After the Emancipation, most black people refused ex-owners' proposals for working their plantations. Besides the poor working condition, the wage was very low. Moreover, black people are heavy taxed. Although the opportunities of getting a soft job like a white family's servant was few, black people thought even if they could not find their job, it would better than taking the job. Then, the plantations have declined because of the lack of labor force.
Tia's parents were sold as servants of a white family from the other Islands, though they are not Jamaican. But, the family has declined after the Emancipation. Although Mother could remain the house as one of servants, Father couldn't. Lots of ex-servants are staying on those declined houses without the wage. If they are doings so, they can retain somewhere to sleep and get something to eat, and then, those families are usually indifferent about it. Even if the white families try to eject those ex-servants, they probably get something to eat via their ex-peers. Their places are mere barns. It seems for the white families that the trial is waste effort. However, Father can't just stay on the house he was fired. Mother's wage is chicken feed. If Father can't earn any money, they can't do the parenting. If black people don't avoid the poor conditions and the underpaid wage, there are still a few opportunities to get a job. Father barely managed to find his job. Then he is struggling with the job and appears to gain his credit with his peers. Tia is proud of Father.
One day, Mother invites Tia to visit one of her friends Christophine. Christophine was sold from the other Island and lives in one white family's house. Mother has admired for Christophine's broad mind. All missionaries say the Lord makes no distinction between black and white, black and white are the same for Him. But, who is the Lord? Who will swallow such a ridiculous story? On the contrary, Christophine's explanation of her tribe's religious is credible, and then, she always encourages me this Island is a free country, we are free people…
Christophine's room is next to the kitchen which is in an outbuilding of the house she lives. When Tia is in the kitchen, one of children of the house Antoinette appears. Christophine tells Tia to play outside with Antoinette. Tia thinks this girl may be similar age to her, but a white. It may not be so pleasant for her. But, Mother's smile also prompts to do it. Tia decides to do it reluctantly.
Contrary to Tia's expectation, Antoinette is a congenial girl to Tia. Soon they meet together nearly every morning at the turn of the road to the river and play.
It is said that Antoinette's father was one of ex-owners of plantation but he died from over-drank. Then, the house has ruined, and the family is very hard up for money. Surely, Antoinette appears to have only two dresses and wear those one after other, although those dresses are far better than Tia's and are always searched and ironed. Of course those things do not matter to Tia. Rather, it seems to be queer for her that Antoinette's mother appears not to mind her child's friendship with a nigger, though it's said that white people think poorly of it. According to Antoinette, her mother just wants peace and quiet, and sits with her sick younger brother, so her mother never asks her where she has been or she has done.
They eat the same food, sleep side by side, and bath in the same river. There is a pattern when Tia proposes a new play, Antoinette always hesitates a moment, Tia rouses Antoinette, and then, Antoinette tries hard to follow Tia.
One day, Antoinette brings some pennies to their playfield. It may be the first time they have been met. Tia thinks, let's asking Antoinette to a new play. Then, she bets Antoinette three of pennies that Antoinette can't turn a somersault under water 'like you say you can'.
'Of course I can.'
'I never see you do it,' Tia says. 'Only talk,' Tia rouses Antoinette.
'Bet you all the money I can,' Antoinette aggressively says. Tia enjoys her reaction.
After one uncouth somersault, Antoinette tries to turn further and comes up choking. Tia laughs and tells Antoinette that it certainly looked like she drown dead that time. Then Tia picks up the money. This is one of games that is very popular among black people. Although Tia picks up the money in this time, if Antoinette proposes a new bet and talks down Tia, the money will return to her. Anyone does not make a profit or a loss in this game. However, Antoinette suddenly spits out,
'Keep them then, you cheating nigger. I can get more if I want to.'
At first, Tia can't understand what Antoinette said. Since Antoinette has turned her back on Tia, Tia can't see Antoinette's expression on her face. After the swearing, Antoinette keeps her silence and has a complete disregard for Tia. Tia is not only in no mood to speak to Antoinette, but also can't contain her anger. When Tia decides to put on her dress and leave from the river, Antoinette's dress catches her eye. Tia puts on the dress as only her way to protest against Antoinette and leaves there.
When Tia gets home, Mother is distrustful of the dress Tia wears, and asks her about it.
'This is Antoinette's. I'll never meet her from now on,' Tia curtly answers.
Mother may sense something and murmurs,
'If you are displeased at it, I‘m sorry, a white is a white at all, though Cristophine has cared her since her birth…'
Then, adds hurriedly,
'When Christophine asked me, "Could you help my child? She has no support of her family and has no friend…" I hesitated about introducing you to the child momentarily... '
'My child? Antoinette is a white, Christophine is a nigger, she is crazy!'
Tia can't stop herself to vent her anger on Christophine.
'At first, I can't understand why you admire for her mind. A free woman? Humph! Even it's doubtful if she is paid the wage, though she stays on the house. Just there is nothing she can do expect to do so.'
'Tia! Can you say such a thing?' Mother takes up Tia with a shrill voice, however, she sighs after Tia winced at her voice,
'Really you are a member of different generation form us…'
Tia flounces out of her house, while Mother is still saying something. Why do we have to talk like this? Tia's fresh anger against Antoinette goes up in her mind.
When Tia is sitting a bank, where is near her house, Kalala finds her. He is one of Father's peers, and constantly stops at Tia's house on his way home. He always says he regards her father's broad mind and is very kind to Tia. Tia likes him. He says he stopped at Tia's house today, too. But Tia was too late, so, he and Father had gone out separately to look for Tia.
Kalala sits down beside Tia, and asks,
'What's wrong?'
Tia talks him a series of events happened today.
'"You cheating nigger", hem, but, all whites say such a thing. It's senseless to worry about their words one by one.'
'I know… But… We played well together…' mumbles Tia.
'Played well together? I'd never heard there is a white who plays well with a nigger.'
'We played well together…we ate the same food… bathed in the same river… I really thought she was my good friend…'
Kalala appears to select his words with care, and says,
'I think she has a bias against us, of course… Yea, but I think there is a kind of misunderstanding, too.'
'Misunderstanding…?'
'Do you think she thought she was robbed of her money and was betrayed by you, don't you?'
Tia surprises at Kalala's insight, and then, she feels a little regret about Antoinette's dress.
'I know she has only two dresses. Though I never think I'll go to bring the dress back, how will she get over the situation…?' Tia smiles feebly.
Kalala grins at Tia and pats her shoulder,
'Now, we have to go back. Your parents are worrying about you.'
After that, however, Tia hears that Antoinette's mother marries a rich Englishman. Thereafter, Antoinette's words are repeatedly evoked.
'You cheating nigger,' 'I can get more if I want to,' 'I can get more if I want to...'
Tia thinks that's right. They have such a choice, though I never thought of it. Why do they have a tendency to choose such a way for their solution? There would be more ways than one of being happy, better perhaps to be peaceful and contented.
Tia vents her complaint on Kalala,
'They have infinite number of choices, though we have few.'
Antoinette's words haunt Tia's mind, 'I can get more if I want to,' 'I can get more if I want to…'
'They always have a strong possibility to gain the restitution. Yes, it's the restitution, not the emancipation. Mother and Father were sold to this Island. It's said we were emancipated, but they can't go back to their home Islands. There are only a few very heavy jobs. Then, the wage is chicken feed. It was said that Antoinette's family was hard up for money. But, at that time, their life was much better than us. What's the difference?'
Antoinette's words continue to echo, 'You cheating nigger,' 'I can get more if I want to…'
'"We were emancipated"? "We are free people"? Just white says so. "You cheating nigger"? Cheating is the word for them. There is no change!'
Kalala had not interrupted Tia’s talk. When he makes sure Tia had spit out all her complaint, he starts to talk calmly.
'You don’t understand… There was a change… Yea, there was really a huge change, much better than before... I'm one of African. We were forced to be brought and to work at plantations. It's said everyone died within six or seven years. The owners never mind, because they can buy new slaves as they like... If there weren't the Emancipation, I'd die a long time ago.'
Tia stares at him. It's the first time Tia has heard his own history. Kalala tenderly smiles at her,
'But, it's good you think so. I'd never thought why we can't go back to our homeland, though we were emancipated... Yea, really good... If lots of niggers think so, the situation will change again.'
One of Father's peers brings the information that the stepfather of Antoinette is planning to import laborers from the East India. If the plan is fulfilled, black people in this island will be excluded from most of the work places. The peer says black people start to assemble for their work place. Father rushes there with the peer. Mother and Tia follow. While Tia is running, she vaguely thinks again that they have infinite number of choices, and there are more ways than one of being happy, better perhaps to be peaceful and contented, but they never choose such ways. Why?
Lots of black people have already assembled with their weapons, though their possessions are just machetes or sticks. There is Kalala in the center. Father shouts to Kalala,
'What's happen?'
'You can see, we'll go to attack at the house,' he looks cool amid the excited crowd.
Father appears half stunned. He glances around at the crowd, and at Kalala again. Then, he starts to persuade the crowd, not Kalala. He emphasizes about the punishment by the authority follows the attack. The punishment for black people's riot is harsh. It may extend to not only people who directly link with the attack but also people who don't... But Kalala interrupts it with a monotonous voice,
'Even if we do nothing, they'll crush down us. The harm will be more extensive than the estimated punishment. Don't you think so, do you? Yea, it's sure. Then, it's better to do.'
Father stares at Kalala, is silent in thought, but finally, he agrees to join the attack with a deep sigh.
When Mother and Tia intend to go together with Father, he tries to persuade them not to do.
'Why?' Mother asks,
'You said, "The punishment for niggers' riot is harsh. It may extend to not only people who directly link with the attack but also people who don't." you'll join the attack. I'm your wife, and Tia's your daughter. Even if we don't join, is there a guarantee we can escape from the punishment?'
Father gives up to persuade them, but he doesn't allow them to act together with him in the attack. He asserts,
'You'll be a drag on my act.'
Tia picks up a sharp jagged stone, grasps it, and refreshes her decision, though Tia and Mother take up the rear. She thinks, we have few choices, but this attack is our choice.
On the way to Antoinette's house, no one speaks and only the footsteps sound. The silence continues after the black people had arrived at the destination. However, when someone starts to shout a war cry, all follow. They shout a war cry and throw stones at the house. A horrible noise swells up. Some of them are carrying flambeaus. In the lights, their eyes gleaming, mouth half open to shout. For Tia, they all look the same, it is the same face repeated over and over. She tries to imagine the face of Father who ought to be fighting with the same face, but she can't.
The attackers set fire to the back of the house, and then, the side. The fire grows violent. Tia is overpowered with the atmosphere and does nothing. She just feels it is too hot. Now, Tia understands her father's words that 'you'll be a drag on my act.'
Tia can recognize the family gets out from the house which is filled with fire and smoke. The family gets to be surrounded by black men. They are illuminated by flambeaus that some of the attackers carry at their back. It is light as day. Mother, who stands next to Tia, finds Christophine in the family members. Mother screams, hubs Tia and says something, but Tia can't hear it because of the noise. The circle of men gets to press too close round the family. Tia's sight is blocked with the attackers, and then, she can't see the family anymore. What will happen? Tia can't imagine it, too. But she thinks, I have to see all of the events with my own eyes.
The flames become higher and higher to the sky. It becomes hotter and hotter.
Suddenly, someone points at a parrot on the glacis railings with his feathers alight. Everyone look up. The parrot makes an effect to fly down but he fails screeching. He is all on fire. Some black people say that it is very unlucky to kill a parrot, or even to see a parrot die. It is obvious they lost their spirit for fighting.
Why did the attackers lose their spirit for fighting they only saw the death of parrot? Tia can't understand about it. Is it very unlucky to see a parrot die? The worst thing has already happened. Certainly, lots of niggers will punish for this attack, though white people remain in the same life.
Then, one nigger, who seems to be one of servants of the family and appeared driving the carriage to rescue the family, shouts at one of attackers.
'What all you are, eh? Brute beasts?'
The man, who is shouted at, answers something, and there is some conversation, though Tia can't hear the contents. But she thinks it's now only silly nonsense. The nigger's words do not get on her nerves. Rather, she feels pity for him. She thinks he is like a domestic animal. Christophine as well. The limited free and independent, which might be left alone by the indifference of the family or are just her illusions, have trapped her. She believes or tries to believe those are genuine, but those aren't. It's sure. Ironically, Christophine gave me the opportunity to notice it. Tia continues to think. Kalala said, if lots of niggers got to think similar to Tia, the situation would change again. However, it seems for Tia that the day will never come.
The attackers start to disperse. The fire is still raging. The tall flames shoot up to the sky. The house is burning. The yellow-red sky is like sunset. The outbuilding, where Tia met Antoinette at first, is also burning. Nothing will be left. Tia thinks at least it's good.
Then, not so far off, Tia sees Antoinette. Surprisingly, Antoinette starts to run to Tia. When Antoinette close Tia notices that she still grasps the jagged stone in her hand. She throws it at Antoinette with automatically. The stone hits Antoinette's forehead. Antoinette continues to look at Tia's fact, though her blood starts to run down her face. The red blood. The color is the same as our's. Antoinette's words are evoked again.
'I can get more if I want to,' 'I can get more if I want to…'
Tia thinks, yes, yes, I have been reconfirmed by you that white people have infinite number of choices, then, there are more ways than one of being happy, but they never choose such ways. Antoinette continues to look at Tia. It seems as if she invokes Tia's mercy. Yea, I also know the situation was not made by you. Yes, yes, it's not because of you. But, how deep is the gap between white and black? Tia tries to keep back her tears, but she fails. Her face crumples up.
The punishment for this attack was as harsh as the other riots. All the black people, who were asserted to link with the attack, were arrested without any evidence, and were executed without any fair trial. For maintaining the present political institution, the authority never hesitated. 'Smash centipede, smash it, leave one little piece and grow again'.
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