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and, of course, our brother, Brom. Everybody was invited to Josiah’s house for the occasion. I was more worried than excited about Bett getting married. What would happen to me when she went to live with Josiah? Would the mistress let me live with them?
    The night before the wedding, Bett was very sad. I thought she was tired, for she had picked fruit all day and helped to prepare it for canning.
    We lay in the darkness and the silence was so complete that I knew something was wrong. “Fatou,” I said. I had not called her by that name in a long time, and she burst into tears.
    â€œWhat is it? Do you no longer love Josiah or want to be his wife?”
    â€œDon’t be silly. Of course I want to be his wife. If only Yaaye was here. She would tell me what to do.”
    â€œWhat is there to do that Nance, Brom, and I can’t do?”
    â€œWhere our parents came from, a marriage took a long time to arrange and settle. A wedding was not done in one day. It was a big occasion. There was the dowry from the man’s parents, announcing the engagement, signing the wedding contract, and other ceremonies. Families on both sides were together in all of that.”
    â€œJosiah talked to Brom and they are planning you a wedding.”
    â€œThat’s nothing. We have no family. There will be no drinking from the calabash, no dowry, no really big feasts. And there’s no one my age to talk to, to share my doubts and my joys.” She burst into tears again.
    I went to her and took her in my arms. “Please. Don’t. Why are you crying like this?”
    â€œAll the women in Claverack said an African girl was usually married at fifteen or before she was twenty. Here I am older and don’t know how to care for a husband. If I was home, my family would give me their blessings and I would go to Josiah ready to make him a good wife.”
    If only Olubunmi was here, I thought. She would know. I didn’t know what to say. The only married woman I had ever known was the mistress. Suddenly I understood why my sister was crying.

10
    That Sunday afternoon in September 1770, the autumn sun was bright on leaves that were just beginning to change their green cloak for one of many colors. Even the weather favored Bett on her day. The women had saved their rations of sugar to make cakes and the men had fished and hunted for fowl and venison. I had joined other young girls and boys to pick berries, apples, and wild greens. The drummers came early to warm their drums by the special fire that had been built for that purpose.
    The excitement spread throughout the house and into the yard. Brom strutted about being important, for he was presenting his sister to a bridegroom. He was dressed in the regular homespun pants, but he wore a vest woven from flax that had been bleached white. I was pleased with my brother and proud of the way he was making sure that Bett’s marriage would go well. But I was still uneasy about what was going to happen to me.
    Just after the master, without his wife or Hannah, their youngest, arrived with the other children, it was time for the ceremony to begin. The drummers beat their drums and all of Josiah’s men friends formed a procession and came out of the house into the yard carrying gifts. Then Bett’s women friends came with gifts. Of all the people there, I knew of only one African who could read and write —Josiah. He then produced a paper and read it aloud. “I, Josiah Freeman, before my friends, state my intentions to marry Bett who is part of the Ashley house. I have no family. She has no family. So I ask her brother, Brom, to take this contract and give me her hand.”
    Brom took the paper and went inside and came back with Bett. She was wearing the black skirt and white blouse that had belonged to our mother. The colorful scarf in which she had carried me on her back was tied about her waist and hips. Nance had tied a bright cloth on her head. She