The Legend of Jesse Jammer

By Derrick Woodard

After being brutally assaulted and murdered in the woods by three racist white brothers. The disgruntled spirit of an old 75 year old black man returns on the anniversary of his death to seek vengeance on his assailants and everyone associated with them. With only two survivors; Ethan and his girlfriend must elude the authorities and the whip weiding; wise cracking vengeful spirit of Jesse Jammer.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Newman Springs Publishing, Inc.
• Release date: Dec 6, 2021
• ISBN: 9781636924670

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The Legend of Jesse Jammer

Derrick Woodard

Copyright © 2021 Derrick Woodard

All rights reserved

First Edition

NEWMAN SPRINGS PUBLISHING

320 Broad Street

Red Bank, NJ 07701

First originally published by Newman Springs Publishing 2021

ISBN 978-1-63692-466-3 (Paperback)

ISBN 978-1-63692-467-0 (Digital)

Printed in the United States of America

Table of Contents

Origin of the Whip

The Strickland Boys

Gathering of Friends

A Stranger in the Woods

A Crime Scene

On the Run

Piecing the Puzzle

The Worth of a Picture

Coming with Us

Run-in with a Familiar Face

Interrogation with Dr. Rodriguez

The Hat Trick

Discovery in the Woods

Ghosts of the Past

The Final Showdown

A New Day

In memory of my late uncle John. Get out of that chair now, buddy.

Special thanks to my friends Troy, Doug, Mario, and Lorajean who always encouraged me to keep writing. Love y’all.

Origin of the Whip

It is a cool, brisk evening in October a few hours before nightfall in a small quiet town in Mississippi. A gentle wind brushes across the faces of the pedestrians wrapped in their snug jackets and knitted caps as they saunter down the sidewalks waving at the local motorists in the oncoming cars. The voices and laughter of the town’s children echo the blocks as they play in the freshly fallen autumn leaves. The elders of the town sit on their porches sipping their freshly brewed tea. It is just another typical Friday evening. Moments later the noise of vehicles and people begin to gradually die down. The silence deafens the atmosphere for a brief moment until it is broken up by the spiritual ambience of a church organ at the local AME church with their weekly choir rehearsal. A soulful alto’s voice rips through the air followed by the harmonious backing of the choir singing I’m a Soldier in the Army of the Lord.

As the choir continued singing, Jesse Jammer, a seventy-five-year-old vibrant and mild-mannered black man, sways back and forth to the music as he lightly marks time with his feet. Jesse rocks his head side to side as he dances and trims the hedges around the church. He removes his wide-rimmed glasses as tears begin to trickle down his face and saturate his scraggly gray beard. Jesse pauses for a brief moment and now begins to sing along with the choir from the outside and then continues to trim back the leaves. Yes, sir! Sang for the Lord, children! Jesse removes a red handkerchief from his black overalls and begins to wipe his tear-soaked eyes. He closes his eyes and begins to become reminiscent of his childhood. Now in his daydream-like state, a young twelve-year-old Jesse sits quietly in an old wooden house as he stares at a closed bedroom door. The sound of coughing and wheezing puts him in a state of unease. A boisterous voice is heard praying and clapping as his mother emerges from the bedroom trying to hold back her tears.

Jesse’s mother, Eliza, looks at him as she closes the door and flashes a half smile. Sweet, Papa wants to talk to you whenever Reverend Crecy gets through praying. Young Jesse sits there confused as to why his father, who was once so full of life, is now confined to his bed. His mother continues as she beckons him with her hand, Don’t be scared, Sweet. Daddy ill but is okay, though. He just getting ready to lay down his sword. Come on in here now. As his mother opened the door, the coughing and wheezing grew more intense as he gazed upon his father and the local minister at his bedside.

The minister smiles at Jesse as he enters. Oh, mighty man of valor, how are you doing, young soldier?

Jesse nods to the minister as his voice breaks. I’m okay, Reverend Crecy. Is Papa going to be all right?

Jesse’s father, Amos Jammer, smiled as he nodded to the minster. I’ll talk with him, Reverend. Thank ya.

Reverend Crecy touches Jesse’s shoulder as he exited. Amos then musters enough strength to sit up and then motions with his hand for his son to come closer.

Sweet, come on in here now. Don’t be scared. I ain’t no animal. I ain’t gonna bite ya.

Jesse slowly enters his parents’ bedroom and then pulls up a stool as he inches closer to his father’s bedside and tries to muffle his cries. Papa, what’s wrong? Why can’t you move around like you used to no more?

Amos then touches his son’s shoulder. Sweet, I ain’t going to lie to you. Papa getting ready to go be with your Grandpa Ezekiel and nem. My time has come for me to lay it down for the last time.

Jesse, now unable to bear the news, began to stand up and rebuke his father. Naw, Papa, you got too many years left in you. We are going to ride horses, herd them cattle for old man Palmer and—

Jesse’s father then clapped his hands loudly to disrupt Jesse’s train of thought. Hey here, boy! You ain’t no little boy no more. Papa ain’t going to sugarcoat or lie to you. This is how it has to be. We all got to travel this way, son! What did Reverend Crecy tell y’all last Sunday? What the good book said about a man born of a woman is of a few days and full of trouble! Amos then lowers his voice to give his son comfort. I’m dying, Sweet. I’m getting ready to go see Jesus. Jesse then collapses on his father’s chest as his tears began to soak his father’s pajama shirt. His father continues, now calmly, Don’t cry now. You going to have to be the man of the house now and take care of your mother and your little sister, you hear me now? Jesse nods as his father wipes the tears out of his eyes. He then looks around the room and begins pointing in the corner. Sweet, go bring me my bullwhip from off of that peg there. Jesse races and then grabs the whip as he places the handle in his father’s hands. Now, Sweet, I don’t have no money to leave to you, but when I close my eyes, this is going to be your whip and no one else’s, not your mama’s, not your Uncle Osby, but Jesse’s whip. You going to take care of it? Amos then takes the whip and places it in his son’s hands. He continues, You don’t need me to help you herd them cattle. I taught you every trick I know. Hey, Sweet, show me how you do it! Amos began to mimic a whip. Pachew, pachew, straighten up here now. Show me, Sweet. Show Papa how that whip pops!

Jesse’s expression began to liven as he returns the gesture. Pachew, pachew, straighten up here now!

As the two bonded, reality once again set in as his father begins to cough and wheeze again as his father held a rag to his mouth, this time coughing up blood. Amos looks at his son and cracks a smile. Sweet, go in the kitchen and get Papa a glass of water.

Jesse, without hesitation, rushes to the kitchen. He turns around as he rushes past his mother. "Hey, Mama, pachew, pachew. straighten up here now, Mama, pachew."

His mother shakes her head and smiles. "Well, pachew,