The End of an Era

Someone was knocking at the door. It was Bobby Lee. I hung out in the doorway with him for a moment until I heard the crackling of the gravel as an old Ford Taurus pulled into the driveway. I felt a smile creep on my face. It was old Farmer Ambrose, probably the only black farmer in the county.
Ambrose slowly stepped out of his vehicle. His overalls were dirty with the red clay of a hard day's work and sweat patches dotted his grey tee shirt. A younger man got out on the passenger side.
His outfit looked more like one from the city than the county. He had a rigid scowl on his black face. In his arms, he held a puppy of unclear breed, engulfed in its own rolls of loose skin.
I shook the hand of sandpaper and greeted them both.
"Its great to see you. How you been keeping?"
"Ah well you know how the summer is. Thats my nephew, Terrell."
Before I could offer salutations, I heard the puttering of the golf cart and saw Ambrose take off his straw hat and bow his head.
"Hello, Mr. Sutherland", Ambrose said.
Father's eyes seemed clearer and bluer than they had the past few days. His sallow features seemed have become rosier and his stooping shoulders seemed to have straightened so now, his form looked almost regal again as he perched above the steering wheel.
"Hello. I trust the crops are well."
Father smiled and then gazed at the house.
"Mr. Sutherland, this is my nephew, Terrell", said Ambrose, motioning to the stranger.
Father turned, his mind still clouded in a dream.
"Terrell? You know my son's middle name is Terrell."
"Is that so Mr. Sutherland? Well, Terrell is a fine name. A fine name. My nephew is looking to get rid of this puppy he got here. You wouldn't want another dog here would you?"
"Terrell was the name of my great great grandfather. He was a congressman. He owned many slaves."
I saw Terrell's eyes flash instinctively and then look down. My father continued.
"All the slaves took his name. Thats where your nephew's name comes from; my great great grandfather. Is that a family name, boy?"
Terrell took a moment to realize that the question was directed at him. He looked up and spoke for the first time.
"I aint a 'boy', old man."
Ambrose straightened and turned devastated eyes toward me and then toward Terrell.
"Aw we jus talkin, Terrell.
Bobby Lee had sensed the tension and had walked closer to us. Bobby Lee had always been a course man. But he had an unexplained loyalty to my father.
Father seemed to be the only person unaware of the delicate situation. He continued to talk as if nothing had happened.
"Terrell was a great man. He created a fast growing breed of marsh grass that took the sting out of the emancipation."
I looked over at Terrell, fearing a reaction. But he just stood, with a fiery look in his eyes. He stuck a cigarette between his lips and lit it without breaking eye contact with my father.
Father seemed to just now remember the question about the dog.
"Oh John, I don't think we need another dog."
Bobby Lee stepped closer to my father and stared sideways at Terrell. He stretched out his red hand and pointed.
"You put that out, boy. Mr. Sutherland's gunna git sick offa that smoke."
Terrell's nostrils flared and he set the puppy on the ground. He took another drag and spit. With a high pitched tone, like a crow's call, Bobby Lee spoke again.
"Go on now, boy. What'd I just say? Put it out."
Terrell did nothing. There was a small pause, before my father continued, looking at the puppy.
"Thats a pit-bull I think. I had one once in the war, but it was tan; not as dark as this one."
Bobby Lee added on, "Yea, we ain't interested in the dark ones."
I didn't dare take my eyes off Terrell, who dropped his cigarette. He put both hands on the hood of the car and leaned close to Bobby Lee.
"What you say, hillbilly?"
Ambrose put a hand on Terrell's arm, but he shrugged it off with anger.
"You better watch your back, country bumpkin."
Father pressed the gas a bit on the golf cart so the motor made an idling sound. He looked over at Ambrose with almost an amused expression on his face.
"I think, we have too many dogs here now. I'm not sure we can have another one. You can take your dog someplace else, I'm sure."
The Taurus pulled away soon after.