B. Sharise Moore - Dr. Marvellus Djinns Odd Scholars

Dr. Marvellus Djinns Odd Scholars

B. Sharise Moore

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Fayetteville, GA

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Dr. Marvellus Djinns Odd Scholars/ B. Sharise Moore.1st ed.

For Ellen E. Armstrong, Professor J. Hartford Armstrong, Edna Moore, Brenda Moore, and all the "Colored Conjurers" I've ever admired.

Part One:

The Odd Scholarships

The Negro World

Four Lucky Winners to Tour Dr. Marvellus Djinns Colored Theme Park

A pril 1, 1920

Dr. Marvellus Djinn, internationally known Scholar of Sorcery, will award exclusive passes to The Motherland , her theme park of magic and mythological creatures in Hampton, VA in June. In addition to the tour, the winners will receive full financial support to attend Hampton Institute.

The odd scholarships will be awarded to four teens (ages 13-19) who prove victorious in competitions in the following categories: Strength, Ingenuity, Chemistry, and Magical Prowess. All who are interested should meet Dr. Djinn in the following cities: Altamonte Springs, FL (Mighty Biceps-Strength Competition May 2, 1920); Charleston, SC (Juvenile Ingenuity Competition May 5, 1920); Washington, DC (Boys Chemistry Competition May 10, 1920); and Charleston, SC (Dueling Crystal Balls-Magical Prowess Competition May 5, 1920). For more information on how to register, see page E5.

One

Strength is the Family Business

A ltamonte Springs, FL 1920

In a mere thirty minutes, the gathering of a few strapping workers assembling the stage swelled to over one hundred onlookers. Everyone within a twenty-mile radius of Altamonte Springs was in attendance to see if Omen could redeem himself after last years defeat. His eyes roved over the audience of familiar faces. Sisters, brothers, wives, aunts, uncles, grandparents, cousins, neighborstheyd all made the trip to see this years Mighty Bicep Competition , the premier event to begin the summer.

You beat Cairo once; you can beat him again. Still dont look to me like the boys got it all up here. Omens father, Ivan Crow, tapped his forehead. Remember boy, strength is ninety percent mental.

I know Pop, I know. Beads of sweat gathered at Omens temples. He snatched a red checkered kerchief from his back pocket and dabbed at his hairline.

This was the ritual every year: the same crowd ripe with excitement, the same split of loyalty down the middle, and the same bad blood. Omens father paced back and forth with his hands stuffed in the pockets of his overalls. Though there had always been twenty contestants, everyone knew the Crows and Armwoods were the only ones who mattered. The rivalry dated back to 1820 when Omen and Cairos great-great grandfathers found themselves at odds over a red-bone gal with green eyes on the plantation on Fort George Island. According to the old folks, the dispute was settled over an arm-wrestling match. And ever since Omens great-great grandfathers win, the scales had been slightly tipped in the Crow familys favor.

One by one, the competitors lined up for the announcement of the draw. Omen leaned against a curtain. A rumble of gator-mating calls traveled along the breeze from a patch of swamp across the clearing. His line of vision drifted to the crates and barrels enveloping the stage. Painted black, the red and green letters screamed the contents inside: Biceps Galore, Love at First Kiss, Far East Trinkets and Charms, Salves for Spirit Sicknesses, Back to Africa Talismans. An upright piano decorated with black and green symbols stood in the corner. The back wall had been covered with pictures of Marcus Garvey and clippings from The Negro World newspaper. Three iguanas moseyed around their cages on a table nearest the audience. Each lizard changed its color from red to black to green in unexpected synchronicity. For the first time ever, the Mighty Biceps Competition had partnered with a celebrity. He whistled to himself and turned to his competition. Cairo . From his calves as big around as tree trunks to his barrel chest, the boy looked burlier and more clueless than Omen remembered. Altamontes old folks said the Armwood boys had never been babies. They were born big and stayed that way til they died.

Yup, hes big alright, but dont let that fool ya, Uncle Dwight chimed in as if hed been reading Omens mind. Its the skill that matters. He mopped his protruding brow with a bandana.

For 365 days straight Omen had heard the boos and whispers. Theyd stuck to him like a wart no one knew how to remove. Sometimes, the will skips a generation. Might be the mighty Crows are finally stepping aside for another family to take the crown. Ever seen that boys arms? They right scrawny. He aint got the genes. Im tellin ya hes a wee bit too small to challenge anybody. Ivan done trained the boy soft. I know Ole Fitzgerald is turnin over in his grave.