1880-09-24 “Challenges Abound” by Merritt (born 2000)

CHALLENGES ABOUND—September in Memphis is hot and humid. The air hangs heavy all around, and there is no refuge. 1880 does not have electricity; hence it does not have air conditioning, nor even fans.

After work, I make my way home, the heat pushing into the 90s F even with October less than a week away. Once home, I’ll usually strip down to my trousers and undershirts. The girls have adopted the habit of putting on their dressing gowns as soon as dinner is eaten to thwart the heat by a small measure.

Devon retreats to his room. “Lordy heaven help me! These white women are tryin’ t’ put a noose ‘roun’ my neck fo’ sure! Draw them blinds, Misses… Draw ‘em closed quick ‘fore someone gets a look… Mercy on my soul, mercy, Lo’d!”

We sit in the heavy still air. The sounds of the Memphis evening are strange to us. The background noise of 1880 defies our 20th and 21st century ears.

Clopping hooves signal the passing of a carriage or wagon. Laughter from the neighbor’s children will rise into the thick, humid air. From the window of the house behind us, the cries of a baby filter through the sounds of the birds and insects. Across the street, shortly after dinner most nights, a piano plays ragtime or hymns; no one sings.

Though we have running water, it is pumped from the Wolf River and is delivered notably muddy. I devised a way to filter out the silt—Devon spreads it in the front flower bed. Hannah crafted a still, and Devon mans it through the day to create clean water for cooking and drinking. 

Darkness comes with sunset. The gas streetlights do little more than remind us how dark it is. Oil lamps inside offer hardly enough light to justify the heat they produce, but they are all we have.

So, amidst the wavering shadows from the oil lamp we huddle together in the parlor, our voices low, our laughter soft. Our ideas mingle and grow one from another. Always, questions arise…

Why are we here? What should we do? Can we go back? How?

Our whispers drift into the dark swelter that surrounds us. But no answer returns.

~Storyline on Blogger (Link in Bio)

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