APRIL 17, 2026 ON MY CORNER MEET YOUR VENDOR GROUNDCOVER NEWS Truth or Lies Mystery Lane: Time Travellers, LLC (part 2) FELICIA WILBERT Groundcover vendor No. 234 Read part one in the March 6, 2026 edition of Groundcover News. The voices got louder, and Denise Shearer, vendor No. 485 In one sentence, who are you? I love to make friends. Where do you usually sell Groundcover? On Liberty by the art gallery. When and why did you start selling Groundcover? I wanted to make friends and support myself, too. What is your favorite spot in Ann Arbor? The library and the Farmers Market. What words do you live by? Treat others like you’d like to be treated. What motivates you to work hard selling Groundcover News? Supporting myself and making friends is important. If you could do anything for a day, what would it be? Go to Frankenmuth. If you had to eat one meal for the rest of your life, what would it be? Hot dogs and chicken noodle soup. What’s the most interesting thing that happened to you while selling Groundcover News? I met some real nice people. What was your first job? I was a shampoo lady in a beauty shop. Life is a dance! I would like to start off by giving an honor to GOD, who makes all things possible. My topic is dance. It started with me BYRON FLOWERS Groundcover contributor as a kid break dancing, then dancing at parties doing other dances. It’s therapeutic for the soul, it helps the brain, it helps with posture. It's good to dance when you feel not-so-good, or when you feel good. It releases endorphins in the body. They feel good; endorphins help with stress. I am 51 years of age and I step-dance on the streets of Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti. I have a nerve problem, but my love for dance pushes me to step til my dying day! It puts smiles on people’s faces, it motivates the youth. Enjoy life right now, God got you. Leave your worries behind. My name is Byron Flowers. I grew up in a Baptist church in Muskegon, Mich., New Hope Baptist Church. I learned that the stuff you learned as a kid can bring you joy as an adult. louder! “Get out, return our property to our children!” The cook and staff used to hear Tom shouting at no one: “It’s mine, leave me alone!” Tom knew he had wronged the rightful owners; however, he did not care. He had a bold, menacing and controlling personality. Tom often bullied everyone in his path. He was the richest man in the county of Falconer, which was named after him. Murder and corruption were his way of life. He thought money could buy anyone and everyone. The twins, Lila and Delia, were two ladies who had fallen in love with the wrong men in his eyes. He detested the idea of two black men married to the ladies. The ladies were smart, owning the largest plantation other than the Falconer Estate. The Handover Estate owned one hundred and sixty slaves. Lila and Delia struck a bargain with their slaves, drafting freedom papers for everyone upon their death. They dug a hidden safety underground passage out in the fields, and one near the house where they hid the documents. The slaves’ job was to get their children and husbands to safety. Their plan was to sell the property and move to New York where they could be free. When they listed the property for sale, Tom realized they were moving away with the black men. He could not allow this! Armond, the Pinkerton man investigating what happened, talked with the cook and an older woman named Sady. She spoke with a raspy, soft voice and explained what happened. Sady stated it was a Sunday afternoon about 4 p.m. just before dinner was to be served. “Mr. Falconer and his henchman arrived at the plantation. Everyone started fighting, distracting the men and blocking them from the family. Those dirty men started killing everyone in sight. Only us and 26 people survived, hidden in the passage. They marched those girls right over to that old oak tree.” Sady was pointing at one of the three large trees. “Mr. Falconer kept asking where the men and the children were. Lila and Delia kept quiet, only saying goodbye to each other. Within three days they had shoved everyone’s body in a big pit, even the owners.” Sady pointed over near the oak trees. “This land has not been peaceful ever since that day. You can hear the girls crying and hollering, ‘Return the land to our children!’ They say that the spirit of the ladies marched Mr. Falconer right over to that tree." “Can I give you something Mister?” said Sady. She led Armond and Randal, the man from the Deeds Office, over to the field and instructed them to lift up the false door. It was covered with so much dirt, you would never know it was there. They ducked down into the passage. They lit a makeshift torch and looked around. Randal found an old wooden box. It was a fancy sewing box. Once outside, they opened the box. It contained freedom papers and birth records for the children of the ladies, and a book of births and deaths of slaves. Armond knew what had to be done. He said, “Come, Randal, we must return to your office immediately.” Once they arrived at the clerk's office, Armond searched the records, finding the name of the twins' father who had given the land to his daughters. He read the book of births, finding the names of the husbands and children of Lila and Delia. Armond looked at Randal and said, “I know you are an honest man who only wants to do the proper solution. Are you ready and willing to rewrite history, my man?” Randal was scared and nervous, only wanting this to be over. After hearing what really happened at the Estate just over a month ago, Armond said, “Now draft up a deed with these names on it.” He handed Randal a note with John Jr., Tom Jr., Stella and Cindy Hitchens. “They are the rightful owners, do you agree?” Mr. Randal was shaking; however, he managed to get the names correct. He said, “What about the signing of the deed tomorrow?” “Oh, don’t worry, it will not happen, for you have corrected history! Be proud and stay honest, or I will come for you.” Armond left, walking from the office. When he reached the train station, he turned his hat backwards. The deed had been transferred to its rightful owners. The next morning, Mrs. Carwell [read part one] returned. She was elated, saying “Thanks, there is no record of me and my family owning the property. I don’t know what you did, however, please accept this.” She passed Armond an envelope. He opened it. It was a title to a 2030 Yacht and a picture. “Hold it, I can’t take this.” Armond tried handing her the title. “Oh yes, you can Sonny. I am 88 and have no one to give it to. Please let this be your payment, and thanks for correcting everything. Now I can leave here in peace.” 3
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