January 1949 True events written by Ja’Lise T. King-Vance It was in January 1949 in Wilmot, Arkansas when Addie Thomas awoke from a startling dream of “plucking” her children from a river. The oddest thing about that part of her dream was that there was not a body of water near the William Deyampert Plantation. So what did it all mean? Mother Thomas carried on with her normal routine of attending to her six out of ten children that were living at home before she left to visit her sister in Bastrop, Louisiana, 30 plus miles away. During her visit she shared the disturbing dream with her sister and brother-in-law; however, she was mocked and teased. They taunted, “Everyone beware the Dreamer has had another dream.” Mother Thomas did not let that bother her or deter her from her feeling that she must return home without delay. She gave her farewells and left on the last bus back to Wilmot leaving Bonita around 3 o’clock. Once she arrived in Wilmot, there were approximately 3 ½ more country blocks before she would arrive home to her children playing on the plantation, which put her mind somewhat at ease. Nevertheless, Mother Thomas felt compelled to inform her mother-in-law of the dream from the night before. Her mother-in law said nothing either way. She gave her farewells to Mother Thomas and her grandchildren and continued on home. As the day grew into early evening, Mother Thomas began her nightly routine of gathering children for dinner and preparing for bed. However, Mother Thomas had not been aware that the weather had begun to shift from a pleasant southern winter day to a dark and dismal appearance. The winds began to grow violent and the rain went from a simple shower to sheets. There was no time to panic, only time to act. No siren to warn of posing danger or anything of that nature for this small town. Mother Thomas instructed the eldest girl child to get the baby, and the remaining four were to follow her outside to hide behind the mule barn until Mother Thomas came for them. Mother 20
Tiger PAWS Fall 2012
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