Beauty of Man and Woman - Volume 13: Bomaw Page 5

  Sure enough, GM walked into his study with a knowing grin directed at his son.

  “What?” Jacob asked, unable to keep a straight face himself.

  “Oh nothing,” GM returned, stepping towards his mini bar, “…something on your mind son?” He removed his dinner jacket, tossing it on one of the chairs, freeing himself to relax while fixing himself a small nightcap. While everywhere else, it was supposed to be dry, alcohol free - GM had his own special source of it. Because of affluence he gave little attention to the prohibition laws.

  “Well uh, since you’ve asked, yeah … see, I’ve been thinking - and uh - what I was thinking is this - well I am over 18 now-…” Jacob gulped, squirmed, and running is hand over the back of his long neck, he tried to find the right words.

  “Mmm, just.” GM cut in.

  “Yes, well - just enough -…”

  “Mmm, just enough for … what - son?” He lifted his drink before him about to take a sip, and then gave this talk and his son consideration asking, “…drink?”

  “No-no-no, dad - uh - well, second thought - yes - sure, I’ll have what you’re having.” Jacob had never given into thoughts that his father was in fact, breaking the law. In a sense, he looked at his father as if he was the law, so - all that he did was right for him to do. After all, he wasn’t like others who drank. He didn’t neglect work. He didn’t beat his wife, or his children. Their lives weren’t spoiled because of alcohol, so he spent no time weighing the good or bad of it where they were concerned.

  George turned, tickled to no end. He already knew what his son wanted. He wanted what most men in the barber shop spoke of wanting, those free to want her or not - longing for that stunner, Virginia Piercey. George spent a bit of time traveling due to schooling at various universities stateside and foreign. He’d come from a family of wealth who had established themselves after arriving at these shores as criminals, bond-servants. Once freed his forefathers pulled themselves out of poverty by owning a plantation and lands that grew hemp and cannabis. Cotton hadn’t been the best of crops to grow, hemp had been. Now, all of a sudden, it too - along with Alcohol, was against the law. He couldn’t believe it. It was the most asinine he’d ever heard - it was claimed that it made one insane.

  Such bull! For thousands of years it had been used to the advantage of many, even bible prophets, and now, it made men crazy? Rather, black men - so crazy that it gave them the nerve to rape white women, so they claimed.

  LIES! GM hated DuPont for what they’d done to his families livelihood. Hemp, Cannabis had been food, medicine, and used to build with, write on - the list goes on. Because of it, his life had been one of privilege. Now because DuPont knew that what they were manufacturing couldn’t compete with Hemp, they paid lobbyists and judges to outlaw it.

  Because of his family’s Hemp business, he’d been able to travel - to see the world.

  What he’d noticed in his travels almost everywhere he went, was that there was always one woman who stood out in the crowd. The kind of woman who could or would turn a man inside out - causing the death of some man from the numbers wanting to have her. Now, today - that one - was a Negress with a carriage, dignity and grace - that all wanted to test. To get close enough to as if challenging that she could be real.

  She, the one his son wanted, was one and she was in his town.

  He loved his Lida Bell, but GM for the first time, knew that he was capable of cheating. He’d actually had fantasies of her himself - fantasies where he fought the desire to lie that Virginia down. Too many times, within his mind he saw her on her back, lying freely open to him and willing - so that he could strip her down. As he did so she would lay moaning and groaning, tossing and turning, whimpering and pleading while he, from the very top of her body would allow his hand to caress and test the texture of her glowing skin. He saw himself playing and testing from the top - tasting all there was to the very core of her. Because of that playing out in his mind more often than he liked - he stayed away from her. She would certainly be the cause of the kind of drama he didn’t need in his life. He had a good life. A woman like that could make a man lose everything. His son wanted him to protect her. What he didn’t know, is that he already was protecting her. Had been from the moment her husband took off up North. A car drove out her way and around her property nightly – checking to make sure she was okay. Those in the barber shop spoke of her, but that was all they would do, because he – GM had said – “She’s especially close to me and my wife. She does good work for us. Lord help the man that lays a hand on her, ever.” All knew what that meant – hands off.

  Secretly, GM pretended to be humble, grateful and at times, even God fearing - however if anything, GM was possessive, proud and ruthless. Ambitious and over driven was fuelled by his love for his family and a desire to spend his life, making their dreams come true. To be what he’d been used to required a bit of a dull conscience.

  As for Virginia Piercey, if he couldn’t have her - he dare - not have her - his son would. To him, it was all about having the best, or providing the best for his own. Therefore, in this case, it was his son, his pride that would be the recipient. For the time being, he would give him anything, anything at all, that included Virginia Piercey - why shouldn’t he? As far as GM could see, every young man approaching his manhood, needed to be setup with a clean, good woman. The way GM saw it - there was nothing better than a Negro woman to get him started. It had been the way of men as far back as slavery. Even before slavery, there had always been a certain class or culture of women just right for young men needing to sew their oats. GM didn’t question the right or wrong of it, things were the way they were.

  GM passed his son a drink. He watched him throw his head back and swallow it fast and completely. Of course, to a virgin throat, bourbon was fire.

  “Arrrgggh - dad - arrrgggh!” Jacob gasped trying to catch his breath as his eyes watered, his throat trying to tighten in defense against the fiery brew.

  GM exploded into laughter. “Why in heavens name son, would you do that? You sip it son, you take it nice and slow to savor and enjoy. There are few really pleasurable things in life - they should always be taken - to be enjoyed ni-i-ice and slow.” Lifting his own, he showed him how it was done, GM took an appreciative sip of his bourbon and made his way behind his desk, taking his seat, getting comfortable. Jacob stood trying to recover from the assault on his throat. Getting straight to the point, GM decided to let him know that he was fully aware of what he wanted, “Young man I can tell you now, if you can’t handle this -(he lifted his bourbon once more)- you can’t handle her. I guarantee you, she’s ten times as potent and will burn you far more than this. If you’re not experienced enough to slow down and savor -(again he lifted the drink)- you won’t savor her.”

  Jacob turned red in the face. His father knew everything. At least that’s what he thought about him. Collecting himself and his thoughts, he went and took one of the seats facing his desk. Jacob loved his father, never had there been a time or a subject that he couldn’t go to him about.

  “I want her - Virginia - I want her.” Jacob came right out and said it.

  “I know.”

  “How? This is the first I met her.”

  “Doesn’t matter - only takes one look with that one.”

  Father and son sat a moment, deep in thought. Jacob wondered why his father would say such a thing about another woman. It seemed a personal thing to say, as if he knew her already, in a way that no one else besides her missing husband should - too familiar.

  “My mother is your wife.” He couldn’t help but remind his father, it would be the first time ever that Jacob would correct him, albeit respectfully and unfortunately, would not be the last.

  “Jacob, I’m still a man. Marrying your mother hasn’t made me so I can’t see.” He informed him in a slow, deliberate southern drawl. “Need I mention a few of the men in town - whom all - I might add, see her the same. Believe me, it’s not personal son. I speak from ex
perience - and it’s that, that makes her familiar to me.”

  “So you’ve never…?” He let the question hang for his father to answer, whether he’d ever cheated on Lida Bell.

  “No… not ever - no plans to.” That’s why he was staying away from Virginia - yet in the next breath handing her sort-of-speak over to his son. Mainly because of the way he loved him, was raising him, he would hope to never touch a woman that was to be his son’s. He hoped – but still, they were discussing Virginia Piercey – she was a temptation.

  Satisfied with the answer and wishing to go no further in a discussion about his father cheating on his mother, Jacob asked, “How… how do I go about it? Getting her - what do I do?”

  “You see to her needs. She’ll see to yours. Protect her, claim her - she’ll be yours.” GM answered, even though he knew full well, he was already protecting her. Sitting back in his office high back chair, still sipping his drink, he went into his cigar box, lifting a fat rolled Cuban from within, picked up the nippers to open the end that he lit with a match - shaking it out he dropped it into an ashtray. Sitting back comfortable once more, he puffed and gazed at his tall son. Holding it between index and middle finger, he pointed them and the cigar at his son, “Most of all treat her good. Only justified roughness is when you’re having her. Understand?”

  Jacob sat gulping. He was feeling that shot of whiskey. Time with, talking to, seeing to, and giving to Virginia had his nervous system in a frenzy. The front of his body from his chest to his knees throbbed from a startling shock of wanting her. He was aching from a sensation that was centering on the core of his manhood. “I wouldn’t - dad?…” He answered feeling jittery, alive and sensitive. “Uh…what did you mean - you know - when you said, justified roughness - when uh…well.”

  “Spit it out son. I hope you not this way with her? Be a man who says exactly what’s on his mind.”

  “Well, when you lie with a woman?” Jacob blushed.

  Smiling, lifting a brow - he was amused. GM was a fine looking man and certainly had his fair share of affairs before returning to his hometown where he remembered Lida Bell. She had been in love with him a long time. He’d never forgotten it. It helped that she was a shining example of virtue and seemed to have waited just for him. Her reward for that was that she got him - where he now, spoiled her and then some.

  Reflecting on his son’s words, he supposed that he was a virgin. “Son, you mean to tell me, you never - not even once? All this time?”

  Jacob’s gaze dropped to his lap, shaking his head, “No sir.”

  “Why not?”

  “Just never got around to it.”

  GM sat forward giving his son a long and thorough search, “You do… like girls, don’t you?”

  “Of course I do! Just - can’t be right, doing that. I mean, who’ll marry her if I - well… I’m too young to marry now.” Was the best he could explain himself.

  “Yet, you’d like a full grown experienced woman? Virginia Piercey? A Negro woman, who has already known a man? You - want her?”

  Jacob gulped once more.

  GM laughed shaking his head.

  Jacob sat a moment, quiet while his father saw the humor in this situation.

  “Son, I don’t think you’re ready for what you’re asking.”

  “I am…I’m ready. I’m a man. This … the first time, I’ve really - really wanted to be with - with someone so bad. I - I have never - in my life known such a woman. She’s… well, there’s none like her. Not even white, not like her.” Jacob gulped.

  GM, puffed on his Cuban, nodded and secretly agreed. To possibly save himself from her, he really needed her to be his sons.

  Jacob found his nerve to carry on, “All I ask of you - is - tell me - help me with - how to get her. That’s all I want. Well - and to ask, that you protect her. Make sure - she’s hands off. I know you can - I know it. I know who you are.”

  GM’s eyes narrowed a bit, wondering how much of his private business his son knew, “How do you know it?” He asked, curious. If he knew that, would he know then she was already under his shield?

  “People talk, they can’t help it. You, you have pull around here - you and a few others. I just want - her to be hands off. Will you, see to that?”

  GM sat quiet a moment and then nodded, “Sure I will son, sure I will - if that’s what you want - anything else?”

  “Nothing other than whatever it takes in my seeing to her. I ah, gave her money. She needed it.”

  “All ready? Has she given-…”

  “No! Nothing like that. She needed it. She’s all alone, with those two little girls. Her man is gone. Don’t know how he could have left her, but he did. I can’t just stand by and - well - know that and do nothing. That’s not how I am. Besides, I’m old enough, to do what I want.”

  GM sat back once more. His son was more in looks like his mother, with his size and coloring thrown in. He was almost pretty if he weren’t so tall and skinny. He’d hit height before his body could fill out and fill in those wide shoulders he sported. Maybe in a few years, but right now, despite his height, he was young. His eyes were green with long eye lashes, and smooth skin. Yes, his son was already three inches over his six foot one inch height. Also like him, as with most of the men he’d come from, they were known to be well endowed. Some women liked that, some didn’t. Considering the way black men were built, he figured black women wouldn’t mind them at all. Once she saw that all of his son’s parts were large scaled, he figured she’d take him on board all right. Yet, beyond that, he and his son were of a different sort. He wasn’t like him in that he liked working in a suit, wearing one, clean and fresh smelling with expensive cologne. No, Jacob wanted to be outdoors. Following Mr. Hunter or one of the other workers around. Absorbing the sun, nature, breathing in the scents that their land offered. He enjoyed working with his hands and keeping the animals. Rubbing down their horses, checking on the pigs, and their cattle. As he’d grown up, there were times they thought he’d be a builder. Then an engineer because of tinkering with engines and mechanics. Then they thought perhaps a horticulturist. Then of animal husbandry. As it turned out, he’d finished pursuing neither so it would seem and they accepted they were watching the development of a Jack-of-all-trades. They had hunting dogs that had never been hunting, because that was too cruel for Jacob. He didn’t mind fishing, but he couldn’t bring himself to aim a gun and bring down a deer. He’d eat it, but he couldn’t kill it. Finally, they realized that he would be as their pastor thought, he would make an incredible minister for the church.

  GM thought the same. The idea that his son was naturally God-fearing, made him feel a bit taller, proud. He wanted his son to be what he could never be - because there was a bit of an outlaw in him. As for Jacob, he was pure goodness, kindness and compassion. Now, he wanted a woman. Finally. He deserved a woman - a good woman. Being honest, thinking about that Virginia, she was - a good woman. That was the only thing he had his reservations concerning his son being with her. He’d seen from time to time a few of his ilk who couldn’t let go, couldn’t cut themselves free and had actually married their Negress. That kind of life and difficulty, he didn’t want for his son. It was a dangerous life to try and live. It was one thing to have them for your discreet pleasures, that was acceptable - even brag worthy.

  But… never - fall in love with one. That was his only concern surrounding his son and her.

  Finally voicing his thoughts, GM started out with a nod of his head, “Yes, yes you are old enough. Just… don’t forget yourself. One day, down the road, you’ll have to give her up. Yes, and - giving her up - of all things, if she’s a special one - aaah son, that will be the hardest. Hopefully by then, you’ll be a man, full up - and ready to move on. In the meantime, once you get her …take it slo-o-ow… sip boy - sip. I can tell you now, she’ll know… she’ll know - as most do. Boys gulp hastily, men sip contemplatively. You do, she’ll end up consumed in her thinking of you. Hear me?”

 
Jacob took a long and deep cleansing breath nodding his head that he’d heard, storing that bit of information for future use. Next, he brought up the idea of a shop for her. Saying how that’s what she wanted. It was too hard on her, trying to get to everyone, and keeping a tight hold of her girls. Doing hair and sewing is what she did best and what she wanted - along with people coming to her. GM sat the entire time his son spoke, thinking and nodding his head. It was true. She was good. Besides her looks, she had valuable talents. Skills that with the right backing, she could see to herself. In fact, GM thought it was an excellent idea to give her a sense of independence. Where she could eventually do without needing his son - that is once she got in a place of making her own money. Also, when time came for his son to let go, he would be able to, because she wouldn’t “need” anymore. Thus, he wouldn’t feel such a strong urge to keep her, help her, rescue her. He already knew how they could get around to it. Looking his son in the eyes, GM stated simply, “Get your mother in, and I’ll take care of the rest.”

  George Marshall McPherson could and would finance anything he believed in. Before all, he was the greater partner in a nuts, screws and bolts business. One of the top suppliers to multiple businesses. Anything that required screws, nuts and bolts to assemble, his business supplied it. That covered just about anything and everything from a simple toaster to military submarines and battleships - all needed screws, nuts and bolts. Locally, GM also owned the hardware store in town - needless to say, they were looked to and listened to when it came to business sense and advice. Out of sight and in the hush-hush, he had another business - one not so legal, but his extra earned money was easily covered by his legitimate one.

  The next morning, in the kitchen - GM sat reading the Saturday paper; while Lida Bell stood discussing ideas she had for preparing the big Christmas dinner they would be having. The big dinner that Nora her black cook would have to prepare. Nora’s expressions were becoming more and more animated, because this year, she remembered telling Lida Bell way far in advance, that she wanted to go all out for her own family - so she wouldn’t be able for her that year. It would seem, that Lida Bell had forgotten about that. In the midst of it - Jacob walked in happy as a lark, complimenting his mother on how nice her hair still looked that morning and also, how incredible that ensemble she wore was, he carried on saying, “It’s a shame mama you don’t have more outfits like that,” This as he took a seat and piled sausage, eggs and pancakes on his plate.