Gone Fishing
Overhead a blue sky shimmered as rays of sunlight swept down on Piney Flats Road. The fluttering wings of birds flying above filled the air with resonant sounds. The scent of pine trees and honeycomb filled the road making for a pleasant day, southern Virginia filled with adventure sure to follow. Fate left this in the hands of the two brothers walking along the dirt road.
Tolly and Spoon ambled along Piney Flats Road at a slow pace. Their bare feet dug into the soft clay dirt as they walked along enjoying the early afternoon sunlight. Tolly carried his fishing pole over his right shoulder with the hook and line tied to the long wooden pole he used for fishing. Spoon carried his pole over his right shoulder in the same fashion. He clutched a small bucket containing some left over worms used in their fishing expedition in his left hand. Tolly was about sixteen years old, wiry, tanned, and of medium height with dark brown hair, blue eyes, and a perpetual grin on his face. Spoon was fourteen and smaller in stature with dark blond hair, brown eyes, and delicate features. Both boys wore old denims overalls, light white shirts, and were barefoot as was the custom in southern Virginia in those pre-war days.
Tolly muttered, ”I reckon we should’ve caught enough fish for our dinner today, but nothing wanted to try our worms Spoon?”
Spoon glanced toward his older brother Tolly and said with a grin on his face, ”You had the idea of using worm’s brother; I wanted to use raw liver or something with a strong odor to attract the attention of the fish.”
Tolly smiled and said, “Well anyway, all we brought with us was to eat a scrap of pone and some water; I am getting hungry little brother.”
Spoon glanced toward Tolly adding, “I hope you’re not planning what I think you are big brother?”
Tolly glanced toward his brother replying, ”We will talk about that soon enough Spoon but right now we need to be careful and get off the road some wagons are coming.”
In the distance Tolly and Spoon observed several large wagons rumbling down the dirt road. The wagons required a four-horse team, driver and an outrider for each team. As the wagons came nearer the boys could see the outriders carried shotguns and whips. Glancing inside as the wagons passed the boys saw ten husky dark skinned men shackled to each wagon’s bottom plank.


Tolly commented, “Slaves being transported to new work locations further down in the county, I think. Tolly went on, “There are at least six large plantations in Mecklenburg County growing rice, tobacco, cotton and other crops. They all require a lot of labor to bring in cash crops at harvest time.”
Spoon squinted and glanced toward his brother adding, “I calculate being chained to a wagon would not be any fun. Don’t those dark skinned men come from Africa?”
Tolly turned and contemplated Spoon’s supposed ignorance saying, “Spoon most of the slaves these days come from the islands, importing from the Dark Continent is illegal .Those stories are just more Yankee lies!” Then gesturing with his hands in Tolliver passion, he said, ”Spoon whatever the liars say, most slaves were sold into bondage by their tribal leaders, and chiefs, they were not captured by slavers from ships.”
Spoon turned and looked back at Tolly saying, “Tolly whether they came from slave ships, or were sold by their brothers, they are still slaves!”
The boys gave one more glance back watching the wagons and guards disappearing in the afternoon sun. Then they turned around and trudged on down the road toward the Tolliver home in the distance.
Spoon rubbed his stomach indicating to his brother, ”Tolly I sure am hungry, how about you?”
Tolly nodded his head in agreement and gestured with a hand signal, “Yep you know I am hungry, do you remember old Reymont Terry’s apple trees?”
Spoon let out a howl of joy at the prospect of raiding old Reymont’s orchard again saying, ”I sure do, remember how mad he was at us for stealing apples last year big bother.” Spoon went on laughing and talking about Reymont and his trees. Spoon grinned and started chuckling at the thought of Reymont, Spoon went on to say, “Reymont tried to shake us out of the tree, but he could not reach us, as fat as he was! His ole face just got redder and redder”.
Tolly joined in the laughter adding, “olé Reymont shook his fists at us. Then he yelled and he screamed curses up at us. His face was twisted and he shook all over with that tobacco-stained beard of his. What an ugly sight.” Tolly went on, old Reymont said,” I am going to get the sheriff after you boys. “However, old Reymont knew he would have to leave the orchard for that to happen, leaving us to our own devices, was he ever mad!”