BLACK ROSE

PARTY 2

They ate Mac and Cheese, and a delicious apple pie, they had the best meals of their lives. After eating, they came back to the dance floor and began to dance with everyone there, such a lively atmosphere. After eating, they came back to the dance floor and began to dance with everyone there, such a lively atmosphere.

After the dance, all the young people formed a big circle on the floor, it turned out that asking questions after a party was their norm in the house.

In their middle was the Old earlier woman, the one who welcomed the girls and gave them food to eat. She was asking everyone of the youths questions about them selves, When they were done with that episode, it was the youths turn to ask her questions.

"Now who has a question for me?" She asked

"Me"Sophie raised up her hands

"I have three questions, first what do we call you? Secondly why is the sign board to this mansion painted black, brown and white? Thirdly what is the history of this mansion how did you all come together as one?" Sophie asked and fist bumped Rose

"Quite an inquisitive one" one of the old men outside the circle said, he was still under the influence of wine

"Well asked darling, you call me Grandma Becky, and the sign board is painted black, brown and white because originally the mansion was dominated by blacks, later on the equation became balanced, some blacks were rich, some were poor, same goes for the whites, and browns, so here we are one, colour don't matter, class don't matter, so this mansion became a home not only for the poor blacks anymore, it became home for the poor whites and brown colour or ostracized people, and here it don't matter the shape or colour or status as long as you are a good one, then you are part of the family. Take a look at Mary over there she works in a bank but she refuses to leave this place because she sees this place as her home."

"I don't just see it as my home Grandma Becky, it is my home, this are the people that raised me when my parents died, they took me in so i won't end up in the orphanage, they educated me and made me who i am today, i can only leave when i get married, and even when I do, this place and people will always remain my home" Mary is a white lady stood up and corrected grandma Becky. Mary's statement broke the icey walls in Sophie's heart,

"wow" Sophie smiled, one of the Old men walked up to Mary and hugged her like he is her father. "You all heard Mary, everyone here is one, one family it don't matter the colour or race or gender. Everyone here has their story to tell, they have a story peculiar to them."

"Our third question Grandma Becky" Rose reminds her

"Oh okay, yes, this Mansion was built in the late 1820s can't really remember if it was 27 or 28 or so. It was built by three friends, two black American and their white friend, they all were merchant and traders, they were discrimated for their status and colour, while the white man was insulted for being friends with the two black men. Then one day they found this land close to the school for sale, they decided to buy it with their savings, after buying it, they farmed on it and made huge profits from their farm produce, then after few years, the white man and one of the black men got married to their lovers, the white man got married to a black lady too, the farm has beautiful memories of their begining. Until a rich company came to bargain for their land, they were jealous of the amount of profits they made then they decided to buy the land for huge sum of money, the three men told themselves that they wouldn't sell the land because they lacked nothing they had it all, but the black man who has not gotten married lusted for worldly materials he wanted to live like the rich white people so he told his friends that he wants them to divide the land so he can know his share, his friends did it they didn't see it as a bad thing to do, later he sold his portion of the land and absconded with the money to start a new life, his friends felt betrayed and since then they decided to buy back the land but the rich man places hug prices on the land so they couldn't buy it they saved their profits and after 10years, the rich man died and his son decided to sell the land, so the two married friends bought it back and decided to build a mansion on one side of the land while on the other side, farming continues. They dedicated the house for people who are ostracized and mostly discriminated. They decided that the house will be filled with love and nothing more,"

Silence filled the house as every eyes was on Grandma Becky

"So what happened to the unmarried friend?" Musa asked

"He was drained dry and died, I mean he lost all his fortune and committed suicide because he felt ashamed To go back to his friends, but here, you are always welcomed"

"What prompted the dedication of the house?" Sophie asked

"When the two married friends went out one day, they saw some discriminated people and ostracized people living in terrible conditions mostly blacks, the two friends felt pity for them, then they decided to build a big house that can house all of them together and bring them together as one. At first, they lived separately from the people, then when they began to grow old, the children already had gotten married and have left them alone, they began to feel lonely, so they decided to live in the mansion with their people"

"Wow, what an interesting story" Rose blurted out

"What do you want to say?" Grandma Becky asked Sophie, it was like she could read people's mind just by looking at them

"Uhn", "I know you have something bugging you"

Sophie looked at her unsure if she should tell her or not

"It's, nothing Grandma Becky" she said, " when you are ready to say it, the gates are always open for you dear" Sophie sighed, Grandma Becky stood up and clapped her hands

"Time to cut the cake"...

***