Red Jacket by Pamela; Mordecai Read Free Book Online

hand in circles before him and then hold it in at his waist, bending forward in a deep bow. Then he stand up and salute. “I hear glad tidings, Prof. I hear you have secured a post that will take you to the big city and away from this humble village. We shall be sad to see you go, but we are elated at the good news.”
    As she give him her schoolbag, Grace trying to hold in her smile so it is not too big across her face. She know Gramps is talking in that way to cheer her up, for over the waiting time, they more than once have a “Suppose I get a scholarship” conversation. She confess to him that she want to go to secondary school, but she don’t want to leave home. There is no alternative, though, because the high schools near Wentley Park are too far for her to travel to each day, and Ma and Pa can’t afford the bus fare anyhow. In Queenstown she can stay with Pa’s cousin, Miss Carmen, who live close enough to the school so she can walk. And besides, if she get through to her first choice school, St. Chad’s, it is a much better school than any of those nearby. So Queenstown it will have to be.
    Now the news is here, Grace is happy but also confuse as well as frighten. She not surprise she win a scholarship, for she never think the exam was hard. In fact she not surprise she win a place at St. Chad’s. But she wasn’t expecting to come so high, and now she don’t know how to feel or what to say. So she is scared about plenty things, starting from how to fix her face when she is getting all the praise, and going along to how she will manage all alone in a strange city.
    She and Gramps walk up the path between the blooms of cosmos that are yellow, purple, and orange and grow thick and full, even in the dry time, for they drink up Ma’s soapy washing water and keep coming back year after year.
    â€œThe Professor is pensive,” Gramps say. “Has she had a difficult day?”
    Grace look up at Gramps and nod, and the smile that was going to break out is overtaken by fat tears that fill her eyes and run down her face, jumping from her chin onto the starched bodice of her uniform.
    â€œI think you’ve had too much excitement, Miss Gracie. I made some Seville orange drink and there is bully beef and crackers left over from lunch. How would you like some vittles to celebrate?” Gramps don’t comment on the tears. They go inside, and he set out lunch while Grace take off her uniform and change into her day clothes. Then they sit at the table.
    â€œLord, we give you thanks,” Gramps is praying, “for this food. Bless it unto our bodies and our bodies to your service. We thank you especially for the great success that Gracie has had news of today. Please help her to be joyful and not afraid, knowing your grace will be sufficient for her. Amen.”
    â€œAmen.”
    â€œNow eat up, Prof. Ma sends congratulations and Mrs. Sampson, too. Ma say she leaving early.”
    â€œPa coming early too, Gramps?”
    â€œHe will come as soon as he can. But you know he is not his own master.”
    Grace don’t understand that, for after all, slavery done long time.

6
    Queenstown
    Pa’s first cousin, Miss Carmen, is older than him, well past sixty, while Pa is forty-nine on his next birthday. She is the straightest, tallest woman Gracie ever see. Her hair is all white, and she wear it in a long plait coil on top of her head like a crown. She wear clothes make out of African cloth in bright colours, blue and purple, green and red. Even when the colours wash out, the patterns are still striking. The large, loose tops go with long skirts and sometimes trousers.
    â€œMiss Carmen,” Grace ask one day, “how come you wear those clothes?”
    Miss Carmen look down on herself, “These? Why? You like them, Grace?”
    â€œYes, ma’am. I never see people wear day clothes that look like that.”
    So Miss Carmen tell Grace how she is