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Clay Derby
Tidbit is Teenie’s four-year-old son. Tidbit is a bright, happy, and mischievous child. He can often be found underfoot in Teenie’s kitchen playing with his dog, Hushpuppy. He is instrumental in teaching Amari English, as he often talks to her as he teaches her how to perform tasks around the plantation. Occasionally, Amari speaks to him in Ewe, which fascinates Tidbit—he’s captivated by the idea of living in Africa, though he’s too young to fully understand what it means to be free. Both Amari and Polly come to genuinely love Tidbit, and both take it upon themselves to care for him when Teenie cannot. Polly begins to understand just how horrible life is for slaves when she learns that Tidbit will one day work in the rice fields—and she can’t fathom how anyone can condemn such a bright, innocent child to such deadly work. Amari does everything she can to protect Tidbit when Clay takes him from Teenie to use as alligator bait in the river. Following the birth of Mrs. Derby’s Black baby who’s fathered by one of her slaves, Mr. Derby punishes Teenie for her involvement by deciding to sell Tidbit. However, Tidbit escapes with Polly and Amari thanks to Dr. Hoskins’s kindness. Along the journey, Tidbit struggles to understand why they have to leave at all. For him, despite having experienced abuse at the hands of his white masters, being with Teenie is still more important than freedom, a concept he’s perhaps too young to fully understand. However, he promises to remember everything Teenie told him about Africa and her mother, and he ultimately asks Amari to be his mother in Fort Mose. In Fort Mose, Tidbit shares that his real name is Timothy. He begins to go by Timothy and decides that he’d like to be a soldier when he grows up so he can fight for his freedom.
Tidbit Quotes in Copper Sun
The Copper Sun quotes below are all either spoken by Tidbit or refer to Tidbit. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
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Chapter 21 Quotes
“And that’s just the first part. Then you gotta tend to the plants and flood the fields and cut the stacks and thresh the seeds—seem like it go on forever. That’s what be in your future, Miz Africa. And when he get old enough, this here boy’s future too.”
Polly looked at Cato in disbelief. “They’d put Tidbit out there?” she asked, horrified. The thought of little Tidbit sweating and working in the dangerous swampy water made Polly feel ill.
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Chapter 31 Quotes
He took a deep breath, then said quietly, “I am ashamed to be a human being this morning. I witnessed not just murder last night, but violence and cruelty and vicious hatred. By saying nothing, I feel I am as responsible as my so-called friend who pulled the trigger.”
Amari and Polly exchanged stunned looks.
Dr. Hoskins continued. “I am just one man. I don’t know how to fight everything that is happening around me. I don’t understand how one man can own another. And I don’t know how to stop it.” He looked around at the deep woods and the darkness within them. “But I can help the three of you.”
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Chapter 32 Quotes
“My name be Amari,” she informed the two of them.
Polly opened her eyes and looked at Amari with a slight frown. “What’s wrong with the name they gave you?” she asked. “We’re used to it now.”
Amari took a deep breath of the woodsy air. “Not Myna no more. Amari.” She spoke with clarity and certainty.
If you say so,” Polly said with a shrug. “I suppose it is a good name for a free woman.”
“Free!” Amari exclaimed in quiet exultation. She had no intention of ever using that slave name ever again.
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Chapter 34 Quotes
Amari sat close to Polly for warmth and companionship, looking at the fire, thinking not of the horrendous fire that had destroyed her village, but of the smoky cooking fires that decorated the front of each household as the women prepared the evening meal. If she closed her eyes, she could almost smell the pungent fish stew.
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Chapter 37 Quotes
“Of course, child. Everybody has slaves. How do you think we handle this land? But my Patrick is a good man and does not mistreat his property. Our slaves like it here.” Amari couldn’t understand how the woman could see no wrong in owning slaves as long as they were well treated.
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“It’s like this: if my Patrick brings home a new slave like he did last week, for example, that’s his right as master and man of this house, and I dare not interfere. As a woman, I ain’t got muckle to say about those kind of decisions. But when I got the chance to decide for myself, I find it gives me pleasure to choose to help you be free. That’s the truth, and I did not know it until I spoke the words.”
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Chapter 38 Quotes
“You know, I never really knew any black people before I came to Mr. Derby’s place. I mean, everybody had slaves, of course, but I never actually thought about them. And I certainly never had a black friend before,” she admitted.
Amari looked away. “Sometime I hate white people,” she admitted softly. “I never hate before I be a slave.” She stretched her arms. “I never even see white person until they attack my village. It be hard to have hate feeling and like feeling at same time.”
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Chapter 40 Quotes
“What did your mama keep a-tellin’ you while you be with her?”
“She tell me stories about Africa and about her own mother, and she tell me, ‘Long as you remember, ain’t nothin’ really gone.’”
Amari, blinking away tears, hugged him. “You gonna always remember?”
“I ain’t never gonna forget nothin’ she done tell me,” the boy said with great seriousness. He squeezed the leather pouch.
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Get the entire Copper Sun LitChart as a printable PDF.
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Tidbit Character Timeline in Copper Sun
The timeline below shows where the character Tidbit appears in Copper Sun. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 16. Teenie and Tidbit
...and Amari as Myna, and the woman introduces herself as Teenie and her son as Tidbit. Polly calls her Miss Teenie, but Teenie warns her that they’ll get in trouble for...
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...begins to eat with her hands, Polly realizes that she’ll have to teach table manners. Tidbit sits with a dog, Hushpuppy, under the table as Polly and Teenie discuss the dish....
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...some sleep. Amari curls up on the mat on the floor. A few hours later, Tidbit knocks on the door—he’s been sent to fetch Amari for Clay. Amari cries and begs...
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Chapter 17. Amari and Adjustments
...refuses to touch any of the slaves, and she and Amari merely tolerate each other. Tidbit shows the girls how to perform tasks. Amari learns to cook food she’s never seen...
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Tidbit laughs constantly and makes the days easier. He’s a trickster, and he teaches Amari English....
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Chapter 18. Roots and Dirt
...like a copper pot, and all the animals. Now, Teenie passes the stories on to Tidbit. Teenie reiterates that if they remember, nothing is ever really gone, and she pulls a...
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Chapter 19. Peaches and Memories
About a week later, Teenie sends Tidbit, Polly, and Amari to pick peaches for pie. Tidbit climbs into the tree and is...
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Tidbit asks if there are boys like him there. Amari says she had a brother a...
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Chapter 21. Rice and Snakes
...field slaves. Polly groans; this is another duty fit for only a slave. Teenie sends Tidbit too, but she warns him to stay out of the water.
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Tidbit laughs, slithers like a snake, and runs ahead with Hushpuppy. Polly has never been so...
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Tidbit asks if anyone ever goes back to Africa. Cato, serious, says that they don’t, but...
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...slaves in the rice field screams. Cato rushes to the sound, and Polly, Amari, and Tidbit follow. A man, Jacob, hauls his wife, Hildy, out of the field—a snake bit her....
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Chapter 23. Fiery Pain and Healing Hands
...the next two weeks, Amari manages to stay awake for several hours at a time. Tidbit makes jokes when he can, and Teenie makes Amari special foods. One evening, Amari feels...
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...Clay doesn’t call for her. Clay does send a bag of sweets for her with Tidbit, but Amari is disgusted and gives them to Tidbit. One morning, Teenie remarks that Amari...
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Chapter 24. Gator Bait
...the kitchen one afternoon while Teenie, Amari, and Polly work on an apple pie and Tidbit and Hushpuppy sit under the table. Amari shrinks away, but Clay spits that Hushpuppy needs...
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Amari follows behind. Tidbit sees that Hushpuppy is okay and then fixes his eyes on Amari. They head for...
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Tidbit paddles as hard as he can, terrified. Clay and his friends laugh. Amari feels angry...
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The young men throw Tidbit in several more times. By the time they call it a day, Tidbit seems to...
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Chapter 26. Facing Mr. Derby
...so they’ll take the baby to her for now. They sneak past Clay, and then Tidbit takes Amari and Polly down to Sarah Jane’s. Teenie tells Polly that she should only...
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Chapter 27. Death in the Dust
...that everyone is alive now, but Mr. Derby will figure it out soon. She sends Tidbit to hide. Noah explains that he and Mrs. Derby grew up together and have loved...
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Chapter 28. Punishment
...Amari to follow him. They stop at the kitchen, and he forces Teenie to call Tidbit. Then, he unlocks the smokehouse. He tells Polly that he won’t have liars in his...
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...he’s selling her too. Mr. Derby says he could never sell Teenie, so he’s selling Tidbit. Teenie wails.
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Chapter 29. Locked in the Smokehouse
Teenie moans and holds Tidbit close. Polly asks if they can escape, but Teenie insists the smokehouse is secure. Amari...
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...that he’ll be free if he’s dead. Then, very seriously, he tells Teenie to send Tidbit with the girls and insists that Dr. Hoskins doesn’t believe in slavery. Polly notes that...
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...images of Mrs. Derby’s baby from her mind. Amari falls asleep and Teenie whispers to Tidbit that as long as he remembers, nothing will be gone. Polly thinks of the sorrow...
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Chapter 30. Tidbit’s Farewell
...keep a close eye on his wife. Polly wakes Amari and Teenie continues to ask Tidbit, who looks confused, if he remembers all her mother’s stories about the Ashanti, the drums,...
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...money and the wagon back with a courier. Mr. Derby yells to Polly, Amari, and Tidbit to get in the wagon and to Teenie to have breakfast ready in a half...
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Chapter 31. The Doctor’s Choice
Amari notices that the leaves on the trees are turning gold and rusty. Tidbit sobs in her arms as she wonders if she’s going to be sold like a...
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...were attacked and fake an injury. Dr. Hoskins assures her that he’ll tell Teenie that Tidbit wasn’t sold. He pulls out a musket and warns the girls to use it in...
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Chapter 32. The Journey Begins
Amari, Polly, and Tidbit move into the woods until Polly suggests they stop. Amari feels at home in the...
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...each other. Before Amari can reply, they hear someone approaching: It’s Hushpuppy. He rushes to Tidbit. Smiling, Polly asks if Amari really believes Fort Mose is real. Amari says she is...
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...river, like Cato said. Polly shakes her head, but after a short nap, they wake Tidbit and march south. Amari looks to the stars. She wonders if they’re the same stars...
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Chapter 33. Deep In the Forest
...they collect water from the river, and Amari announces that they’ve spent one day free. Tidbit asks how far away freedom is and then asks Polly what freedom is. Polly pulls...
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By the fifth day, Polly, Amari, and Tidbit are exhausted. Amari suffers from dizziness and occasionally has to stop to catch her breath....
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A few hours later, Tidbit runs off to vomit. Both Amari and Polly vomit as well, and Polly angrily says...
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Chapter 34. Lost Hushpuppy
Amari isn’t able to catch any more fish. Polly and Tidbit seem to have recovered from the mayapples, but Amari still feels nauseous and dizzy often....
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One morning, Tidbit cries out that Hushpuppy is gone. Amari and Polly assure him that Hushpuppy is just...
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...for food, but Polly reminds her that they might miss and someone could hear them. Tidbit falls asleep in Amari’s arms and Amari sits close to Polly. She remembers the cooking...
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Chapter 35. Dirt and Clay
The rabbit boosts Amari, Polly, and Tidbit’s spirits. For four days, they keep walking and discover crayfish in the rivers they cross....
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...to when Clay slaps her again. She can hear Hushpuppy growl and tells Clay that Tidbit died and Polly went north. Clay calmly reminds Amari that he followed footprints and knows...
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...but Amari looks at him with pity. Clay notices the snake, and Polly, Amari, and Tidbit hurry into the woods.
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Chapter 36. Should We Trust Him?
Amari, Polly, and Tidbit race through the woods. After miles, they stop to rest. Amari vomits from the exertion....
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They walk for two days straight; the girls have to carry and cajole Tidbit into moving. One evening, when they stop to look for crayfish in a river, Polly...
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...He calls her Polly-girl, but this time, Polly finds that she likes it. Amari and Tidbit step out and Nathan asks if they’re hungry. Nathan warns them that his father would...
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...to fetch food. Amari teases Polly about liking Nathan, and Nathan soon returns with food. Tidbit even eats apple cores and then falls asleep. The girls tell Nathan they’re headed south...
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...to remember him. Amari hits him, and then they race for the swamp. Polly and Tidbit are afraid of snakes and alligators, but Amari leads them into the deep mud. They...
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Chapter 37. Lost and Found and Lost
Well after dark, Amari leads Polly and Tidbit out of the swamp. They’re covered in thick black mud. It begins to rain not...
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Amari snaps awake when she hears a woman bellowing for someone named Patrick. Tidbit shrieks as the door flies open. A woman dressed in buckskin stares them down and...
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Fiona says that the girls and Tidbit can’t stay in the shelter; Patrick is good but hard—though he’s lazy and prefers hunting...
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After Tidbit changes, Amari shares with Fiona that they’re headed south. She explains that everything they know...
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Chapter 38. The Spanish Soldier
The wagon allows Amari, Polly, and Tidbit to make great time. Polly laughs to herself as she remembers her father and misses...
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...is right and they’ll be caught. Polly insists they’ll make it and reminds Amari that Tidbit is hers now, and he needs a strong mother. Amari points out that in her...
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...the girls are ghosts, they should go away. Amari whispers that they should run, but Tidbit won’t cooperate. The man roars and snatches Tidbit. Tidbit bites the man, and he drops...
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Polly doesn’t understand Domingo Salvador’s Spanish, and she’s suspicious. The soldier admits he grabbed Tidbit because he was afraid, and Polly asks why he’s out alone in the middle of...
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Chapter 39. Crossing the River
...walk a few steps but stumbles. Polly helps her into the wagon and Amari offers Tidbit a pouch of berries. Later, they come across an apple grove and gorge themselves. They...
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When the horse reaches the shore, Tidbit leaps off first and the girls follow. Hushpuppy begins to whimper and growl and Amari...
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Chapter 40. Time to Meet the Future
Amari, Polly, and Tidbit wake in the morning to birds singing. Amari isn’t sure if Fort Mose is days...
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Amari assures Tidbit that Teenie is smiling at him from every cloud and flower. Very seriously, Tidbit asks...
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Chapter 41. Fort Mose
Tidbit asks what they do now, and Amari says they head down. They all hold hands...
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...case, she’s free. She asks the girls for their story. Amari introduces herself and introduces Tidbit as her son. Tidbit says quietly that his name is Timothy—Teenie named him Timothy and...
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...The soldier nods at Inez, introduces himself as Francisco Menendez, and welcomes the girls and Tidbit to the fort. Amari, Polly, and Tidbit bow, but Captain Menendez laughs and tells them...
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...open a school. Freedom, he says, means little if no one is educated. He tells Tidbit that when he’s not in school, he’ll learn to be a carpenter.
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...leaving home, but Inez assures her that there are Black men in charge around here. Tidbit asks if he can be a soldier and fight for his freedom. Polly says she’s...
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Chapter 42. Copper Sun
...a window, two doors, and a hearth. There’s plenty of room for her, Polly, and Tidbit. Amari asks if there’s fighting here, and Inez says that there isn’t any yet, but...
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...child, but her master’s wife forced him to sell the girl when she was about Tidbit’s age. Amari offers her condolences and says she feels stupid for not figuring it out...
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