GREENWOOD AND aRCHER
by
Jacqueline McGee
SMASHWORDS EDITION
* * * * *
PUBLISHED BY:
Pegasus Books/Jacqueline McGee on Smashwords
Greenwood and Archer
Copyright © 2010 by Jacqueline McGee
All rights reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, brands, media, and incidents are either the product of the author's imagination or are used fictitiously. The author acknowledges the trademarked status and trademark owners of various products referenced in this work of fiction, which have been used without permission. The publication/use of these trademarks is not authorized, associated with, or sponsored by the trademark owners.
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ISBN 978-0-
Comments about Greenwood and Archer and requests for additional copies, book club rates and author speaking appearances may be addressed to Jacqueline Webb or Pegasus Books c/o Ms. McGee, P.O. Box 235, Neptune, New Jersey, 07754, or you can send your comments and requests via e-mail to jwebb7900@yahoo.com
Chapter 1
Annie stepped off of the bus and immediately ran her gloved hands over the sides of her thighs to smooth her brown and beige hound’s-tooth suit skirt. She had no idea that Tulsa was so cold.
The year was 1919 and Annie Nora Spann had made the trip from Greenwood, Mississippi to start life anew. She did not mean to allow the smile she felt inside to radiate across her pretty milk chocolate brown colored face.
Just smell this fresh air, Annie thought. I’m gonna make you proud Papa, she whispered as she began to walk.
“Excuse me Sir, can you tell me how to get to Greenwood Avenue?”
“Annie, Annie Nora—take your nose out that paper and go inside and help your mother.”
“Yes Sir Papa. Papa, they say there is a place in Tulsa where Negro folks can own as much as they want. Our own businesses Papa and the paper said,”
“Annie, let’s talk about it at Supper. Now go on in there and help your Momma”
“Yes Sir.” Annie ran inside
“Slow down chile,” came the soft sweet voice of Annie’s mother Alberta.
“Momma, I was reading the paper that Tom Henry left here. Oh Momma— you wouldn’t believe what they say about Colored people. Momma, they say that there is a Black Wall Street in Tulsa, we can buy and sell. We can do anything. If you want to find a Negro Doctor, you can. Negro Bankers, businessmen whatever you can imagine, Momma. “
“What-you-say?”
“Yes Ma’am Momma. I wanna go there. I do hair and I just know that I can open a shop and…”
“Now, I sent you in here to help your Momma and you in here talking and mile a minute.”
“She’s alright Mr. Spann.”
Rev. Spann didn’t understand his youngest child. Why she always dreamed of going to big cities? Why couldn’t she be happy in Greenwood Mississippi? He looked over at his daughter and smiled she reminded him so much of his Mother Josephine. Not too tall and not too short, he wished she had a little more meat on her bones but she was healthy and that was a blessing. Annie looked away from peeling the potatoes and into her father’s eyes.
She smiled and went back to the potatoes. “Oh Papa, did I tell you...”
“At supper, Annie,” he chuckled, shaking his head from side to side.
“Go up ten blocks and turn to your right, and you’ll be standing on the corner of Greenwood and Archer,” said the tall, dark handsome man that Annie had chosen to ask for directions.
“Thank you,” Annie said as she smiled and thought of her older sister. If she didn’t say thank you quickly enough, her sister thought her to be ill mannered and would say thank you for her.
Lardy be! My feet are hurting! Annie thought as she straightened her tired body and carried her suitcase, and over night sack on one side and her purse and hair dressing utensils on the other. Lardy, Lardy what was I thinking? Traveling in three inch heels!
By the time Annie reached Greenwood and Archer, she had begun to break out with beads of perspiration, forming over her perfectly arched brows. Although her feet were aching and she could feel pins pricking her fingers from the weight of the items, she carried, she was excited to be standing on the corner she had read so much about.
Annie looked around. Everything seemed larger than life. The people all dressed up like they were going to church. Annie slowly and very carefully put her things down and started to wiggle her fingers. She opened her purse and found the note that her older brother Tom Henry’s friend had sent her, with his families address on it. Annie held it up and looked at it with a smile: 925 Archer Ave.
“Hmmm it should be right around here, she thought. She gathered up her belongings and walked a few more steps.
She pushed the door opened and smiled.
“Well hello, Gorgeous. How may I help you?”
“Actually, little lady I would like to help you.”
Annie smiled. “My name is Annie and I am looking for Mr. Callingsworth.”
“Mr. Callingsworth is my Daddy. Everybody calls me Buddy.”
Annie was a little confused by his remark but she was quick on her feet and was determined not to look like a country girl.
“Well, if Mr. Callinsgworth is your Daddy, that would make you Mr. Callingsworth as well,” she said as she stretched out her right gloved hand.
All the men in the barber shop laughed.
Chapter 2
Buddy escorted Annie down a long hall and through a door. She tried not to widen her eyes, but the sight before her was truly beautiful.
“Mr. Callingsworth, this is very nice. I love the colors in this room.”
“Thank you Miss Spann.”
Annie smiled and looked at him “You’re welcome, and please call me Annie. And I will remember to call you Buddy.”
“You are sharp”
“Who helped you decorate, Buddy?”
“Actually, my sister did. She lives a few blocks over. She is looking forward to meeting you.”
“I look forward to meeting her and your wife as well.”
Buddy looked at Annie with a blank expression. “Annie, I am not married. I thought my brother told you that. I have arranged for you to stay next door in Miss Thomas’ rooming house. No one is there right now or I would walk you over there and help you to get all settled in. In the meantime you can make yourself comfortable in here.”
He walked over to a beautiful mahogany cabinet and opened the middle drawer and pulled out a set of pink towels and handed them to Annie and walked back through the door leading to the Barber Shop.
Annie found the indoor toilet and relieved herself and freshened up. She was afraid that if she pulled off her high heels she wouldn’t be able to get them back on but once she said on the red velvet looking couch. Mmmmm, this feels good Annie thought as she loosened the strap on her right shoe and slid it from her foot. “Oooh,” Annie moaned as she massaged her foot. She repeated the act on her other foot. She stared at her feet to make sure that the pulsating feeling that she felt was not visible.
Then she looked at the pictures that were on the table next to the sofa. “I wonder who that little girl is?” Annie whispered. She continued to look around, from the rugs on the floor to the light fixtures. Everything looked expensive.
She could feel someone standing over her. Opening her eyes, she looked directly into the dark brown, angry eyes of a tall, very well built woman. Sitting up straight, she wondered when she had fallen asleep. She tried to regain her composure.
“Hello, my name is Annie”
“I know who you are. I’m Maybell Thomas. As I understands, things you will be leasing a room from me?”
Annie stood and realized just how tall and boxer-like this woman really was.
“Yes, Buddy, uh. Mr. Callingsworth said that no one was home or he would have walked me over there.”
“Well, he was right. No one is home during the day. We all work, if you are gonna make it here, you got to have a job. I understands that you do hair?”
“Yes I do,” Annie smiled.
“Well, maybe we can work something out. I will take a few dollas off your fee and you can fix my hair. What cha say to that?”
“I say why not have Annie pay what everybody else pays to stay there and you can pay what everybody else pays to get your hair done.”
Both women looked around to see Buddy standing in the doorway. “I see you two met.”
Annie smiled “yes we did. I didn’t realize how tired I was and I am afraid I fell asleep on your couch.”
Buddy smiled at her, “I was hoping that you would get a little rest so I can show you around the town this evening.”
Maybell looked from one person to the other and turned up the corner of her mouth. “Humph, I should have known,” she said looking Annie up and down.
Annie bit back the words that were in her throat; she took a deep breath and asked as innocently as she could, “What do you mean, Maybell?”
“My roomers call me Mrs. Thomas. And what I meeeean is that every fast tail skirt that enters our little town think that Buddy is a good catch and they goes for him. And what I meeeeans is that you don’t seem to be any different.”
Annie raised her eyebrow, but before she could open her mouth to speak, Buddy told Maybell that she was out of order.
“This woman’s brother is a good friend of Cal’s.”
Maybell smiled and shook herself. “How is Cal?” The smile left her face and she turned to Annie, “Get your things and come on.”
Annie opened her mouth and again Buddy spoke. “Watch your tone, Maybell, what you have standing before you is a real lady.”
“Oh is that so? Then what would you call me?”
Buddy chuckled and winked at Annie. “Hold on a minute Annie and let me put a sign in the window that I am going to lunch.” Annie sat down and began to put her shoes on.
“So, you and Buddy is getting to know each other huh? Well, let me give you fair warning honey, you and a host of other females is getting to know him. I tell you what I think; I think he is trying to get enough women under his spell to put them out.”
“Put them out?” Annie questioned.
“Are you two ready?” Buddy asked as he walked back into his living room.
The walk from one house to the other was short there was very little room between the houses.
“Over there is the sitting room, Annie. If you ever have somebody come to visit you, you keep company in there. Got that?”
Annie smiled and nodded her head.
“Back here is the kitchen. I cook once a day, weekends included. Did I mention that I am the only one that uses the kitchen? Oh, and your meals are built-into your fee. I have someone who cleans, so you are not expected to clean the bathroom. Just keep your room clean and we will be just fine. Now, I do have a space down here that you can rent out for your business.”
Maybell looked over at Buddy who was following them.
“You don’t have to answer me right now on that one. Anyway, you can use these back stairs to get to your room.”
“How many rooms do you have here, Mrs. Thomas?”
Maybell looked at Buddy and answered Annie.
“There are five rooms upstairs and please, call me Maybell.”
Annie knew that her stay at Mrs. Thomas’ boarding house would not be long. She walked into her room, a little disappointed. There was a very small mattress on a long wooden box, a lamp and a chair.
“Is there any cover for the bed Mrs. Thomas?” Annie asked.
“Cover, why sure honey, there is plenty of covers. My daughter, Caleatha, stays in the room right across from you and she does all of the cleaning and washing and such. You can rent it weekly.”
Annie was about to ask how much was this going to cost her when Buddy piped in.
“I have plenty of extra cover, Annie. I will bring over some for you.”
“You know Buddy; number one you done broke my rule about men coming upstairs. And number two, I think Annie can think for herself.”
“Thank you Maybell,” Annie turned to Buddy. “I would not have you walking back and forth like that I will come over, once I get myself situated, and get the covers. Thank you Buddy.”
“If we are going to get along Annie, you have got to remember that my roomers call me Mrs. Thomas, and I could care less where you get your covers from, or even if you have covers just keep the room clean and be ready to sit down for supper at six forty-five every night.”
Buddy turned and walked down the hall. He didn’t want to leave Annie with that crazy woman but he had to get out of there before said something that he promised his mother he would stop saying.
Chapter 3
Buddy walked into his living room and was about to exit through the side door that led to the shop when he heard a voice.
“Don’t do it, Buddy”
Buddy looked around and shook his head from side to side. He walked down the hall, whistling a tune. When he got into the shop, he looked around and saw just who he expected he would see: No-one. He unlocked the door and took the sign out of the window. Mr. Martin and Sally walked in first.
“What can I do you out of, Mr. M?”
“Shave and hair cut. Same price today as it was last week?”
Buddy gave a slight nod.
“I hear there is a pretty little thang staying here, Buddy?”
“No, you hear wrong, Mr. M.”
“I hear wrong? Hmmm, where is she, next door?”
“She is a friend of Cal’s.”
“Is that right? Where is she, next door?” Before Buddy could answer the bell attached to the shop door rang, signifying that someone was entering.
“Well Amen Bro. Callingsworth, Mr. Martin, Miss Sally. How is everyone this afternoon?”
“We just fine, Reverend,” Sally said.
Martin shot Sally a look that told her to close her mouth. Buddy felt bad for Sally but even worse about himself he had introduced Sally to Martin Kelly.
“You know there is a spot in the choir just waiting for you, Sally.”
Sally smiled at him as she looked out of the window. The shop bell rang again and in walked Annie Spann. Buddy’s eyes opened wide, he was silently telling her to walk back out. His look wasn’t lost on Annie. She smiled at everyone and spoke. Buddy introduced her to Preacher Smith as he was called by everyone in the neighborhood.
Annie stretched out her hand and told him how glad that she was to meet him and that she would be in attendance on Sunday. She turned to Sally and reached for her hand, but before Sally accepted Annie’s hand she looked at Martin for his approval which she received. No one in the shop wanted Annie to be introduced to Martin. Reverend Smith started speaking right away about the church.
“I don’t mean to be rude as it seems others are today,” Martin said as he moved out of the chair and over to Annie. My name is Martin Kelly. I am pleased to make your lovely acquaintance.”
Annie smiled to keep for laughing. “Why thank you, Mr. Kelly.”
“Everyone calls me Mr. M.”
Annie looked over at Buddy who seemingly had found a loose board in the floor.
“Excuse me for asking, but if your last name is Kelly, why are you called Mr. M?”
“Because that is the way I want it!”
“Hmmmm” Annie said as she walked over to Buddy and in a hushed voice asked him about the covers. “Excuse me everyone I will be right back.”
Buddy and Annie walked up the hallway and into the living room.
“Wait right here, Annie.”
Buddy walked down another hallway and came back with two green blankets, a set of white sheets and a gold and green bed spread.
“These are beautiful Buddy. Are you sure you want to let me use these?” Buddy smiled, “I apologize for that in there Annie. I owe Martin money and until I can pay him back I, well, I just apologize.
“You know Buddy; there is no reason to apologize to me. Just straighten out whatever you feel the problem is.”
Buddy smiled at Annie and thought how easy that sounded. There was a knock on the door leading into the living room from the hall.
“Come in.” Buddy called as the door pushed open to reveal a smiling Martin.
“Am I interrupting anything in here?”
“No. Have you got everything, Annie?”
“Yes, I do. Thank you so much, Buddy.”
“My pleasure. I’m sorry that I kept you waiting, Mr. M.”
“Would you like some help getting settled in, Miss Annie?”
“I’m fine, Mr. Kelly.” Annie smiled and walked over the front door.
Buddy rushed over and opened the door and whispered that he would see her around seven o’clock. Annie nodded her head and walked out.
“What’s with you and her, Callingsworth?”
“There is nothing with us, Mr. M. I told you she is a friend if my brother.”
“Well, I will be expecting a date soon. I don’t care how you do it but, oh yeah! I want it done.”
The two men looked at each other.
Annie walked into the house and down the hallway to the back stairs. She decided to peep into the room that Mrs. Thomas had offered as a shop. It wasn’t very big but it would do the job until she could save enough money to move her business to another location.
“So, what chew think Annie? Do you want to talk rental fees for this place?”
Annie turned to see Maybell Thomas staring down at her.
“How much would this room be on a weekly basis Mrs. Thomas.?”
“Twenty-five”
“Twenty-five dollars? For this little room?”
“What chew expect Annie! Five for the sleeping room and twenty for this work space. You will more than double that what with all the nappy headed women around here,” Maybell said as she stroked her long wavy hair.
“I am not sure that I can afford twenty-five a week Mrs. Thomas.” Annie said.
“Well, you think about it cause my prices only go up.”
Buddy brushed the small cut bit’s of hair from Martin’s neck. As Martin Kelly checked out his reflection in the hand held mirror.
“Yeah, this looks real good Buddy. Now, about little Miss Annie. What’s her last name? Well, it really doesn’t matter. It might be Kelly before long.”
Martin rose out of the chair and Buddy used a towel to wipe the back of it and beckoned for the Reverend to come and sit.
“Bring her by the club tonight,” were the words that Martin threw over his shoulder as he stood at the door, waiting for Sally to open it. Sally did what was expected of her and Martin Kelly made his exit.
“Now, that is a sin and ashamed. What is wrong with that girl?”
“What girl?” Both men turned to look over at the exit way leading into Buddy’s living quarters.
“Victoria, I have told you about coming into my house when I am not in there.
“Well, it’s a good thing that I did. You left it wide open.”
“Wide open, Victoria?”
“Well, it was closed, but it wasn’t locked. I got a message from Cal. He wanted to know if Tom Henry’s sister made it here yet.”
“Yeah, she is here. She made it in this morning.”
“Where is she? I didn’t see her in the house.”
Buddy looked over at his younger sister, Victoria, and shook his head.
“She is next door at the boarding house.”
“Oh, what a sin and a shamed!”
“Girl, you have a problem with sticking to things that are only your business.”
“Have you ever in your thirty-two years heard me deny that? So, what gives?”
Chapter 4
Annie entered the dingy little room she shook her head
and walked over to the small table and pulled the string
attached to the lamp. She bent over in the other direction and gently
placed the covers on the old chair. Annie sent up a silent prayer that
there were no bugs in the mattress. Then she took off her shoe and hit
it a few times. Annie started to giggle, her father always said that her
imagination was gonna have her doing crazy things.
“I guess this is one of them Papa.” She said aloud.
The door flew opened and there stood a six foot tall Maybell Thomas. “You know the rules Annie cause I done went over them wit chew. Where is he?”
“Where is who Mrs. Thomas?”
“I heard you in here giggling and talking to Big Papa. Is that what they
callin Buddy Callingsworth theses days.”
This woman is too nosy,Annie thought.
“I don’t know what you heard Mrs. Thomas but I am
in here alone. And I thought that I had locked my room door?”
“Well, you just be sure that you don’t have any men folks up here
Annie and we will get along just fine. You hear?”
“Yes, I hear Mrs. Thomas. Now, about the locked door.”
Screams from down the hall startled both women. Annie followed
Maybell down the hall, Maybell stopped at the last door on the left
side of the hallway where she started to knock and bang on the closed
door.
“What’s going on in there? Come out I say. Maryann!” She
yelled.
The door slowly opened.
“What was all that yelling in there?”
“Everything is alright Maybell.”
“Nooo, everything is not alright. Not wit chew screamin like you has
done lost your senses. Now, you tell me what was happening in
there?”
“I just thought that I saw something moving in the closet.”
“Mice?” Annie asked.
Living in the country Annie saw her fair share of snakes and other creepy crawling things and the one thing she could not stand the sight of, was mice.
“Ain’t no mice in my house Annie and I will thank you to go back into your room and do whatever you was doing.”
Annie turned and started up the hallway when she
realized that Maybell never did answer her question. Oh well she
thought, I will just ask her later. Annie walked back into the room and
found a very pretty, younger version of Maybell making her bed.
“Hello?” Annie said.
The young girl looked up from her chore.
“Hello” she said.
“My name is Caleatha.”
She said stretching her hand. Annie accepted her hand and asked her why she was in her room as nicely as she could.
“The door was open and I figured you and Mother went to see
about Maryann. You will get used to her. She is always seeing
something or she feels things on her. She isn’t dangerous. Oh and
when the roomers leave their doors open it means they want me to
come in and clean and make beds and such and I lock the doors on my
way out.”
“Oh, I didn’t know that.” Annie said. “But, I can do that Caleatha.”
“I’m almost done now. These sure are pretty Miss… I am afraid I
don’t know your name.”
“My name is Annie Spann.”
“These sure are pretty covers Miss Annie.”
“Thank you Caleatha. I want to take a bath it has been a long day. Is
there a tub for water?”
“Mother didn’t show you around did she? I can get it for you Miss
Annie.”
Chapter 5
“Where you off to Buddy?”Victoria asked
“I’m taking Annie to dinner on her first night in Tulsa. Do you wanna come over and meet her?”
“Yeah, and then I need to get home and finish dinner.”
Buddy and his sister walked across the alley and up the steps. Before Buddy could knock on the door Maybell snatched it open.
“What are you two doing on my porch this time of evening?”
“Well, hello to you too Maybell. How are you? How have you been
doing? You know I don’t see much of you anymore. Not since the run
in you had with my brother when he was here visiting last winter. I
never found out what that was all about Maybell.”
Victoria smiled as she fired questions at Maybell.
“Has anyone ever told you that you talk too much and too fast
Victoria?”
“Yeah all of the time. My husband says I need to slow down when it
comes to talking. Honestly though Maybell, I never did hear what all
the ruckus was about when Cal was here.”
“Who are you here to see Buddy?”
Buddy didn’t even try to hide the smile on his handsome face.
“Is Annie ready?”
“If you ask me it’s ashamed to just get into town and be off and
running when night falls. Humph, on the town indeed!”Maybell snorted.
Annie walked down the stairs like a queen. Buddy smiled.
“Victoria,this is Annie Spann. Annie this is my sister Victoria.”
To Maybell’s disgust the two women hugged.
“It is very nice to meet you Victoria.”
“Same here Annie. We are gonna have to get together tomorrow and
search out some places for you to set up shop. I have scouted out a
couple, now all you have to do is make your decision. Oh I have also
taken the liberty of lining up a few heads for you to do this weekend.”
Victoria smiled and added,
“Mine included.”
Annie was overwhelmed.
“Thank you that is so nice of you.”
Maybell had walked back into the kitchen thinking of all the questions Victoria had asked. Victoria
knows just like everybody else in this town that Caleatha is Cal
Callingsworth’s daughter. Why that man denies her I don’t know.
Maybell was so deep in thought that she didn’t hear the three people in
the front room call out their good-byes to her.
“Mother are you okay?”
Maybell looked at her daughter,
“Of course I am alright. Why you asking me that? Get that pot over there and help me finish up wit dinner.”
Victoria went home to take care of her family and Buddy was pleased
to have the evening off. His first stop was the ‘Seven Stars Restaurant’
it was owned by one of his customers, the food was good and you
could always see the who’s who of Black Wall Street. Annie fought
with herself to keep from seeming in awe of everything she was
experiencing. She could hear the music before she walked into the
Seven Stars. It was kind of jazzy. As Annie was escorted in she looked
around and felt as if all eyes were on her. She was sure that the women
were staring at her escort. Buddy was handsome; he had to be at least
three inches over six feet. His skin was a little lighter than she would
like on a man she dated and his hair was a little longer. But his
shoulders were broad, his hands were strong and his teeth were white.
Reservations Sir?”
The voice of the young lady acting as hostess brought Annie out of her thoughts of Buddy.
“Two for Callingsworth.”
The young lady looked in a large Royal Blue book and made a check on the paper.
“Right this way Sir.”
Annie followed the young woman dressed in a long black dress covered with tiny black beads. As they were seated Annie asked Buddy if he knew the name of the song that the band was playing. Buddy smiled and told her that it was, “How ya gonna keep em down on the farm after they have seen paree.”
Annie smiled she liked it. The room was bubbling
with life, a life that she had only read about in the papers that her
brother had given to her. Buddy was a very good escort, he told her
things about different folks as they walked through the doors. He told
her some funny stories of people that came into the barber shop.
Before Annie was truly ready to leave dinner was over, Annie had
decided against desert.
“You must be tired Miss Spann, after your triphere, you must want to rest.”
“It has been a long day and yes Mr. Callingsworth, I am in need of
rest. But, I want to thank you for this evening it was very lovely.”
Buddy smiled and allowed Annie to hook her arm in his. As they
walked out into the night they had no idea that the eyes of Sally Pierce
were following them.
Sally smiled as she walked into the most popular club on Pine Street.
Martin saw her come in and wondered why she looked as if she was
the cat’s meow.
“Thank you for allowing me this evening Miss Spann. I had a
wonderful time seeing a small piece of Tulsa through your eyes
tonight.”
“I am the one who should be thanking you Buddy. The restaurant was
more than anything I have ever seen. The colors of the walls, the color
of the floor and the restroom. I will never, ever forget this night. My
first night in Tulsa.”
Annie was smiling and looking up into the face of one of the nicest men she had ever met.
“I better say Good night Annie; you have a big day tomorrow.”
“Good night Buddy. Buddy?” She called.
“Yes.”
“What is your name? I know that everyone calls you Buddy, but what
did your parents name you?”
Buddy chuckled,
“If I had a nickel for every time someone asked that question I would have quite a nice little nest egg. My father said when he took one look at me I looked like I would be Cal’s little buddy.”
“Are you telling me that your given name is Buddy?”
“That is what I am telling you Annie. Interesting isn’t it?
Chapter 6
Annie opened her eyes and looked around the small room.
It hadn’t been a dream. The room is real. Annie smiled
then that means Buddy Callingsworth was real too, she
thought. Annie stood and slowly stretched her body. She turned and
looked down at the bed, pulling the covers up and straightening the
bed she smiled again. Annie walked over to the chair and knelt down,
she always prayed in the mornings. Annie was sure to say thanks for a
safe trip, a place to lay her head and the day that was in waiting. She
asked for peace and blessings over her parents and her sisters and
brother. After a few more moments in prayer Annie started to dress for
the day. She was to meet with Victoria at eight o’clock for a breakfast
meeting.
“Baby you have been smiling and grinning all night, now you wake up
in the same mode. What’s on your pretty little mind?”
“I’m just happy to know that I am your girl Martin.”
Sally said as she shifted her eyes downward.
“Martin? He yelled, Since when have you called me anything other than Mr. M? What’s gotten into you girl?”
Martin yelled again. Sally didn’t realize that calling him by his first name would infuriate him so.
“I’m sorry Mr. M, I just thought that…. That…”
“That what?”
Sally was grateful that the knock on the door came when it did. How in the world would she get out of this one? When Martin’s men came in she knew she was to excuse herself from the room, which she did with a quickness. Sally stood near the door so she could hear what was being said in the other room. She heard Martin yell out.
“Say what?”
All Sally could hear was muffled voices and then the door slammed. Then all she could hear now was silence. Sally was debating
whether she should go out and see if Martin was alright when the door
flew open. Sally’s eyes widen with fear, she had seen that look in
Martin’s eyes before.
“What happened to the smile that you have been wearing since last night Miss Sally?”
Sally instinctively started to back away from Martin.
“Smile for me Miss Sally.”Maqrtin instructed.
Sally pasted on one of the sweetest smile Martin had ever seen.
“Keep your face just like that for me Baby”
Martin said as he began to brutally slap her first on one cheek, then with the back of that same hand on the other.
“Martin! Why are you?”
Sally’s questioning of Martin deeper enraged him. He reached over on the dresser and retrieved his leather belt.
All that the milk man could hear, other than a high pitch female cry,
was the sound of flesh being whipped. Joseph Biles stood outside the
door as long as he could. He had knocked a few times but his knocks
went unanswered. Joseph sat the milk on the stoop and walked away.
Martin began to sing
“Rise Sally rise, wipe your weeping eyes”
Sally looked over at him with question as she stood slowly and carefully.
“That’s right, now put your hands on your hip and let your back bone
slip.” Martin continued to sing.
Sally thought about running, she thought he had surly lost his
mind.
“Come baby, now shake it to the east, shake it to the west,”
Martin chuckled and continued,
“now shake to the one that you love the best.”
Sally walked over to him she knew that she deserved the whipping that he had to give her.
“I do love you the best Mr. M.”
“I know you do Sally. Why did you think that you were smart enough
to withhold information from me?”
“I…I thought that you wanted Annie to take my place.”
Martin laughed so hard that he slapped his knee.
“Sally don’t you know no one would ever want or could ever take
your place. I want something else from Annie. Something that you
could never give me. So, don’t you worry
Sally was thrown off by this comment. She had no idea what Annie could give him that she
couldn’t.
“What can she give?”
“Now Sally please don’t make me whip your butt again. Are you supposed to question me?”
Sally hung her head and answered him,
“No”.
“Now, how about you sit down and tell me what happened last night?”
Sally told Martin that she saw Annie and Buddy in high fashion at the Seven Stars and that they were walking down the street arm in arm.
Sally wanted to include that she had seen them kiss and that they danced in the streets. She wanted to watch his face when she told him that Buddy held Annie tight and whispered things to her. But none of that was true and even though she found herself doing all sorts of
things that were disgusting to her she wanted to have at least one good thing that she was known for. So, Sally told him the truth and that alone was enough to make Martin see red.
Martin stood and looked around at the mess that was made this morning between him having pleasure from Sally then from her trying to run when he was giving her counsel for trying to out smart him.
“This place is a mess. Make sure it’s cleaned by the time I get back.
You’re a good cook make sure that you cook something special for me tonight. If I have my way I will have company tonight. One more thing fetch me some water for my bath. You sure know how to make a man sweat Sally.” Martin said with a smile on his handsome face.
“And Sally, you left out why you were at the Seven Stars last night. I expect that you will tell me that tonight won’t you?”
“Yes, Mr. M, I will.”
Annie walked down the stairs after making sure that her room was clean and all the valuables that she had were hidden in a place the no one going into her room would think to look.
“Good morning Miss Annie”
Annie turned and saw a young woman about her own age.
“Good morning”
Annie responded with a questioning look on her face.
“I’m Maryann, we met last night.”
“Humph, I wouldn’t say that the two of you met last night.” Maybell chimed in,
“for one she was out all night with the gigolo next door and
for two, it was late afternoon when you was up there screaming your fool head off.”
“Wow, are you always so sappy sweet in the mornings Maybell.”
Everyone turned to see Victoria standing in the door way.
“Do any of you Callingsworth’s have any manners?”
“We all do, well; my brother Cal lost his once or at least that is how the story goes.”
Annie was trying to remain composed while Maryann