Page 107 of Good Dirt

Ebby

February 2021

I n all these years, Ebony Freeman has never held a social media account. No Facebook, no Twitter, no Instagram, no TikTok. You name it, she’s never even considered it. And why, ever? Why would Ebby, after the impact that photographs have had on her life, even think of drawing more attention to herself than necessary?

She can think of only one reason to do it now. The museum that acquired Old Mo for its collection is reopening its doors to the public for the second time since the start of the pandemic. They can’t be sure how many weeks or months they’ll have, this time around. But the new gallery is ready and the jar is about to go public.

Ebby rubs a dab of oil between her palms and smooths it against her hairline. She likes the dark-brown, close-cut hair with emerald tips. She is satisfied with her decision to go back to green. The word green is related to the Old English word growan . To grow. Ebby puts on a bit of lip gloss now. Good. She walks over to a houseplant near the window, catches the sun on her face, and holds her smartphone high. When she is done, she opens her first social media account ever.

Ebby’s first post includes a series of snapshots from the preparation of the exhibit. The removal of the jar from a crate. The cleaning and mounting of the piece. The museum’s catalog photo of Old Mo. She types in a list of hashtags like #oldmo #thejar #jarstories #familystories #blackhistory #americanhistory #craftsmanship #enslaved #identity #legacy, and adds a link in her bio to a page on the museum’s website. Her caption reads: This stoneware jar is 174 years old. It is part of my family’s history. And it is part of the story of the United States. This is why we want to share it with you.

She hears Robert beeping the car horn. Time to leave. Sometimes, it’s still hard to believe that he is here with her in Connecticut. He has moved into her condo with a very large suitcase and both his laptops. He knows he might not be able to travel back to France when he wants, or even across the U.S. to his mother’s place. He’s learned this from Ebby’s own experience in France during the first virus-related confinement national . But Robert, like Ebby, is lucky. He still has his work. Translations are home office–friendly.

After visiting France that second time and being stuck there with Robert during the first lockdown, Ebby grew comfortable again with the idea of a longer-term relationship. She didn’t hesitate when Robert suggested coming to the U.S. last fall. It has been good, between them, despite the urgency of the pandemic. But Robert is on Ebby’s turf, now. Will he continue to like who Ebby is when she’s here in Connecticut?

It just might work. Or it might fall apart. But Robert has his own interests. His own work to do. His mother here in the States. Dear old grand-père was from his father’s side. Robert misses his grandpa. Ebby does, too. How grateful they were for the uneventfulness of his death in a year like this one. A drifting-away one night, in his sleep. As it should be.

Robert says he will want to go back to France at some point, but with his grandpa gone, he’s in no hurry. And he doesn’t want to let go of Ebby. Strange, how easily they can talk about these things with each other. They have gone into this phase of their relationship with their eyes wide open. Even if they cannot see a foot ahead of themselves.