hearts. My mama says that it don’t matter too much what’s on the outside, but what’s stashed in our hearts. She says God knows what’s inside, and that’s what’s most important.”
Molly had never thought about that. She wondered what God maybe saw stashed in her own heart.
As time went by, without realizing it, the girls formed a close relationship. Molly had heard of people who whipped their slaves, but she couldn’t imagine ever hurting Sissy. In fact, she was starting to think of Sissy as her friend. Oh she would never admit that to anyone else, or even say the words out loud, but Molly could talk to Sissy about anything. Their conversations were the only real ones she ever had - most everyone else just wanted to giggle and share gossip.
Parties and dances with their idle chatter continued to be what Molly was told should be the focus of her life. By age 17 she had more dresses (with shoes and ribbons to match) than she knew what to do with. She was invited to all of the balls, and had danced with the most handsome of men. And she felt empty.
Molly couldn’t really put her finger on it, but she knew she wanted more. It sounded crazy, but she had to admit to herself that she felt kindof jealous of Sissy! As she reflected on long ago conversations - especially the one about what she had inside her heart, Molly began to think that maybe this was what made Sissy smile. One night Molly got down on her knees and asked Jesus to come into her heart like He was in Sissy’s heart.
When Molly turned 18, she hugged her best friend and presented her with her “freedom papers”. Now they were both free!
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