The Sixth Generation

Twenty years had passed in the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana. In that period of time many people had forgotten about the ruler of Arabia coming to America and marrying one of the descendants of the Bowregard Le Faye family.

Because of the political unrest in Arabia, the ruler, Abu Manobo, had abdicated the throne and taken pen in hand in his new home in America to write a book about the notorious Black Sheik. The Black Sheik was a man hungry for power, and he used whatever means available to him to get what he wanted. He was shot when he was trying to seize an oasis from his own brother, and his son, set on vengeance, followed the person responsible for the shooting to America. This person happened to be Basilah Le Faye, the wife of James Le Faye and the niece of the Black Sheik.

When Jo-Jo saw that the Black Sheik's son was about to kill her sister-in-law, she thought only of saving her life and fired a gun that killed him. Vengeance was again plotted, this time against Jo-Jo. When she visited Arabia, red paint was thrown all over her as a warning. Abu took Jo-Jo and his children back to America and abdicated. The two fell in love, and later Abu and Jo-Jo were married.

When the sale of Abu's book went international, the situation became so dangerous for him and his family that the FBI advised them to leave the country. Abu, upon sharing this information with Jo-Jo, found she was terribly unhappy about leaving; he told her not to worry, for he had a plan.

Jo-Jo had no idea that Abu would return to Arabia, giving himself up to the Black Sheik's followers. They put him before a firing squad. When Jo-Jo discovered he had not gone to New Orleans on business as he had said but had returned to Arabia, it was too late. She grieved for the loss of her husband and felt terrible guilt because she felt she was to blame for him sacrificing himself to spare her and the children.

A few months later, Jo-Jo received a call from a man named Bruce Cawley in England. He invited her to come and manage his horse farm. When she took the children to England she found that Bruce Cawley was the half-brother of Abu; his name was really Abdul. Jo-Jo decided to stay in England and give Amir and Emira the secrecy needed for their protection. Abdul offered to help her raise the children with the idea that one day Amir might desire to seek the throne in Arabia.

After a period of several months Jo-Jo and Abdul were married. A year later they became parents of a baby boy they named Joseph. Amir and Emira were thrilled with the new baby, and their family was now complete. Jo-Jo never returned to America. Abdul had told her when she first came that she would come to love England, and he had been right.

James and Basilah had no further problems from the followers of the Black Sheik. It was obvious over the months that followed that those in power were losing their grip on Arabia. The book that Abu had written had shown people much about the Black Sheik. The oil deals that James and Abu had worked out between Arabia and the United States had progressed in a way beneficial for both countries.

James kept in contact with Jo-Jo but was always careful to use her assumed name. When Jo-Jo married Abdul, he and Basilah and the boys attended the wedding.

As the years went by, James continued his work in the shipyards, and Basilah continued to raise the Arabians, only on a smaller scale. After Jo-Jo left, King asked if he might have his job back once again. He said he had missed working with the horses. Once in a while he would bring Orvita along when he had a small errand to do. Clem always felt some pity toward Orvita due to the fact she had no friends. Boudreau had never cared for her, and those feelings did not improve as the years went by.

Both boys graduated from high school and went off to college. Boudreau enjoyed his studies and never had the time or inclination for any serious relationships.

Part #2

During the year that Boudreau graduated from college, James had a massive heart attack and died suddenly. There was not even time to get him to the hospital. Basilah was beside herself with grief. Boudreau had been living in Atlanta since his graduation and working at Bell South Corporation. When Boudreau flew home for the funeral, he told his mother that he would set things in motion to come home. "You need help with the Arabians," he told her. "Later you can make a decision as to what you want to do."

Basilah tried to talk him out of returning home, but he insisted he would be back within a few days. After their conversation, Basilah sighed and mumbled to herself, "He shouldn't be doing this, but I am so glad he is coming."

Three days later Boudreau drove to Lake Charles with all his belongings in a U-Haul truck. He walked into the house to find Basilah cleaning his room. As he walked into the room, Basilah turned and saw him and rushed into his arms. Boudreau said, "Mom, I am so sorry about this happening. I know the funeral has been rough for you to handle. Had Dad experienced problems with his heart prior to this?"

Basilah responded, "To my knowledge your father had no medical problems."

Boudreau told her he would finish cleaning out the room. Basilah knew how particular Boudreau was with his belongings, so she said, "Tell me what you need and I will get it for you."

Boudreau said, "I need for you to sit here in this rocking chair and tell me all about Dad's last few days. I wanted to do that when I came home for the funeral, but there just wasn't time."

Basilah loved her son, for he always sensed what she needed. Today she needed to talk with someone about James. She gave Boudreau a hug and said, "I will be happy to tell you about your father. The last week had been a busy week for James. He started it out by calling Jo-Jo and checking on the family. Jo-Jo told him that Amir had begun thinking of going to Arabia to claim the throne. Abdul had put out some feelers, and he felt it was time the people knew that Abu's son was alive. James was thrilled to hear that Amir was thinking about assuming the throne. Jo-Jo said that Emira had another year left in college, and she was engaged to a young man she had met at school. She and Abdul felt the young man was wonderful and would make a good husband for Emira. Joseph was in eighth grade at school. He wants to become a writer like his father."

James had seen to it that the outer buildings of the plantation had been freshly painted and had told Basilah he thought it was time they cut back on some of their work. He had told her they could manage without her having the horse farm if she wanted to quit. Basilah said, "Boudreau, I told him I wanted to think about it for a while first before I made the decision. He smiled at me. You remember how he had such a knowing smile? I could always tell he could read me like a book. Your father was so good to me, and I have loved him since the first time I saw him. Remember us telling you about when he came to Arabia to visit? Abu had arranged for me to be at my uncle's oasis. I knew the moment I looked at James that I would love him for life. He was so handsome and charming. Did I ever tell you that story?"

Boudreau smiled, for his mother had told him that story many times. He could see she needed to tell it once more. Somehow sharing these stories brought back a small part of James. She continued by saying, "I can still see James...