Happy Land

That afternoon, Nikki goes back to the library alone. She begins by searching on the computer for anything about Happy Land, but again finds very little. The results keep mentioning a record by Sadie Smathers Patton about the kingdom, but Nikki can’t find a copy of it online.

Bryan comes over to her and offers his help. He gives her a book about flowers, suggesting she learn about Mother Rita’s garden. He seems disappointed when Nikki tells him that she already has an app on her phone for it, so she quickly thanks him and accepts the book anyway. He then talks to her about birds. The idea that Mother Rita is talking about Nikki’s mother—and her birdwatching hobby—makes Nikki hopeful that there is still a chance to reconcile their relationship.

Nikki asks Bryan about the kingdom. He tells her that she can find more information in local history records. He gives her a copy of Patton’s work but tells her that she can only read it in the library, as it is reference material. He then suggests that she begin looking at records from enslaved peoples, known as “schedules,” as they would give her the origins of those who started the kingdom.

When Nikki asks Bryan if he believes that the kingdom truly existed, he admits that it seems farfetched. However, he points out that there are several Black “intentional communities” throughout history, as formerly enslaved people often created their own societies after gaining freedom. He suggests that she stay and discover the story herself, despite her protests that she plans to leave on Sunday.

After Bryan is gone, Nikki begins looking at records. She is overwhelmed by the sheer “trauma” of the lists of formerly enslaved persons. They do not record any names, instead listing them as property of their enslavers. They also frequently label enslaved people as “deaf & dumb, blind, insane, or idiotic” (83). Eventually, using the name “Bobo,” she finds a listing for a father and daughter she believes may be her ancestors.

Nikki also begins reading Patton’s pamphlet. She notes how Patton writes that the people who started the Kingdom of the Happy Land came from Mississippi, even though Mother Rita claims they came from South Carolina. When she sees how far the people walked, into the mountains of North Carolina, Nikki notes that she, too, would walk as far as she needed to protect her daughter.

That night at dinner, Nikki tells Mother Rita what she discovered. She found the two Montgomery boys in the records, as they were transferred as property after their enslaver died in 1864. She also shows Mother Rita the records for Luella, recorded in the Bobo estate. In the 1870s, however, the records become unclear, as Nikki guesses that census takers did not go into the kingdom.

Nikki then asks why Patton claims the founders of the kingdom were from Mississippi. Mother Rita scoffs, noting that Patton was a white historian and her work is “fiction,” even though some of what she recorded was correct.

Mother Rita seems excited by the information Nikki has found. She praises her work, which makes Nikki proud. Mother Rita insists that she needs to continue to find Luella. When Nikki asks why Mother Rita is so insistent on this being done now, she confesses her reason for wanting Nikki there: She hasn’t legally owned the land she is living on in over 20 years. Mother Rita is hoping that, as a real estate agent, Nikki can help her “get the land back” because “[i]t’s what Luella wanted for” them (88).

In the middle of the night, Mother Rita wakes up Nikki to tell her that she is sick. She called her doctor at home, but he didn’t answer. Nikki insists on driving her to the emergency room.

After a few hours, Mother Rita is finally called back to see the doctor. She tells Nikki to go home, insisting that she will be fine. Nikki hesitates, then decides that she will not change Mother Rita’s mind.

At just after nine o’clock in the morning, Nikki’s phone rings, waking her up. Mother Rita tells her that she has been admitted to the hospital and will stay for a few days. She tells Nikki with “brutal clarity” (95) that she has cancer. She was told in January that she only has a few months to live. Nikki is devastated by the news, but Mother Rita assures her that she is fine. She asks Nikki to go to the market with flowers to sell and to bring her dinner that evening.

Nikki is unsure what to do with the news. She knows she should call Mama but can’t bring herself to do so. Instead, she calls her daughter, Shawnie. Shawnie has just graduated from high school and is working part-time at a bakery. She asks Nikki if everything is okay. Instead of telling her about Mother Rita, Nikki instead tells her that things are fine and that she just wanted to check in. She knows she should have a conversation with Shawnie—about her future, about Mother Rita, and more—but isn’t even sure where to begin.

After several weeks without news of William, Luella decides to go to the mines and see what happened. She is stopped at the community gate by William’s brother, Robert. He admits to Luella that William was injured in the mines. After he got hit on the head, he went blind. He is trying to recover and insists that he does not want to see anyone.

Over the next few weeks, the council decides to elect a new king. Desperate to help, Luella asks Robert to help her look over the kingdom’s ledgers. They see that William was trying to save enough money to buy land.

On the night that the council is set to elect a new king, Robert comes to visit Luella. She has packed all her belongings and is prepared to move back in with Papa so that the new king and queen can take her large home. Robert tells Luella that he is planning to suggest himself as the new king. If he is chosen, he wants Luella to stay in the home, as he will not force her to go anywhere.

Luella and her friend, Jola Casey, sneak into the trees surrounding the council to listen to their meeting. When the council starts discussing the next king, Robert immediately states his case. He insists that they need to continue William’s work to become “free” again, as they were in Africa. Luella is shocked by Robert’s commanding tone, as he is typically the quieter, less passionate of the two brothers. However, based on his speech and the way the council listens, she knows he will be the next king.

Luella and the other women go into town for supplies. On the way, one of them complains about pain in her knee. When Luella is unable to find a cream for it in the market, she proposes to the women that they create their own liniment to sell to travelers and the town for their ailments. They all readily agree, as the things they know about nature and healing will help.

That evening, Luella proposes the idea to Robert. He questions whether the women can handle it alone, even the selling part, as the men are extremely busy. When Luella assures him that they can, she is shocked when Robert readily agrees to the idea. He tells her that they can build her a place to work out of, then even suggests that they start working on a schoolhouse. Seeing Luella’s surprise, Robert assures her that he loves his brother but that he is different from him.

Luella chooses Jola and two women named Rachel and Eliza to help her with the liniment. Despite Luella’s hope to use new ingredients, the four women decide to use herbs that have been proven to help, yet sell it for cheaper than other liniments. They agree to call it “Happy Land Liniment” (114).

As the women prepare the liniment, Rachel tells Luella that the women of the community still respect her and think of her as queen. Luella is shocked, arguing that she is only temporarily continuing to live in the palace until Robert finds a wife. Both Eliza and Rachel assure her that the women still seek her guidance and advice. Luella decides to call a meeting of all the women that very evening, despite the fear that the council may see it as a division within the kingdom.

To Luella’s surprise, all the women gather that night before dinner. She is unsure how to address them and uncomfortable with the pressure it puts on her. However, she tells them the truth, that she didn’t choose to be queen but will do her best to make sure their voices are heard. After a pause, women start requesting things like a building to work in, fabric for dresses, and an opinion on what seeds are purchased each year for their crops. Their cries turn to frustration, and they all say that Luella should be on the council to share their concerns. They run out of time before Luella can even properly respond.

That night, Luella decides to talk to Robert about everything. To her surprise, he comes to her first. He bought her a mule by trading away some of his tools. He asks her to name it, and she decides on “Delight.” She tells Robert that he should not have sold his tools, but Robert insists that he just wanted to see her happy. Luella then invites Robert to stay for dinner so she can tell him about the meeting.

As he finishes eating, Luella tells Robert that she met with the women in the community. He initially seems bothered, thinking that Luella is trying to cause trouble within the kingdom. She points out that the women have very little say in what happens. She decides to tell him about their primary request: They want a seat on the council. She asks Robert to speak with the council about two seats, one for her and one for another woman. To her surprise, Robert agrees, making her realize how different he truly is from William.

Nikki goes to visit the neighbor, Maddie, who sells flowers with Mother Rita each week. Maddie invites her in for tea, and the two talk about their plans to cut flowers then go to the market. When Maddie mentions Nikki’s mother, Nikki asks if Maddie knows what happened between her and Mother Rita. Maddie tells her that it upset Mother Rita when Mama left to move to DC, then they had a fight a few years later over the land. She doesn’t explain any further.

The next day, on Wednesday, Nikki goes back to Maddie’s early in the morning. They spend the morning with her grandson, Stephen, cutting and arranging flowers for the market. The entire time, Nikki wishes that her daughter and Mama were there to work with her. She also thinks of Luella, walking through the hills around them.

Soon after her talk with Robert, Luella and another woman get seats on the council. The women begin to openly respect and confide in Luella, bringing her requests for the council. She brings them all to the men, noting how things were clearly “changing” within the kingdom.

After the house for the women to work in is completed, Luella and the three other women gather to bottle their liniment. Eliza asks Luella’s opinion on it, so Luella suggests adding ginseng as well as sassafras, which will make it smell much better than other liniments. The women excitedly agree.

Each night, Luella invites Robert to eat dinner with her. They spend most of the time talking about the community. One night, about a year after William’s disappearance, Robert is quiet and distant. While Luella continues to talk about business, he comes up behind her and stands close to her. He confesses his love for her, asking her to be his queen. Luella initially resists, saying that she can’t abandon William and that she can’t bear children. Robert kisses her in response, and she kisses him back.

Thinking about his proposal, Luella realizes that she has always felt something for Robert. While she loved parts of William, she loved everything about Robert, like his kindness, their conversations each night, and his ambition.

Luella decides to tell Papa about the proposal and ask for his advice. To her surprise, her father promises to support her in whatever she does. He tells her that she will always have a place to stay in his home if she needs it.

A while later, before Luella can give Robert an answer, he shows up at her house with all his things. She unpacks them, then joins him in bed. He asks if they should get a minister, but Luella admits that her marriage to William would probably stop them from getting a proper marriage. Instead, Robert says his own vows, promising that he will give himself to her and protect her until he dies. She repeats his words, then the two have sex.

At the market, Nikki and Maddie sit behind the table they have set up. Luella notes how nice it looks, then takes pictures to send to Shawnie.

While they wait for customers, Nikki again brings up Mother Rita and the land. Maddie tries to dodge her questions, but Nikki gets angry and realizes that she is raising her voice. Maddie tells her that she needs to demand answers from Mother Rita: She is getting evicted from her land.

Later that evening, Nikki goes to the hospital. Mother Rita is waiting for her expectantly and immediately tells her what is going on. Since Black people in the South did not trust the legal system, they very rarely had wills. Instead, their land and estates passed down to their heirs. Now, however, the Thomas family is laying claim to Mother Rita’s land. They gave her an official eviction notice in April.

Nikki is shocked by the news. She wonders whether there is anything she can do to help. She tells Mother Rita that she isn’t a lawyer, but Mother Rita insists that Nikki has to find a way to help her. Nikki promises to come back for a court date Mother Rita has in two weeks.