Long Lost

Black smoke belched from the smokestack of the Chicago Alton St. Louis Rail Road engine steaming southwest. The passenger car lurched and swayed sending one gentleman trying to negotiate the aisle sprawling into the laps of Kendra and her traveling companions.

“Oh, Ladies, kindly forgive me. Did I hurt anyone? Terribly clumsy of me.” He apologized as he reclaimed his footing, bowed and tipped his hat toward them.

“No harm done and we can not put the blame on you. Who can walk with these rolling pathways.” Kendra accepted his apology.

“Say, do I know you?” They said in unison to one another.

“Wh...what? Oh, excuse me.” He started again. “Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Kyle Stanley most recently from Chicago.”

“Kyle? Kyle. You wouldn't have come from down by Savanna, Georgia at one time, would you?” Kendra responded trying to place him for certain.

“How would you have known that? Yes, I was born and lived most of my life down that way.” He looked puzzled.

“My name is Kendra Potter. My Father was Kendall Potter and my Grandfather was Randolph Potter. You remind me of my Father. I believe you may be my long lost Uncle Kyle.” Kendra said disbelievingly.

“And that must be why you look familiar. You favor your grandfather but, of course, much lovelier. Much, much lovelier. But could I have seen you on stage recently?”

“I'm sorry. Let me introduce my companions. This is Mrs. Evie Pike, stage name 'Evie Brown' of Emporia Operatic Theater. We were performing in Chicago. I sing Gospel at the intermissions. Maybe you saw us there. And this is Mrs. Twyla Potter. A dress designer in Emporia, Kansas. We have also been on a fashion expedition. Would you care to sit and join us so we can continue this discussion?”

“Nice to meet you ladies and, yes, I did see you perform. It was very inspirational. But I must get back to my companions, my wife and my sister. There is a spare seat next to us, would you mind joining us instead?” Kyle suggested.

“Would you ladies mind if I did that? I'll be back shortly. This is important.”

“Of course, take your time. We got all the way to Kansas.” Evie assured.

Kendra and Kyle tottered toward the back of the car, him close to her elbow to steady her. For what purpose he wasn't sure since he was the one that had landed in her lap.

“Meet my wife, Estella, and my sister, Katrina, Kat, for short. You gals will never believe this, but this is my long lost niece, Kendra. Well, she called me 'long lost' but I knew where I was all along so I figure she was the lost one. Actually, I don't know if she existed at all before now.” Kyle was grinning at his own joke.

“Well, imagine that!” Estella exclaimed. “How do you figure?”

“Nice to meet both of you.” Kendra responded. “Let's see if we can unravel all of this. What do you know about Randolph Potter?”

Kyle responded, “He was one of the sons of a neighboring sugar cane plantation owner down near Savannah, Georgia. He took a liking to my mother, Sugar, a slave owned by the en-slaver at the cotton plantation next to his father's. That 'liking' turned into a little more and I was the result of their young love. They were forbidden to stay together. The young Randolph was forced to fend for himself in another region when his father no longer had a portion of his land holdings to leave to him. I never knew him growing up, only knew of him.

“Years later my mother was taken advantage of by our en-slaver and had Kat here but didn't survive the birth. One of Randolph's brothers contacted him to see if he still had the wet nurse that had tended to his granddaughter when his daughter-in-law passed away. He brought her and another slave man whom he had grown up with along with her five-year-old son to Savannah to take care of Kat. They stayed three years. That wet nurse thought she was in love with me and seduced me into an act that produced a son. She named him 'Tobias' and took him with her when they left. I never saw the child again.

“I have since met Estella and fell in love with her. When slaves were set free we three headed north and worked in factories. We have most recently been in Chicago but want to go farther west. We only have enough funds to make it to St. Louis now but will work some more then go on.” Kyle finished his story.

“Oh, Kyle!” Kendra confirmed, “That fits in perfectly to all that I know. I am wearing black because I lost my Pappy, Randolph Potter, about seven months ago. He died en-route to California so we only made it to Kansas and decided that was all the farther we cared to walk. We have some nice land there. Father died in the war. I am seventeen years old. I used to hear from Theo, Rand's good friend and servant, how much Rand loved Sugar. I always thought he was talking about the sugar cane from his father's plantation. It was years later that I found out he meant a woman.

“My nanny, 'Lena, cared for me and her son, Tommy, who is the husband of the young lady, Twyla, who is traveling with me. When I was three, Theo, 'Lena and Pappy went to Savanna to take care of a baby that had no mamma. When they came back they had Toby with them. At age six I thought it was great fun to have a real live baby doll to play with. Toby is eleven now and you would be so proud of him. He is very smart and talented and the family resemblance is strong. Everyone assumes he is my little brother.

“So, I would say, yes, we are very much related, Uncle Kyle.” Kendra was teary-eyed.

“One of God's miracles to be sure! That we should quite literally stumble into one another.” Kyle remarked. “Now what?”

“Well, now, if you don't have more pressing plans I want you to come home with me and check out Kansas to see if that is appealing to you at all. Theo and 'Lena are still with me but married to other spouses. I will pay for your passage. You can always pay me back. We have been searching for you anyway because Pappy left you an inheritance. What do you say?” Kendra offered.

“This is unbelievable! How could we refuse an offer like that?” Kyle accepted.

“Oh, Kendra, I have been looking for you. You changed seats. I found the newspaper you were wanting. Who are your new friends?” Charles reached downward and pecked a kiss on her cheek.

“Hi, Charles. You won't believe this but I have discovered this gentleman is my Uncle Kyle. Maybe you have heard us talking about him occasionally. And this is his wife, Estella, and his sister, Katrina. This is my friend Charles Chase. He is with the railroad. Which reminds me. I want to pay for their passage all the way to Kansas with us. Who do I see about that?”

“Why don't you let me take care of that? It is too hard to navigate these train cars. Don't want you falling all over.” Charles offered.

“That's exactly how we met. I fell into her lap trying to get down the aisle. We thought we knew each other. Family resemblance seemed strong for both of us. Isn't that fortunate?” Kyle explained.

“Kendra, would you step up front with me for a bit?” Charles asked.

“Don't go too far, Folks, I'll get back to you.” Kendra smiled.

Charles held her elbow as he helped her back to the front where their seats were. “Are you sure about these people being related, Kendra. They are black and you are white. There are always con artists trying to work these trains.”

“Why, Charles, such a prejudice comment! Look at 'Lena and Tommy and Toby and Honey and Candy. They are all mixed race and no one knows exactly how much of what color they may be. We are all one race. The human race. What difference does the shade of skin make? My white, as far as I know, Grandfather made love to Kyle's mixed race mother. Kyle made love to mixed race 'Lena and produced Toby whom everyone mistakes for my little brother. My parents were both white, again, as far as I know.

“We compared stories and the facts line up. He would have had to do all kinds of research to know the things he knew. I believe he is Kyle and 'Lena and Theo will be able to confirm it. If not, all they got out of me is a train trip to Kansas. Okay?” Kendra huffed.

“Okay, for now. Please, be cautious. You can be so trusting and loving. I wish you would let me take care of you. You must learn to be careful with strangers.” Charles sulked.