Ophie's Ghosts

Twelve-year-old Ophelia “Ophie” Harrison wakes up to her father, Robert, or “Daddy,” calling her. He insists that she get her mother, Etta, or “Mama,” and leave the house immediately because something bad has happened. Ophie and Mama grab their can of money and race into the dark Georgia woods, hiding in the burrow where they’ve hidden before. Ophie curls against Mama for comfort, terrified of the approaching white men. She remembers all the stories she has heard of all the terrible things that white men have done to Black people like her. Finally, Daddy appears at the edge of the burrow and tells her that she is safe. He then disappears in a glow of sparks, and Ophie finally drifts off to sleep.

When Ophie wakes up, she finds Mama talking to the pastor and his wife. Ophie is horrified to discover that her house has been burned to the ground. The pastor then reveals that Daddy died on his way home from work yesterday afternoon; white men attacked him after he voted in town. A confused Ophie insists that she saw Daddy last night, but no one listens.

On the way to the pastor’s house, Ophie replays the events of the night before.