Invisible Knights

Kirk turned the page and noticed Herbert Freeman’s name on the page. His grandfather was telling about going to Herbert’s second birthday party at the Freeman home. Little Paul and Herbert played together in a sand box, that Willie had made. Cora and Charlene took the ration books that belonged to Herbert and Paul and made the cake and ice cream for the boys. Almost all of Herbert’s presents were practical. No one could find a toy truck made with rubber tires. The government makes all its citizens have ration books. In order to conserve cotton and wool, dresses are shorter. Cuffs, vests, pleats, and ruffles have gone out of style. The little boys neither knew nor cared about any of that. Their world consisted of which one could make the biggest mound of sand until we pulled them away for cake and ice cream. After filling up on yellow cake with white icing and homemade peach ice cream, my dad and Herbert’s dad were reminiscing about the year the boys were born. They mentioned that La Guardia Airport in New York City had opened that year. Willie was especially interested in the fact that the Worlds Fair in New York highlighted many inventions when it opened that year. He was very impressed by the fact Packard had made the first air-conditioned car. They both laughed about how long it would be before one of them owned an air-conditioned car! They tried to remember a few songs that came out that year. All they could come up with was Address Unknown by the Inkspots and Over the Rainbow sang by Judy Garland. I reminded them about the smooth sounds of the Inkspots. Everyone said that it was the best year for movies so far. Gone with the Wind, Wuthering Heights, Stagecoach and The Hunchback of Notre Dame made in 1939 were ones that they remembered. They laughed and said the best part of that year had to be having a son and a grandson. Dad gave me that proud, happy grandfather look that really pleased me. We discussed one of Willie’s friends, Jacob Brown. He had gotten a deferment for working in the page 50 Tredegar Iron Works. The country considered that defense work. Willie commented on what a good company it was. They helped colored people over the years. They had been one of the first industries to hire colored people beginning with hiring slaves after the war. Willie said, “It was a rough time in Virginia before and after the Civil War. In the beginning of the war, fugitive slaves ran to Ft. Monroe on the coast and found sanctuary. I heard as many as 25,000 escaped slaves were in and around Ft. Monroe. Of course, many of them joined the Union Army at that point. However, after the war it was hard for former slaves to get work. Boy, what would we have done if Grandpa Clovis had not had his farm? More importantly, if he had not found Jesus because Henry’s grandfather gave my grandparents a Bible.” Henry said,” My grandfather was not sure if he was breaking the law giving them a Bible. That is one reason why he did it secretly. He also knew that a black church at that time in Richmond by law had to have a white pastor.” Willie asked Henry if his momma had told him about the prophecy that Terrence Redman, Willie’s stepfather had carried in his Bible until his death. He said, “No” as I watched Daddy looking down at the two toddlers playing contentedly in their play pen. The women were sitting in a corner capturing the light from a window to do their needlework. Occasionally each one caught a bit of the other’s conversation. Momma yelled across the room, “Why don’t you tell it, Willie?” Willie got up from his brown chair that was sprinkled with blue and yellow flowers and said, “I’ll be right back. We waited quietly for his quick return. Here, I thought I would read it word for word so I don’t mess up the prophecy.” Clearing his throat, he began. Your worship and your love towards me have blessed my heart. I am with this congregation and I have called you for a special mission. A mission you will not see fulfilled in your lifetime. Even now, I am setting things into motion that shall happen before my Son returns says the Great I Am that I Am. People of all colors shall worship me in unity on this land.” The whole group was quiet as chill bumps ran down their arms.