Nubian Barnstormer, Volume 1: Persistence ~ Book Excerpt

Mama and Ava sit at the kitchen table. “Your father won’t like all this rush, but you’re going to meet the publisher of the Chicago Advocate! I hope Mrs. Chappelle can watch the boys,” Mama says as she makes a list of things to do.

“I hope we have time to explore the city,” Ava says.

“Since neither of us has been there before, it’s probably best we only venture…” Mama begins. They hear the screen door bang shut. Papa marches into the room. Andrew follows, his head bowed.

Papa slams the tickets down on the table in front of Ava. “You buy these without talking to me?!”

She stammers, “I have to meet Mr. Meade before…”

Mama leaps up. “We must…”

“Nobody’s going nowhere! Young lady, take these down to the station and get your money back! Now!”

She rises from her chair. “But Mr. Meade says…”

“Your brother already told me. This stops now!”

“I paid for these tickets with my own money!”

His face is set in stone. “If you go, you go alone.”

“We can’t have her go to Chicago by herself!”

“I mean it, Mattie! If she’s grown enough to ignore my wishes, she will be going by herself!”

He pins Ava with a glare. “And when you get back after this latest fiasco, find somewhere else to live. You will not be allowed in this house.”

Mama and Andrew both gasp. Papa and Ava glower at each other as he walks out.

“I’ve never seen him so angry,” Andrew whispers.

Mama hugs her. “I’ll talk to him.”

As realization hits, Ava pulls away. “He’s made up his mind…and so have I. Time to make my own way in the world.”