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Your interest in this story encourages me. Thanks for sharing your time reading this. I hope you enjoy it.
This takes place in Georgia, begining in 1950. I am trying to be faithful to that time period.
Now, let's fix up some boiled peanuts, and grab a chair.
Sitting in the front seat of Glenn's mother's car, Maggie mostly stared straight ahead. Briefly contemplating jumping out at the first stop sign. Because, this was just weird. Walking a block and a half down Main Street. Alone. Waiting for Glenn to show up in the car. Gasping when he abruptly pulled over in front of her, bumped into the curb. Not getting out of the car, just waiting for her to climb in. Taking off before she had the door closed all the way. And his ball cap. The same one he had put on the day before. The brim pulled low on his forehead, like he was trying to hide his face. Twitching behind the steering wheel, half slouching, his knuckles white. Looking in the rear view mirror, and out the side windows. Like he thought someone was after him.
That wasn't even the weird part. Nope. The weird part was that he wasn't making any effort, none at all, to get her to sit closer to him. Not reaching over to squeeze her knee. He wasn't trying to slip his hand up under her skirt. Or throwing his arm along the back of the seat, to grab at her shoulder. Or her boob. Didn't even suggest she move over. So different from Randy, well every guy she had dated before. Maybe he wasn't interested in her that way. No, he is. Maybe he's afraid. What was it his mother said, don't come back. It's dangerous. Maybe she meant it was dangerous for him. What have I gotten myself into?
For twenty minutes, well probably only five but it felt like forty, neither of them said anything. Glenn kept driving, heading further and further out of town. Turning off Main Street, it was like a switch had been flipped. Maggie could hear him exhale. Reaching up to push his ball cap back before turning his head to face her for a minute. That easy smile he had returning. And Maggie had to smile back.
"Are we sneaking away? To someplace not so dangerous?" Shifting, Maggie moved a little closer to him. Pulling her legs up under her, she propped her elbow up on the back of the seat. Her arm straightening, stretching to flick an invisible speck of dust from his collar.
Nodding, Glenn looked back at the road in front of him. "Something like that." And the car fell silent again, comfortably silent. Glenn watching the road. Maggie watching him.
Already it felt like they were way out in the country. The road turning to dirt. Getting narrower and bumpier, the shoulder changing from gravel to a six foot ditch. Glenn had started slowing down, swerving to avoid the potholes. Looking out the side window, it seemed the houses were getting smaller, farther apart. With peeling paint and mangy dogs sitting out front. Straightening in her seat, Maggie curled her hand back into her lap. Her stomach tightening into an unpleasant rock. She had always thought she was pretty good with directions, but now…. She was convinced she wouldn't be able to find her way back on her own.
Maggie squeaked out an "Oh", when a rectangle building unexpectedly popped up. With rusty white paint. And a large blue sign. Saying 'T-Dog's BBQ' in white, propped up against the front of the building. Glenn pulled into the empty hard clay parking lot. Maggie realized her own breathing was coming heavier, her palms were sweating. Looks deserted. Where are we? Discretely wiping her hands on a tissue from her purse, Maggie waited as Glenn hopped out of the car. Hustling around the front to open the door for her. Not sure I want to get out. What is this place? His twitching seeming to have returned a little.
"We're here. This is… It's T-Dog's place. You probably saw that on the sign. Yeah." His heading bobbing a little. His smile turning into a huge, toothy grin. "It's a… Off the beaten path."
It's off every path. Her hands tucked in the pockets of her skirt, Maggie fell in next to him walking to the door. "I don't think I've ever been out here. Where exactly are we?" In case I have to walk home.
His hand holding the door to T-Dog's open for her. "Near Carver."
Carver? "The colored school." What are we doing out here. Then she was stepping inside. Her hand tightening around the strap on her purse. It was bigger than she expected. There was a long bar running down the side, and wooden tables and chairs scattered in front of it and along the wall. At one end was a little stage with a scuffed dance floor in front of it. Blinking, she could see specks of dust floating in the dim light and collecting in the corners. The air cool and heavy. A couple lazy flies buzzed against a window pane. The whole place seemed empty, except for a heavy-set bald man with dark skin staring at her from the other side of the bar. Maggie sucked in a breath at Glenn's light touch against the back of her elbow. Immediately wishing he would hold her hand or hold her close or just suggest they leave. What is wrong with me?
With a chortle, the man's face split in a broad grin. Revealing a sizable gap between his two front teeth. His voice deep and loud. "Hey Glenn. What brings you by? And who's that beautiful girl? You have to pay her to come out with you?" Chuckling at his own joke.
With Glenn subtly urging her forward, they crossed the narrow floor to the bar. Glenn and the man across the bar from him doing some sort of hand shake thing. Clearly Glenn felt at home. "Hey man, good to see you too. This is Maggie. Maggie, T-Dog. He owns this place."
It might have been Glenn's casual confidence flowing over into her, or T-Dog's grin, something had Maggie grinning. Her stomach relaxing, no longer noticing the dust. "Hey T-Dog."
Giving a mock whistle under his breath, his eyebrows good naturedly meeting above his eyes. "Miss Maggie. You're as pretty as he said you were. What the hell you doing, wasting time with his sorry self. Why, I'll bet you got boys lined up around the block wanting to take you for a spin and show you off." With a toothy grin, leaning forward on his elbows, T-Dog's eyes flicked between Glenn and Maggie the whole time he was talking.
Maggie felt her checks start to warm under his compliments, and wondered if she was turning as bright red as Glenn was. "There's a few, but today is Glenn's day." Aware of Glenn's hand at the small of her back.
T-Dog straightened up, his hands going to the top of the formerly white apron he had tied around himself. "He's a good man. Now, y'all go on and sit down. I'll get you some boiled peanuts." Slapping the top of the bar with a meaty hand, he turned and headed back behind some swinging doors.
Glenn's hand dropping to his side, Maggie followed him to the opposite side of the room. To a weathered wooden table with chairs worn smooth from years of use, sitting against the wall. Tucking her skirt in, her back to the rest of the room, she balanced her purse in her lap. Looking around, glancing back over her shoulder. Then focusing her attention back on Glenn. "T-Dog seems nice. You know, I've lived here my whole life. And I thought I knew every spot in and around town. But, I've never heard of this place."
Glenn slid his ball cap off his head. Holding it in his lap. "Well, it's sort of a black hole for…" His eyes doing that search the sky for the right words thing, again. "White people."
Black hole for… Her nose scrunching for a brief moment. "You found it."
"I'm Korean."
"Right." That's why his eyes are so pointy, and his face is kind of flat. "You're not really…" But our skin is almost the same color.
"No. Is that…" His voice sort of catching, his eyebrows going up a bit. That nervous look from the day before taking over his face again.
Maggie paused for minute. He really is cute. And funny. And nicer than any of the guys at school. "No. It doesn't make any difference to me." Why would I care if he's Korean.
Exhaling, his smile returning. "Good. Me either."
"So, how Did you…" Maggie leaned forward. Her elbow on the table, her chin resting in her hand.
"Find this place?" Pushing his ball cap back on his head, Glenn started tapping his fingers against the table top. "About a year ago, right after we moved here. I was just out driving around and I saw T-Dog putting his sign out. So, I stopped. I've been coming back ever since."
Loudly clearing his throat, T-Dog leaned over the table. Setting down a bowl with a brown paper lunch sack standing up in it. Some napkins stuffed in next to the bag. And two glasses of soda, with straws. "Y'all staying for BBQ or…"
"Uh…" Glenn glanced from T-Dog to Maggie. "I'll let you know." With a nod, T-Dog headed back to the bar. Moving the paper bag from the bowl, Glenn started unrolling the top of the bag. Maggie passed him a napkin, unfolding one in her lap.
"He seems nice." Reaching into the bag, Maggie fished out a couple peanuts.
Glancing down for a moment, Glenn cracked a peanut shell between his fingers. Picking out the nuts. "T's great. Probably my first real friend here."
"Uh huh. Is that why you were talking to him about me?" Delicately sucking the juice out of her empty shells, Maggie dropped them in the bowl. And wiped her hands on her napkin.
"What. No. Yeah, well see I didn't really talk about you. I might have mentioned your name." Glenn juggled a couple peanuts for a second, before they both landed on the table in front of him. "A couple times."
"That all. Because, it sounded like it was more than just a couple times. It sounded like…." The sound of the door slamming followed by a couple pairs of heavy footsteps, making Maggie jump.
"Gimme a beer T."
"Same."
The voices at the bar behind her were rough. Glenn was now looking over her shoulder towards the bar. His boiled peanuts abandoned in front of him. His fingers curved, still against the wood table top. His narrow eyes even narrower, mouth open a slit. Looking like he had forgotten she was there. Making Maggie wonder if she should turn and look, or just turn and run.
"Hey T, you got a white girl sittin' back there."
The second voice, louder. Coarser. "The hell… Glenn, what are ya doin' with a white girl?"
What am I doing here. Maggie heard boots scuffing along the floor, and felt the still air moving behind her. Her teeth clenching, her breath caught in her throat. Eyes focused on Glenn, willing him to hear her thoughts. If I die here, I'm gonna kill you Glenn. God help me, I'll kill you.
The knot in her stomach returning, twice as tight. Maggie tried to look over her shoulder, without looking like she was looking over her shoulder. She spotted T-Dog crossing the floor. With his arms up, hands out. Gesturing at two of the tallest, darkest men Maggie had ever seen. "What do you two think you're doing? Ya getting ready to dance? Go on back to the bar, Oscar. Go on, Big Tiny. You two act like ya never seen a white girl in here before."
The taller of the two looking past T-Dog, poking his head forward he raised a hand in a flat wave. With an even flatter voice, he called out. "Hey Glenn." Before he turned back towards the bar.
The other quietly mumbling. "That's 'cause we ain't." As he shuffled back to the bar.
"Yeah, yeah. Go on and leave them alone." T-Dog continued to herd the two men back towards the bar.
Glenn raised a hand, and his chin. Smiling at the men. "Hey Tiny, Oscar." His shoulders relaxed, he glanced back at Maggie. "What?"
Her mouth snapping closed, Maggie glared across the table. "Why'd you bring me here?" You trying to scare me or…
His eyes going to the table top, scanning his abandoned peanuts, his mouth looking like a fish gasping for air. His fingers scrabbling against the top of the table. Finally, raising his head, he swallowed hard. "I couldn't think of any other place we could go. Where… We wouldn't be… Bothered."
"Bothered? Because you're…"
"Yeah. Because I'm me and you're you. And most places, we can't sit at the same table. Most places around here won't even let me in the door." A look of resignation shadowing his face.
Lines forming between her eyes. "But you're not colored. You're…. Oh. That's why your mom was worried about you." Her hands laying limp on the table in front of her.
"She was worried about you, too." A hint of a smile tugging at the end of his mouth. "See, here we can just eat boiled peanuts and hang out and you can tell me if you like waffles." The bag of peanuts pushed to the side, Glenn started to reach across the table towards her. Unfolding her elbow, a little, Maggie decided she would let him hold her hand. When T-Dog appeared at the side of their table.
Mopping at his sweaty forehead with the back of his hand for a moment. "Whew. Hot back there over the pit. Miss Maggie…" His hand lightly resting on her arm. "I don't want you to worry none. You're safe here." Dipping his chin in Glenn's direction. "Him, no guarantees." His gap tooth grin growing again, as he squeezed Maggie's arm for a second before moving his hand away.
Glenn's hand moving across the table again, fumbling as he wrapped his fingers around Maggie's hand. Maggie flashed him a quick smile, then looked up at T-Dog. "I wasn't worried." A little terrified for a couple minutes. "Glenn wouldn't have brought me here if it wasn't safe." Shifting her attention back across the table. "Right?"
"Yeah. Of course." Glenn's easy smile had returned. His hand squeezing hers a little tighter.
With a nod, T-Dog started back towards the bar. Maggie twisted in her seat, watching T cross the dance floor. Spotting the two men standing at the bar. Drinking. There were a couple more people, men and women, sitting at another table. None of them paying any attention to her and Glenn. I do feel safe. Swiveling in her seat to face Glenn, she smiled across the table at him. "I'm glad you brought me."
After another hour of eating boiled peanuts and talking, Maggie asked Glenn to take her home. "If I'm too late, my daddy gets worried."
Glenn immediately gave his hands one last wipe with the napkin and stood up. Moving around the table to hold her chair for her. Walking through T-Dogs, Glenn's hand went to her elbow to guide her to the door. Both of them waving, when T called out to them from behind the bar. T-Dog reminding Glenn that One Eyed Brian would be there the next night, Saturday. The music would start at nine, but if they wanted a table, they best get there by eight.
Slipping out into the parking lot. Glenn's hand moved from her elbow to her back. "Would you want to, maybe, come back. Tomorrow. I know it's late in the week to…"
"I don't know. I'm a pretty good dancer. You think you can keep up?" Maggie's voice light, she struggled to keep a straight face.
"I'm an okay… Yeah, I'll go home and practice." She could feel his fingers start flexing against her back.
Reaching the passenger side of his car, Maggie waited while he opened the door for her. Brushing her hair back, she gave him a small smile. "Well, I guess we have a date."
Later, driving down the road to the Greene family farm drive, Maggie reached out and snagged his arm. "Stop, stop right here."
Following Maggie's instruction, Glenn carefully pulled over to the side of the road. It was still a quarter of a mile from her family drive. Putting the car in park, the engine quietly running. Glenn half turned in his seat. "You sure you want to walk from here? I can take you right up to the door."
No, you really can't. "I don't mind walking. Unless you want to meet my daddy tonight?" No way I'm gonna introduce you to my daddy tonight. He still thinks I'm seeing Randy. Maggie bit down on her lower lip, waiting for Glenn to come around and open her door. I don't know what he'd say if...
Instead of opening his car door, Glenn's knuckles tightened on the steering wheel. Staring down at the wheel in front of him. Exhaling hard, twice. He turned his head back towards her. "I can, if you want me to. I'll…"
Why do you have to make this so hard. "No. Don't be silly."
Pushing his ball cap back. Looking visibly relieved. Glenn nodded. "Okay."
Leaning down, Maggie pulled her discarded shoes back on. When she sat up, she gave Glenn a small, closed mouth smile, shifting in her seat so she was facing him. One hand moving to rest against the seat between them. "So… I should go in."
"What, yeah." With a start Glenn was out of the car, running around the front to fully open the car door. Holding out his hand to catch hers, and help her out of the car. His fingers still wrapped around hers, they stood face to face. Neither of them moving. "Um, tomorrow night…"
Maggie's voice dropped to a quiet whisper, forcing Glenn to move closer to hear her. "What about tomorrow night."
"Where should I…"
"In town, the five and dime."
"I'll be there at 7 pm." With a little grin, Glenn added. "So we can get some of T's BBQ before the band starts playing."
Maggie took a half step forward, closing the space between them. Squeezing his hand. "So, are you going to kiss me before I go in?"
"Do you want me to?"
"You better."
So, Maggie had a lot to figure out. This won't be an easy journey for them, but it seems neither of them are willing to give up on it.
Thanks for reading. If you loved it, please leave a note in the box. And if you hated it, never mind. :)
xoxo