From as early as they could remember, Nicey and Lanky, a tall, dark, handsome negro had loved each other; and during the brief stolen moments that they were able to spend together, they had talked about becoming free persons, getting married, and having children whom they would give proper names like John, Tom, Sarah and Jane, instead of descriptive names like theirs; and whom they would make sure be granted the privilege that they hadn’t – the opportunity of being able to learn to read and write like the white planters’ children.