Union
South of the Mason-Dixon Line, January 15, 2016 -- 9:42 a.m.
The nondescript rental car, slowed by the rutted gravel road, drove by the empty fields and barren trees of winter. As the road neared its end, Mandy turned into the weed-infested driveway of a badly weathered house bearing a rusty metal roof.
A neglected yard contained several vehicles in various states of disrepair, a compressor-topped refrigerator, and a dozen or so other artifacts of the past. This stark montage of litter portrayed a family's history in a random pattern depictive of the vagaries of life.
A small black woman with silver-gray hair answered their knock and uttered a cry of joy as she reached out to embrace Mandy. Mandy and her aunt soon busied themselves with the chore of preparing a "proper breakfast" leaving Brian to wander through the large room in quiet amazement. The entire end wall of the room, from floor to ceiling, supported bookshelves interrupted only by two windows. The pine bookshelves finished with only the unique patina of age, held an eclectic selection of literary works. Brian's cursory perusal found books ranging in age from the time of Lincoln to current bestsellers. A muted, large screen TV displayed the menu of a satellite system while an ancient wood burning stove provided a comfortable, radiant warmth seldom felt in a modern home.
After enjoying the excellent breakfast, Brian sat quietly while savoring a great cup of coffee. Mandy's aunt startled Brian when she turned to him and said, "Mandingo, you be of the Mandingo. Your bones tell your ancestry. I can see that you be Mandingo like us. Your thin lips, pale complexion, and small nose show that, like us, your Mandingo blood also bears the taint of the slaver."
Brian's contemplative expression quickly became one of delight as he began to laugh. "I wish a few of my white associates could be here to hear you describe the very features they value as liabilities. Please continue and share your wisdom with us."
"Brian, your kind words honor both of us. I know that you will achieve great things and yet, you are humble enough to hear the voice of this old woman. In the tradition of our ancestors, I will tell you my life and then hear yours.
"My name be Althea GoFetch and I bear the blood of the Mandingo people. My man's family kept their slave name and now it be mine. I be the last GoFetch and this name shall end with me. My man and I built this house and planted cotton on rented land. We worked hard and were happy, though the Lord didn't bless our marriage with children.
"When the white folks wouldn't rent us the land no more, they broke my man's spirit and the whiskey took his life. When I began to wish to die also, word comes that a drunk driver kill this girl's folks, my youngest sister and her man. I brought them home for the burying and took this girl in as my own. Her daddy's Army insurance money paid for her upbringing and the Army remembered her daddy's service and put her in the West Point. I be proud of this Mandy girl. I be proud. Now Brian, tell me your life."
"My name be Brian Butler and I am a Doctor of Medicine. I was born of Raymond and Ramona Butler, a truck driver and registered nurse, who lived in San Francisco, California. They encouraged me to quench my thirst for knowledge and by my twenty-sixth birthday, I had completed thirty-one years of education. Last year they canceled my research grant with the Oregon Health Sciences University and now I work for the government with Mandy. I know nothing of my ancestry and never thought to ask."
"You should have Brian, you should have. You must know the roots of your being to measure the accomplishments of your journey through life. Your use of the expression, 'my name be,' shows sensitivity on your part but presumes that I talk the way I do through ignorance rather than choice. With experience, you will learn that a snap judgment is often a faulty judgment." Clearly embarrassed, Brian looked to Mandy for comfort as Althea asked in a sharp tone of voice, "Brian, what are your intentions regarding Mandy?"
Brian looked at each of them in turn, rose from his chair, and knelt on the floor in front of Mandy. Taking her hands in his he said, "Mandy, although we first met only nine days ago I have been waiting many years for you to enter my life. Amanda Johnson, will you marry me?"
Without hesitation Mandy responded with, "Yes Brian Butler, yes I will." Brian reached into his pocket and withdrew a ring box, opened it, and placed an engagement ring on her finger. As they rose to embrace, Mandy turned to Althea and asked, "Mother, do we have your blessing?"
Althea responded with, "Have you tested his manhood girl?"
"Yes, I have."
"And?"
"He is strong yet tender and in his bed I experienced the joy of being a woman."
"Brian, will you remain true to Mandy?"
"Always."
"Then, my children, you have my blessing."
Par Three RV Park, CA, January 18, 2016 -- 10:45 a.m.
Holding the park map Brian picked up at the office Mandy said, "Now we stay on Clubhouse Loop until we turn right on Sandtrap. Golly Brian, I hope your parents like me. I have not felt this nervous in years. Is my hair okay?"
"Relax. This will be a piece of cake compared with Althea's inquisition. Of course, now I know that you find me to be a super stud thanks to Althea."
"Dear Brian, you did not understand what I meant. The joy of being a woman refers to the ability of a woman to love her mate without reservation thus creating the perfect emotional state for sexual relations. On the other hand, lust so drives men that they have difficulty understanding the emotional nuances of love. Men are content with mere physical gratification and the mindless reassurance of their manhood."
"Sometimes you can be as devious as a lawyer. Perhaps you will explain the lusty sounds you were making last night?"
"The next right should be Sandtrap. Your parent's site is number thirty-four."
"Saved by the intersection. Don't let them talk us into staying overnight with them or I will miss an opportunity to reassure myself of my manhood."
Later
"It is about time the two of you returned from the course. Tell your stories now before we eat. Mandy and I do not want to listen to your golf talk at the dinner table."
"Well dear, I never enjoy talking about golf when I have been bested so I will be quite content to talk about something else for a change. Today Brian beat me at the tees and on the greens. I guess I better stick to playing with the old-timers."
"Ray, perhaps Brian would appreciate a guided tour of the motor home while Mandy and I finish our work. Dinner will be ready in about thirty minutes."
"Okay. Brian, this is thirty-eight feet of engineering excellence powered by a Cummins three hundred horsepower engine coupled to an Allison World Transmission and . . ."
After dinner
"Well Brian, your mother and I have heard some frightening reports in the news lately that also mentioned you as well. Can you add to what we know about this alien invasion and Brian, the elder's message from the future?"
"I can tell you that what you know is true and that Mandy and I will head a project to complete the work of Brian, the elder. In fact, we may spend our entire lives in this endeavor. I expect the government to keep the public well informed regarding this matter now that the cat is out of the bag.
"I do have some questions for you, however. Mandy's aunt believes that she, Mandy, and I bear the bloodline of the African people known as the Mandingos based upon the structure of our bones. Althea has aroused my interest in genealogy and I wonder if either of you knows anything about our African ancestry?"
"Years ago, during your first years of college, I sought answers to these questions myself. I succeeded in following my family back four generations and your father's five. The American history of our ancestors, in the time of slavery, often consisted of just shipping manifests and bills of sale.
"Back in the year 1976 a fictionalized genealogy, Roots, The Saga of an American Family aroused considerable interest in family genealogy. With dogged perseverance and considerable luck, the author, Alexander Haley, traced his ancestry back through seven generations to a Mandingo village in Africa. Many African-Americans took comfort from Haley's discoveries regarding his ancestry as his story provided a sense of continuity and belonging previously missing from their lives. The Haley family's saga served to typify the Afro-American experience and if we are descendants of the Mandingo, we can be proud of our ancestry.
"Mandy told me about your visit with Althea while you were on the course with your father. That folder on the couch contains the results of my research on our family tree and a copy of Roots. I have been holding this information for the time when you showed interest in these matters. Perhaps the two of you can complete my work."
Office of Major General Gates, January 20, 2016 -- 3:00 p.m.
"Good afternoon Major Johnson, Dr. Butler, this is a pleasant surprise." Upon the completion of the customary exchange of handshakes, the general directed his guests to a comfortable sofa.
After a brief pause, the general said, "Judging from your tense expressions, I expect this visit is regarding a personal dilemma. Turn your cards up and we will see how they play."
"Brian and I have decided to marry. I will voluntarily resign my commission, if you consider our approaching marriage to be incompatible with the nature of our professional duties."
"Have you considered your alternatives to resignation such as a less formal relationship?"
Brian interjected with, "We have, but we cannot disappoint our families, nor will either of us impugn our integrity with an illicit affair. During the days of slavery, marriage for our ancestors often consisted of a 'less formal' ceremony involving a broomstick. I can assure you that des two niggers wan' more dan to be jumpin' de broomstick into de holy lan' of matrimony."
"Now that was a leap to an unfounded conclusion as your ethnicity played no part in my ill-considered response to your dilemma. However, I do wish to apologize for the demeaning nature of my question. I will discuss your pending marriage with the president tonight and get back to you with his reaction to your plans."
Later
"Now I know how you lost your research grant. You can be quite abrasive when you choose to be. Would you please explain that broomstick bit?"
"The book my mother gave me, Roots, describes a wedding ceremony that required the couple to jump over a broomstick. I finished it last night while you slept and enjoyed it immensely. We could take our honeymoon in Africa and voyage up the Kamby Bolongo. Now that would be a honeymoon to remember."
"Let me read the book while we wait for the president's reaction to our plans and please try to keep your emotions in check when we visit the general tomorrow."
The White House, January 21, 2016 -- 7:45 p.m.
The president greeted Brian with a warm handshake and Mandy with a fatherly hug while saying, "Welcome and congratulations. Come and sit with me by the fire. Can I offer you any refreshments?"
Mandy declined with a shake of her head as Brian responded with, "No thank you, Mr. President, we ate on the way and are quite content."
"Before we begin, I want to assure both of you that I have no intention of repeating General Gates's ill-considered social blunder. He sincerely regrets his remark regarding a 'less formal' relationship. I thought that your marriage might be inevitable and felt the resulting synergy would benefit the project. However, your decision to marry this early in your relationship does come as a surprise.
"I face a difficult situation regarding my run for reelection in November. If my political enemies become aware that I am supporting a genetic engineering project, my opponent will take delight in portraying me as a modern-day Baron Frankenstein. Should the media learn of your marriage, they could connect your work in California with Mandy's work in Portland and may surmise the rest. Regrettably, I would prefer you to conduct your marriage in secrecy or delay your wedding until after the election in November."
Mandy leaned toward Brian and whispered a few words in his ear. He looked into her eyes, nodded, and said, "Well Mr. President, we will go with postponement as we do not think we could arrange a secret wedding."
Seeing the disappointment in their eyes, the president remembered when he, a young Navy ensign, and his wife-to-be announced their intentions to marry and met with the problem of parental interference. Impulsively the president said, "If you will permit me, I can arrange a secret marriage." Reading the answer to his offer in their expressions the president said, "Now let us talk about your honeymoon."
Naples, Italy, January 30, 2016 -- 2:08 p.m.
"You may kiss the bride."
Brian turned to his bride and as their lips joined his awareness of their surroundings began to fade in the face of his ardor for Mandy. Brian became aware of President Delaney's insistent attempt to kiss the bride and reluctantly stepped aside. He watched with a tinge of dismay and confusion over the new emotions he felt as another man kissed his Mandy.
Naples, Italy, January 31, 2016 -- 7:23 p.m.
The president and the newlyweds were enjoying a quiet dinner when their conversation turned to their palatial quarters. "When I held the post of Commander in Chief, Allied Forces Southern Europe this Villa was our home for four wonderful years. Usually the Villa is bustling with activity, but CINCSouth and his spouse are in Brussels for a NATO conference. I encouraged him to give most of the staff of the villa the weekend off as he normally would when they are out of town.
"My duties take me to Moscow in the morning and you honeymooners will be off to cruise the Kamby Bolongo. Do you have your flight reservations confirmed?"
Mandy replied, "Yes, we depart from Leonardo da Vinci at Fiumicino tomorrow noon for Dakar, Senegal where we will spend the night. In the morning we will fly on to Yundum airport and take surface transportation into Banjul, the capital of The Gambia. Then we will spend a few days arranging our trip up the Gambia River also known as the Kamby Bolongo. Once we begin our voyage up the river, we will rely on the recommendations of our guides to schedule the rest of our visit."
"I hope you are very careful on your honeymoon as your plans may include an element of danger."
Brian entered the conversation with, "Mandy's aunt Althea, has encouraged us to regard our visit to The Gambia as a homecoming from the tragedy of the African diaspora. How can we view our journey home with trepidation?"