The Sixth Generation

Twenty years had passed in the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana. In that period of time many people had forgotten about the ruler of Arabia coming to America and marrying one of the descendants of the Bowregard Le Faye family.

Because of the political unrest in Arabia, the ruler, Abu Manobo, had abdicated the throne and taken pen in hand in his new home in America to write a book about the notorious Black Sheik. The Black Sheik was a man hungry for power, and he used whatever means available to him to get what he wanted. He was shot when he was trying to seize an oasis from his own brother, and his son, set on vengeance, followed the person responsible for the shooting to America. This person happened to be Basilah Le Faye, the wife of James Le Faye and the niece of the Black Sheik.

When Jo-Jo saw that the Black Sheik's son was about to kill her sister-in-law, she thought only of saving her life and fired a gun that killed him. Vengeance was again plotted, this time against Jo-Jo. When she visited Arabia, red paint was thrown all over her as a warning. Abu took Jo-Jo and his children back to America and abdicated. The two fell in love, and later Abu and Jo-Jo were married.

When the sale of Abu's book went international, the situation became so dangerous for him and his family that the FBI advised them to leave the country. Abu, upon sharing this information with Jo-Jo, found she was terribly unhappy about leaving; he told her not to worry, for he had a plan.

Jo-Jo had no idea that Abu would return to Arabia, giving himself up to the Black Sheik's followers. They put him before a firing squad. When Jo-Jo discovered he had not gone to New Orleans on business as he had said but had returned to Arabia, it was too late. She grieved for the loss of her husband and felt terrible guilt because she felt she was to blame for him sacrificing himself to spare her and the children.

A few months later, Jo-Jo received a call from a man named Bruce Cawley in England. He invited her to come and manage his horse farm. When she took the children to England she found that Bruce Cawley was the half-brother of Abu; his name was really Abdul. Jo-Jo decided to stay in England and give Amir and Emira the secrecy needed for their protection. Abdul offered to help her raise the children with the idea that one day Amir might desire to seek the throne in Arabia.

After a period of several months Jo-Jo and Abdul were married. A year later they became parents of a baby boy they named Joseph. Amir and Emira were thrilled with the new baby, and their family was now complete. Jo-Jo never returned to America. Abdul had told her when she first came that she would come to love England, and he had been right.

James and Basilah had no further problems from the followers of the Black Sheik. It was obvious over the months that followed that those in power were losing their grip on Arabia. The book that Abu had written had shown people much about the Black Sheik. The oil deals that James and Abu had worked out between Arabia and the United States had progressed in a way beneficial for both countries.

James kept in contact with Jo-Jo but was always careful to use her assumed name. When Jo-Jo married Abdul, he and Basilah and the boys attended the wedding.

As the years went by, James continued his work in the shipyards, and Basilah continued to raise the Arabians, only on a smaller scale. After Jo-Jo left, King asked if he might have his job back once again. He said he had missed working with the horses. Once in a while he would bring Orvita along when he had a small errand to do. Clem always felt some pity toward Orvita due to the fact she had no friends. Boudreau had never cared for her, and those feelings did not improve as the years went by.

Both boys graduated from high school and went off to college. Boudreau enjoyed his studies and never had the time or inclination for any serious relationships.

Part #2

During the year that Boudreau graduated from college, James had a massive heart attack and died suddenly. There was not even time to get him to the hospital. Basilah was beside herself with grief. Boudreau had been living in Atlanta since his graduation and working at Bell South Corporation. When Boudreau flew home for the funeral, he told his mother that he would set things in motion to come home. "You need help with the Arabians," he told her. "Later you can make a decision as to what you want to do."

Basilah tried to talk him out of returning home, but he insisted he would be back within a few days. After their conversation, Basilah sighed and mumbled to herself, "He shouldn't be doing this, but I am so glad he is coming."

Three days later Boudreau drove to Lake Charles with all his belongings in a U-Haul truck. He walked into the house to find Basilah cleaning his room. As he walked into the room, Basilah turned and saw him and rushed into his arms. Boudreau said, "Mom, I am so sorry about this happening. I know the funeral has been rough for you to handle. Had Dad experienced problems with his heart prior to this?"

Basilah responded, "To my knowledge your father had no medical problems."

Boudreau told her he would finish cleaning out the room. Basilah knew how particular Boudreau was with his belongings, so she said, "Tell me what you need and I will get it for you."

Boudreau said, "I need for you to sit here in this rocking chair and tell me all about Dad's last few days. I wanted to do that when I came home for the funeral, but there just wasn't time."

Basilah loved her son, for he always sensed what she needed. Today she needed to talk with someone about James. She gave Boudreau a hug and said, "I will be happy to tell you about your father. The last week had been a busy week for James. He started it out by calling Jo-Jo and checking on the family. Jo-Jo told him that Amir had begun thinking of going to Arabia to claim the throne. Abdul had put out some feelers, and he felt it was time the people knew that Abu's son was alive. James was thrilled to hear that Amir was thinking about assuming the throne. Jo-Jo said that Emira had another year left in college, and she was engaged to a young man she had met at school. She and Abdul felt the young man was wonderful and would make a good husband for Emira. Joseph was in eighth grade at school. He wants to become a writer like his father."

James had seen to it that the outer buildings of the plantation had been freshly painted and had told Basilah he thought it was time they cut back on some of their work. He had told her they could manage without her having the horse farm if she wanted to quit. Basilah said, "Boudreau, I told him I wanted to think about it for a while first before I made the decision. He smiled at me. You remember how he had such a knowing smile? I could always tell he could read me like a book. Your father was so good to me, and I have loved him since the first time I saw him. Remember us telling you about when he came to Arabia to visit? Abu had arranged for me to be at my uncle's oasis. I knew the moment I looked at James that I would love him for life. He was so handsome and charming. Did I ever tell you that story?"

Boudreau smiled, for his mother had told him that story many times. He could see she needed to tell it once more. Somehow sharing these stories brought back a small part of James. She continued by saying, "I can still see James when the gun battle began. You see, the Black Sheik had ridden into Uncle Hadji's oasis, shooting up everything and determined as ever to seize the oasis. I was angry with the Black Sheik, for he was always trying to take from others. I grabbed a gun, ran out of the tent, flopped down between some of the men, and began firing. It was my gun that killed the Black Sheik. Your father was so worried about me. When I saw the fear in his eyes for me, it melted my heart."

Boudreau said, "Mother, you and Dad were very fortunate to have such a wonderful relationship."

Basilah began to cry. "How will I ever live without him?"

Boudreau answered, "I know it will be difficult, but you won't have to face this all alone. I will be staying here with you. Together we will face life without Dad. In a few days when you feel better, we will talk about the Arabians and what you want to do with them."

Part #3

Boudreau settled into a routine of working with his mother and the Arabians. He also took on the task of landscaping and replanting many of the flowers around the outside of their home. Boudreau was a man who loved beauty and order, and nothing could make him feel better than watching each flower bed come into bloom.

Basilah had told him, "Boudreau, you don't need to do all that. We can hire a landscaper."

He laughed and replied, "Would you take away something that I love so much?"

Of course Basilah apologized and said, "I don't want to take anything away from you, but I hate to think of you doing all this work."

He gave her a hug and said, "Mother, this is not work for me; it is pure pleasure, and I love to see the end results."

Clem graduated from college the following year and came home while he was seeking employment. He announced that he was engaged, and Boudreau asked, "To whom?"

Clem answered, "I am engaged to Orvita; surely you knew that we were seeing each other." Orvita had pretty much followed Clem to college, for she had determined years before she was going to marry him. Because Clem knew his mother and Boudreau's feelings toward Orvita, he didn't speak much about their relationship. They did most of their dating in college. Orvita was a year younger than Clem, so she had one more year left before she graduated.

Basilah was so disappointed to hear that one of her sons would be marrying such a spoiled young woman. The years had not improved that girl even a fraction. Basilah thought, What can I say to him that would change his mind? He has always felt something for that girl. This was one time she was glad that James was not here to hear the news about Clem and Orvita.

Clem walked over to his mother, gave her a big hug, and asked, "Well, Mother, what are your thoughts about me getting married?"

Basilah turned toward Clem and asked, "Have you set a date yet for the wedding?"

Clem said, "I don't believe we will marry before Orvita gets out of college."

Basilah said, "I think that is very wise, Clem. That will give you time to find a position. It will also give you time to find a home for the two of you."

Boudreau knew his mother well enough to see she was saddened at the news, although she would handle it gracefully as she did everything else. After Clem announced he was going to run into Lake Charles for a few things, Boudreau asked if he could go along. The two left within the hour.

As the car sped along the highway, Boudreau asked, "Clem, are you absolutely sure you want to marry Orvita? Dating her is one thing, but marrying her is an entirely different matter. She is one of the most spoiled and pampered young women I have ever known. What is that going to be like to live with all the time? I know one thing—I could never do it. How do you think you will always be able to grant her every little wish?"

Clem turned toward Boudreau angrily and said, "I knew you would react this way. What gives you the authority to tell me whom I should or should not marry?"

Boudreau could see that Clem was becoming livid. He apologized immediately, patted his brother on the shoulder, and said, "Clem, I am terribly sorry to have offended you. I won't mention it again. After all, it is your life, and you have the right to make the decision yourself without me giving my opinion. I promise you I won't make that mistake again."

Clem grabbed Boudreau's shoulder and said, "Look, let's just forget it. I think we are very different when it comes to making decisions. I have always liked Orvita. You never have liked her, so neither of us should be surprised. We may not agree on the decision, but we can work through it and still love each other."

Boudreau answered, "Of course you are right about that, Clem. You're always going to be my brother, and I will always love you. Nothing will change that."

Part #4

After Boudreau and Clem returned from Lake Charles, Clem took a shower, changed clothes, and left to pick up Orvita. They were going out for dinner and a movie.

Boudreau and Basilah had their dinner out on the porch where there was a nice breeze blowing. The cook had brought out chicken salad served in half a cantaloupe. She had prepared some cinnamon corn muffins, and there was a pitcher of iced tea with mint leaves.

Basilah looked at Boudreau and asked, "Have I ever told you how much I enjoy eating with you?"

Boudreau laughed. "I do believe you may have told me that a time or two. I am not sure you ever told me why, though."

Basilah said, "I enjoy eating with you because you have such appreciation for good food. You are a true southern gentleman, and you are always gracious to me, your mother."

Boudreau laughed again. "Mother, why do I feel there is a question coming from you?"

She said, "Ah, you know me too well."

"What do you want to know?" he asked.

She smiled and said, "Boudreau, I have a feeling you went to Lake Charles with Clem to ask him why he had proposed to that spoiled little filly down the road. Am I right?"

Boudreau sighed and answered, "I am afraid you are right, Mother, and I was politely, but firmly, put in my place."

Basilah picked up her glass of iced tea; took a sip, and said, "I take it Clem didn't feel he owed you an explanation for proposing marriage to Orvita?"

"Wow, Mother, you are on a roll. That was pretty much what he told me."

Basilah looked at her older son and said, "Boudreau, I feel about Orvita the same way you do. I think she will make his life a living hell, but I am going to do everything I can to accept her, for I do not want to lose my second son. I have a feeling she would like nothing better than to separate Clem from his stuffy family."

Boudreau finished up his dinner and said, "Well, there's one thing in our favor. If they are not going to be married until she finishes college, we have another year to hope he comes to his senses."

Basilah said, "I don't believe you should hold your breath."

Clem found a good position in a brokerage in Lake Charles and began looking for a home. King Daddy had invited the couple to stay with him in his huge home; he said it was a shame for one person to be rambling around in that large home all by himself.

Something told Clem that would not be a good idea, and he answered, "King Daddy, I think that is one generous offer, but you remember how it is with young couples?"

King Daddy laughed. "Say no more, my boy. I do understand."

In the month of January, Basilah took the car into Lake Charles to do some shopping and to get her hair done. While she was in the beauty salon, a freak storm came up and left some patches of ice on the highway. As she was returning home, she hit a patch of ice and lost control of the car, which ran into an oncoming truck. Basilah was killed instantly. When Boudreau was called at home, he thought someone was playing a terrible joke on him and said, "I don't know who you think you are, but this is not funny."

The male voice answered, "I hope I wasn't coming across as trying to sound funny. This is the highway patrol, and this is anything but funny. Is Basilah Le Faye related to you?"

Boudreau said, "Yes, she is my mother."

The officer said, "I am sorry to inform you that your mother has been killed."

Part #5

It took Boudreau many months to stop grieving over the loss of his mother. He knew he had been privileged to enjoy such a special relationship with her. Basilah often laughed at how similar she and her son were. Boudreau could start a sentence and Basilah finish it.

Basilah had loved both her sons, but she was closest to Boudreau. Clem had left home to go to college and had attended summer school, so he wasn't home much. He was also involved in a relationship with Orvita that occupied much of his time and thought. Boudreau, on the other hand, had never seen a young woman who could turn his head. He loved his life at the plantation and was happy with things as they were. That was true until Basilah was killed suddenly.