Lil Theo and Victor gently lowered their father into the grave, covering him in a beautiful quilt that Ida had made. Henry’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren held Mary up, their tears turning the earth to mud. Mary thought she might die then and there and follow Henry into the grave. She had known him all her life, he had been her husband, her friend and her companion.
Lil Theo lifted his mother and carried her into his home, he took her up to his room. Pearl kept the children out, while Ida and Victor sat with their mother as Lil Theo rocked Mary. His large hand gentled her hair, while Ida kissed her hands, her tears falling onto her mother’s fingers. Mary was seventy-two and she had loved Henry for seventy of those years. How would she ever go on, she did not know.
It was difficult, but Mary struggled through the next few years. She lived with Lil Theo, for he had built her a room, with a large bay window, so she could sit in the sun on cold mornings. She was surrounded by her great grandchildren and was kept busy with them. Pearl hovered, making sure Mary had plenty to eat and was always comfortable.
On February 9th 1930, Ida succumb to a cold and died. Drake was inconsolable. He died three days later, leaving Nathan command of the farm. Victor and Lil Theo were devastated as well and clung to Mary, who felt she would drown in sorrow. She should have died by now; she should not have experienced her child’s death. It was doubly tragic, for she had loved Drake as her own.
In the spring of 1938, Victor passed away in his sleep. Mary had seen it coming. His gnarled hands shook terribly with palsy and he had gone blind with cataracts. Mary had spent the winter with him before he had died, she had rubbed his hands, the heat from her easing his pain. They spoke of old times and of the future. It was a precious time for Mary, for she knew her son was dying.
Pearl was next to die, it was December of 1938, Ethan and his wife Ella, put their mother to rest in the family cemetery. Lil Theo was crushed and only Mary could ease his sorrow. He lay at his mother’s feet, his large head in her lap. Mary petted his gray grizzled white hair; he was in his early seventies and Mary was ninety-three. Her hands were bent with age, but their tender care was timeless.
Lil Theo died four years later in 1942, and Mary wept bitterly, she was burying her last child. She was nearing 100 years and she had seen all her children and their father to the grave. She thought about old Bitsy and now understood the perpetual sadness that had always been there. It was terrible to die, but it was intolerable to die so old.
She spent her days with the children, telling stories and singing songs. All told, there were fifty-seven progeny that had come from Dark Henry and Mary. Mary had lived in the time of slavery and had come to live in a new era, a new century. Her progeny had become doctors, lawyers, teachers, farmers and craftsmen. Had anyone told her what her future would have been, she would have laughed in their faces. Many things were so new and so incredible, that Mary hardly believed them. Her great, great grandchildren had taken her to the picture show and she was awed at the moving pictures. She listened to music on a box. Who would have thought?
Mary lay in her bed, her breathing shallow, it was October 15th 1947, she was one hundred and two years old. Her great granddaughter Marline, who was Lil Theo’s granddaughter, held her hand. Marline reminded Mary of Ida, she had the same bone structure, but not as dark as Ida had been. She smiled at her and told her so. Marline brought Mary’s hand to her cheek, then kissed it.
Mary had triumphed over life and she now looked forward to death. She could hear her name being called by someone familiar, she looked across the room and she saw her Henry, he was young and handsome, as the day she had married him. Beside him were Ida, Victor, Drake, Lil Theo, Nan, Theo and Patina, her mother, Liza and all the other people she loved. Their smiles warmed her old heart and she held her hand out to them.
Dark Henry stepped forward taking her hand, he went down on one knee as he had years ago, when he had proposed to her. He kissed her hand, looking into her golden-brown eyes. A tear of joy slid down her face and she smiled. Henry helped her off the bed and drew her to her family. They all gathered around her, hugging her and holding her, their joyous laughter like music to her ears. There were several children holding on to her skirt and she saw her grandchildren, who had died too soon.
She hugged Henry once more and Theo walked over and kissed her on the cheek. He had both arms now, Patina smiling radiant beside him. Mary kissed her hello.
“My mother is waiting to see you.” Theo smiled, his arm going around Patina. Mary could hear weeping, but she didn’t realize it was Marline. As she walked, the crying became faint and indistinguishable. She was home, she was with her family.
§
Dr. Renda Taylor wiped at her eyes. She brought Cory back to a wakeful state. He too had tears in his
