The Last Executed Slave

It was a clear night with a big, white moon. James and I were leaving the movies . We were driving back from Little Rock , AR to James house up in the lake. James and I met at school, where we became very good friends.

Driving back home , James took a different route. He drove me through a forest road. The trees had long , overwhelming figures. The road became narrower and the forest dense. At that point , I have to admit, I was getting scared.

James stopped the car in a very little bridge, over the dry bed of a river. He rolled the windows down and stopped the engine. I looked at James. We remained in silence. Suddenly a murmur from far was coming closer. I could not understand what that voice was saying. I could only tell the tone was not from this world.

Kind of agitated, I said to James that someone was out there and not very happy. In the middle of the forest? Who was out there? We left the place. I bombarded James with a million questions about what just happened.

He told me that the story says that the voice we heard was from the last slave executed in the bed of the river. He is still there. You can hear his cries because he could not cross to the other side.

That night I slept with the lights on.

Happy Halloween ……

Cupcakes

Ingredients

Makes 18 to 24

3/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

3/4 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

3/4 cup warm water

3/4 cup buttermilk

3 tablespoons melted butter

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Sift together cocoa powder, flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add eggs, warm water, buttermilk, oil, and vanilla, and mix until smooth, about 3 minutes. Scrape down the sides and bottom of bowl to assure batter is well mixed.

Divide batter evenly among muffin cups, filling each 2/3 full. Bake about 20 minutes, rotating pan once if needed. Transfer to a wire rack; let cool completely.

Frosting

Ingredients

Serves 1 dozen cupcakes

1 3/4 cups confectioners' sugar

1/2 cup soft butter

1/8 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1 tablespoon milk

Directions

In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine 1 1/4 cups confectioners' sugar, butter, salt, and vanilla, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula as necessary.

Add milk and continue mixing until well combined, scraping down the sides of the bowl with a spatula, as necessary. With the mixer running, slowly add remaining 1/2 cup confectioners sugar, mix until well combined.