Short story: ‘Isaac’

By Elijah Johnson

Illustrated by Yueying Liu

Alina’s scream ran through the ballroom as all but one light went out. A small panic ensued at the party as Edward stood in the corner waiting. His knuckles were white from gripping his mahogany cane. The scream came again, closer this time. Edward didn’t move, but Alina did, fainting on the ornate floor. Immediately, she became the center of attention.  

Edward’s guests flocked to her. She was surrounded by men who suddenly became doctors, demanding their ladies’ fans. Some of the men asked for water or wine. A woman offered a pocket-size glass bottle filled with an unknown liquid.  

Crack! Crack! Edward slammed his cane down, demanding attention. After all, this was his house. Whispers echoed in the room as he made his way to Alina, who laid cold.  

Alina was beautiful. Her dark curls laid sprawled around her, her porcelain skin sparkling. Her cheeks still had some remnants of rouge that made her look alive. Even her lips were still slightly damp.  

Edward bent down placing his gloved hand on her cheek, the other around her waist, careful to lift her up.  

“Finish it, love,” Edward whispered, barely audible. 

Suddenly, as if by magic, Alina flew out of Edwards’s arms into the air. The lights flickered back on. The crowd cheered and laughed as they watched Alina dance on the ceiling. 

“No one can see the wires,” said Clarence. 

Edwards’s knuckles turned white again but a genuine smile remained. Edward wouldn’t let a pushy scientist ruin his perfectly good party. 

“Hello, Clarence. I’m glad you made it to our little party,” Edward said.  

Clarence choked on his gin. “Little? These once-a-month parties get grander each time! You’re the greatest host in all of New York!” 

“I know,” Edward couldn’t help but feel the pride expand his chest. He looked around the grand room, admiring his hard work. The powerful people, the orchestra and tables of food from around the world greeted his eye. “Isn’t it great? And it’s good for business.” 

“Your show?” 

“Don’t be smug. Everyone knows my show,” Edward said.  

“I know. I was hoping to be involved this month,” Clarence said.  

“I already gave test subjects.” Edward turned to look the scientist in the eye. “I gave you Fe free of charge. You know she came from a southern tribe that I —” said Edward. 

“And I am grateful, truly,” Clarence leaned in closer. “What about a new exhibition? Dark people from the Congo.” 

This piqued Edward’s interest. People from the Congo were unheard of in America. It was rumored that they lived in tribes, had multiple wives and ate their enemies. It would be a perfect show. He could raise ticket prices. He could buy a new wardrobe with the money and still buy Alina a new necklace. Edward loved the idea, but a faint memory feared the idea. Clarence was known to lie about where the dark people came from. Usually, it was from the Southern states. Not the Dark Continent.  

“Are you sure they are from the Congo?” Edward whispered, not wanting the lesser ringleaders to hear the conversation.  

“Yes, but —” Clarence said.  

“Edward!” Alina stumbled toward the men, a grin plastered on her face. “Did you see how wonderful I was, Edward? Did you see —” Alina faltered off. The alcohol was contaminating her speech. Edward laughed, forcing the strange, fearful memory away, grateful for his porcelain lover. 

“I can see why they call you a witch,” Clarence said.  

“Only the best one,” Alina said. “I’ll see you in bed, Edward.”  

“You’re a lucky man,” Clarence said. “About the dark people —” 

“I love it.” The strange fear returned, but Edward kept on. Clarence made him money, and he liked that. “Clarence, do come by tomorrow morning at 11. We’ll talk then. I have things to take care of and do.” Edward winked at Alina from across the room. 

With Alina on his arm, Edward left Clarence to a sea of happy drunks who were still singing into the night long after he left. 

*****

It turned out that Edward had to pay for the Congo people in full. Clarence had no money left, he’d spent it all on Fe. Fe had an interesting uterus. It was causing her a large amount of pain, so Clarence removed it. Fe didn’t make it. She was only 17. Clarence kept the uterus; it had large growths he didn’t quite understand. That was where Clarence’s money went.  

Edward knew he should stop making deals with Clarence at his own parties; he’s too loose, too happy, and not stern enough to be a proper negotiator. 

“The ship should unload any minute!” Clarence said, standing on the dock.  

Edward nodded, keeping his eyes from the sun.  

“Here they are!” Clarence’s excitement could be heard by the children in school buildings. “The Congo people!” 

“Excellent,” Edward said. “Bring them to the ring after your examination. I need to go back, practice starts soon.” 

***** 

“I said higher!” Edward yelled from the ground.  

One of his smallest freaks in the show was practicing a new tightrope act. Edward had spent an extra three dollars on a rope with more give so that he could jump higher, but it wasn’t working.  

“I should have Clarence pull out your teeth!” Edward yelled. “I hear there are some new studies that show that you dark people are built funny.” 

“Edward!” Clarence paraded his way into the area. “That’s not true. It’s the toes. Their toes are lined up differently than ours.” 

“He’ll rip your toes off then!” Edward shouted, but the freak already left the circle. The others tilted their heads down in fear. Edward sighed, knowing he would punish him later.  

He wouldn’t work them too hard, but in order to live the way he wants, his freaks had to be able to capture a white person’s interest, not disgust. Edward walked over to where they were holding the dark people, chained together, and examined each one.  

“And here’s the last one. The one I want to keep for breeding experiments. His broad shoulders and chest are stronger than the average, and in order —” Clarence kept talking, but Edward had stopped listening. His fear had returned, now with a vengeance.  

He knew this boy. His stature, the soft brown eyes and the scar down his cheek. 

Isaac. Ike. Big Ike.  

The farm, Edward’s true parents, the gang of cousins and the incident. The memories Edward kept hidden came flooding back as Isaac wouldn’t let him out of his gaze. 

It happened when he was five. Edward didn’t mean to, he just lost his temper when Isaac grabbed his toy. So Edward threw a knife, just slicing Isaac’s cheek open. Not deep enough to kill; just deep enough to make it a permanent mark, an identifier, something Isaac would always remember. Edward threw the knife, Isaac bled, a white family saw the incident. They thought Isaac had attacked Edward, who they thought was white. And so they took Edward away. Safe.

Edward is white-passing. His great grandfather was black. That day, he had been visiting his dad’s side. The side with the cousins he loved. Cousins like Isaac. Edward remembered the incident the way skin remembered scars. What if the white people had never taken him away? Then he never would have known this luxurious life. The parties, the women, the drugs and access to the smartest minds in the world. And yet … 

Isaac’s stature, the soft brown eyes, the scar down his cheek … He did love his family, didn’t he? Yes, and there had been times when he had missed them. Edward wondered if his parents knew he was okay. He would tell them that he’d made it past his stutter and was now one of the richest men in New York. 

“Edward?” Clarence said. “What do you think of that deal?”  

“Huh?” Edward said. 

“You get to keep seven of the dark people. I keep this one for breeding.” 

“No,” Edward snapped. “I want him.”  

Isaac’s eyes met Edward’s carefully. 

“I have a conference in a week’s time,” Clarence said. “I need to start an experiment now.” 

“I bought them, and I said no,” Edward said. 

“Edward, I had your word —” 

“You also have my money, right? I —”

“No! You said I could have one of these pathetic dark people. I’m going to take one. I’m going to breed the perfect human, Edward,” Clarence was pacing, running his hands through his hair. “I need to do my test. I need to see if they feel pain, their sight, I need to look at the genitalia.” Clarence paused to control his breathing. “Do you know how rich I could make you if you just let me have this thing?” 

Edward hesitated. “How rich?”  

The smile came back to Edward’s face for a quick second, but he could feel the soft brown gaze of his cousin drilling into the side of his face. The gaze Isaac used to give him to start conversations where words weren’t allowed, he remembered.

What else do you remember? When we fished together? When I taught you to tie your shoes? When I sat with you, when others were angry you couldn’t properly speak? When we hid from our drunk fathers? 

Edward forced himself to look at Isaac, the way the butcher would examine his goods, trying to avoid his stare. It was a hopeless task. Isaac had the family’s eyes, doe-like. Edward remembered being jealous of that cinnamon hue, wishing it would replace his own, which were hazel. 

“Eddy, please …” 

It was barely audible, but it was Isaac. His Southern accent rolled like molasses. Isaac could calm the wind if it meant saving Edward. But now the shoe was on the other foot. “Free me so we can go home.” 

Edward paused. Home? Edward was home. He had everything he dreamed for. A show that influenced the public, status and a girl; Alina, his porcelain doll, who he planned to marry.  

He picked out the ring last night. It was a 1.5-karat sapphire with a gold band. The sapphire reminded him of her eyes, which gave him peace in times like this. Alina knew nothing of his past. He had to keep it that way. Protecting Isaac would cost him everything. His money, his girl, his life. They would never let Edward live as he has. Two drops of dark people’s blood could make you a full one in the white man’s mind. 

“I’m sorry,” Edward whispered and walked back to Clarence.  

“Our agreement still stands.” Clarence had gained confidence. 

“A few changes,” Edward said cautiously, feeling his voice shake and suppressing it. “I want to overlook the experiments, so when you aren’t experimenting he can perform in my show. That way, we can really see what these dark people have to offer.”  

Clarence’s brow furrowed but smiled. “Can the experiment start today?” 

“And the show starts tomorrow,” Edward said.  

Clarence relaxed. The two men shook hands, and the new deal was sealed.