"Way to screw up Jim," Mendler chastised Jim.
They were at the Safety Night for Blacks, behind the on-going carnival. There were few people there, Paul wasn't there, and it looks like all their plans were futile.
"Say, where's Paul?" McDougal asked, searching around.
"Oh calm people," Mendler scoffed. "Paul must've been talking about it and some nigger must've heard his dumbass."
"Ah well then," Jim said. "We can use this next time. Through this one loss holds many victories."
July 12th, 1962
Duncan and Courtney still hadn't told anyone about their relationship. Courtney wasn't ready and Duncan respected her decision. He couldn't honestly tell himself that he was ready either. Besides, it was probably best that they kept their relationship on the down low for now. It'd probably cause some type of uprising all over Jackson. And in Belhaven. And In Courtney's suburb.
Duncan usually took the bus to Courtney's house every Thursday and sometimes Saturday. He wished to take the bus to see her more often but Courtney thought even that was too risky- the bus drivers could notice that Duncan was stopping in that same place every Thursday and on occasion Saturday. Duncan told her that was a bit on the superstitious side.
Some people had already seen them together before but most likely they probably thought Courtney was yet another girl he flirted with. Duncan and Courtney intended to keep it that way to the outside world.
Today was a Thursday and Duncan was on the bus to Courtney's house. Duncan usually stopped a couple of blocks from Toulogoo, just so no one would be suspicious of him entering a predominately black neighborhood. That was a bit on the superstitious side as well.
The bus stopped and Duncan started walking to Courtney's house just a couple of blocks down. Duncan spotted Courtney sitting on the steps of her red house reading a book of some sort. Her shoulder-length brown hair was moving peacefully with the wind. Her onyx eyes were in deep concentration as she turned the pages of the book. Courtney looked up from her book to find Duncan walking towards her and she smiled. Duncan felt his lips forming a smile.
Once inside the house, Duncan plopped onto Courtney's house and she chuckled at his unapparent manners. Courtney sat next to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.
"I was thinking of watching some gory movies," Duncan said, playing with her hair.
"Eww no Duncan it's like 2:00 in the afternoon," Courtney yawned.
"Oh, is someone a little scared to watch a horror movie during the day?" Duncan teased her.
"No!" She lied. She is scared, and scary movies aren't her thing. When DJ and Leshawna would ask her to see one with them she always made up a really good excuse. Finally they'd caught on and realized that Courtney was scared of horror movies. That, and green jelly. They're both disgusting.
"So why don't we flip to a scary movie? Aren't they doing a marathon today?"
"Scary movies just aren't my thing, that's all," Courtney scoffed. "Why don't we watch something more serene and soothing- like a love movie!"
"Trying to change the channel I see," Duncan teased her again. "And yuck! Love movies are for saps!"
"Like you," Courtney mutterd under her breath.
"I heard that!"
The couple continued to fight over what to watch on television. After a few minutes of arguing, the two agreed to watch The Flintstones.
"Well this is a whole lot better than a scary movie, don't you think?" Courtney said and Duncan didn't seem to hear her. The episode is entitled "Fred Strikes Out" and Fred tries to take Wilma out for their anniversary while he is at his bowling competition.
"Courtney," Duncan whispered softly and Courtney looked at him in suspense. He didn't call her Princess or some other nickname so Courtney knew he was being serious.
He nervously put his right hand behind his neck and asked, "So um, when do you think we should uh, tell, people?"
"I don't know," Courtney said and sighed. It doesn't feel too good hiding things from people you care about.
"No worries," Duncan assured and cupped her chin in his hand, kissing her on the lips.
Then there was a loud knock on the door followed by the sound of keys unlocking the door.
"You know the drill," Courtney whispered and Duncan nodded in response.
Duncan ran upstairs quickly to Courtney's room. A girly, strawberry scent filled up the tidy room. Of course Courtney would keep her room this way.
Meanwhile, downstairs, it turned out the person at the door was her dad.
"Hey pumpkin," John greeted Courtney.
Courtney was bad at lying but up until a few weeks ago it didn't matter because she rarely ever lied.
"Who were you talking to?" He asked.
Courtney felt her palms getting sweaty. How could he even- how long was he there? How much did he hear? Why didn't she hear him pulling in?
"Oh, I was just repeating something funny I saw on T.V," Courtney lied, hoping her dad couldn't tell she lied.
"Okay…" He said slowly. "Is your mom here?"
"No, she's not," Courtney answered. At least that's the truth. "Wow, you're early." Or was he? What was the time anyway?
"Oh, I was just coming back for lunch," He replied, going into the kitchen to pick up his forgotten lunch. Her dad worked as an engineer in Toulagoo.
"Figures," Courtney said. Well, at least he was actually early and she wasn't just trying to cover up. "So how's the probation going?"
After the ride, John and some of the other Freedom Riders were arrested. At jail they offered John and some other Freedom Riders from Jackson to pay bail so he could get out until his court date. His court date had taken a while to process, nearly a month and a half. His jury was on July 10th, 1962. The jury of course, was extremely biased (because the Riders were black) and wanted to send the freedom riders to jail for 2 years. But thanks to the intervention of civil rights leaders they have been sentenced to 3 months' probation. They couldn't leave Jackson for any reason whatsoever. They had to check in periodically with their probation officer to check them for drugs and to make sure they hadn't "caused any trouble."
Bail only frees you for a certain amount of time. You pay to get out of jail once you were initially arrested. The bail just means that you don't have to stay in jail while your court date is being processed. Once your court date is decided, you are expected to show up to court. John had learned this a little bit (a week after to be exact) after Linda bailed him, but told Courtney and Linda this information just days before his hearing, much to their chagrin. Frankly, Courtney and Linda were still a little bit mad at John for keeping that from them. Courtney also wondered why in the world she hadn't learned this in school- or anywhere else for that matter. Apparently, a lot of people didn't know this was how bail worked and assumed it got you out of jail forever.
"I didn't want to make to make you guys worry too much," John told them. "My activism is already causing too many worries on your heads. And with all the things that happened after, you guys would be worrying too much."
She guess she understood, but Courtney had told him not to keep things like this from her mom and her, even though she was being a big fat hypocrite considering she was hiding that her and Duncan were going steady for a month. But of course, it'd be hard for her to admit that to her dad.
"Well?" Courtney asked her dad.
"Don't worry pumpkin," He assured her and smiled. "Everything is fine."
"I got to go, now, I'll see you later," He said.
He gave her a kiss on the cheek and left out the door.
"Coast's clear," Courtney yelled, when she saw her dad drive away. Duncan came out of Courtney's bedroom.
"I hope you didn't touch anything," She warned.
Duncan simply smirked in reply, and Courtney could tell that he probably did touch something.
"Maybe we could tell our friends," Duncan told her.
"About what?"
"About this," He said and gave her a quick peck on the lips.
"I bet you'll feel better if you tell someone," Duncan said.
"Maybe you're right…" Courtney considered his idea. If she kept it a secret she'd feel incredibly guilty. If she told someone she'd feel a little less guilty, but still guilty. Who could she tell, though? She should tell DJ and Leshwana because best friends aren't supposed to keep things from each other, right?
"Pretty sure Geoff already knows," Duncan told her. "But then again, the guy's not the brightest."
"DJ'd probably have a hard time keeping such a secret," Courtney said to Duncan. "But I guess I should tell him anyway."
"Oh, that tall guy?"
Courtney nodded.
"Sierra likes to gossip," Courtney thought aloud.
"Who's…?"
"I guess that leaves Deshawn, Noah, and Leshawna, for now," She continued to think aloud and Duncan was getting a little suspicious.
"Who's Noah? Deshawn?" Duncan questioned her suspiciously.
"Oh relax, Deshawn is an uh- acquaintance and Noah is my friend," Courtney said.
"Did you go out with either one of them?"
"Deshawn? It was a long time ago?"
"Does he still like you?"
"Oh, stop it."
"Well he better not!"
"Anyway, I think I'll tell Leshawna," Courtney decided and rolled her eyes at Duncan.
"You know, you should show me this Deshawn guy sometime."
"Did you even hear what I just said?" Courtney asked, annoyed.
"Yeah, yeah, yeah, you'll tell Luanda about us," Duncan responded.
"It's Leshawna!" Courtney corrected him.
"Mhm," He said, not caring at the moment. "So now you can tell me more about this Deshawn guy. Like when did you guys even go out? Why is he an 'acquaintance'? Is he a wimp?"
"Since you seem so keen on me answering," Courtney sighed. "We went out a little while ago. And he kind of- um- upset me, if you must know."
Duncan's facial expression softened. "Oh, well, I'm sorry Princess," He wrapped his arms around her waist from behind.
"Thanks Duncan," She said and turned around to kiss him.
Another knock was heard at the door and he ran up to her room again. Courtney looked through the peephole and saw that itwas Leshawna, dressed in red bell bottom pants, a white tank top, and to top it off black flats. Courtney sighed and opened the door for her best friend.
"Hey Leshawna," Courtney greeted Leshawna once the door's open. "What's up?"
"Oh nothing," Leshawna said. "Just dropping by. Again."
"Really?" Courtney nervously asked.
"Yeah…." Leshawna said. suspiciously, taking note of the anxiety in Courtney's voice. "Problem?"
"Oh no, come on in!"
Leshawna took her shoes off (of course) and plopped unto Courtney's velvet couch.
"Things have been quiet lately."
"Too quiet."
"And why haven't we done anything fun, Court?"
"Does your idea of fun involve breaking the rules?"
Leshawna giggled. "Why don't we do something fun and for your sake- it doesn't involve breaking the rules."
Courtney crossed her arms. "Like what?"
"Maybe go to a party… or throw a party!"
"Remember? I don't do parties!"
"Well you should…. We have to do something fun!"
I need to tell her, Courtney thought.
"So… Leshawna…" Courtney started. "What would you do if I ever hid something from you?"
"I'd be mad as hell," Leshawna said putting her hands on her large hips. "Best friends don't keep things from each other. You're not hiding anything, are you?"
Courtney gulped and sat next to Leshawna on the couch.
"What's going on, girl?"
Courtney took a deep breath, and prepared to explain herself.
"So, um," Courtney started. "You know that boy who gave me his number at the pool?"
Leshawna nodded with a suspicious look in her large eyes.
"We, uh, we, uh," Courtney stuttered.
"You what? Clue me in, girl."
"We're going steady," Courtney answered.
"You mean to tell me you're going steady with that boy!" She said, more of a statement than a question.
"And uh, he's here, in my room, now."
"YOU MEAN TO TELL ME THERE ARE BOYS UP IN HERE!" She threw her hands up in the air. Courtney nodded slowly.
"And how long have you guys been going out?" Leshawna asked, even more suspicious of her best friend.
"A month," Courtney practically squeaked.
"Well why didn't you tell me sooner? Did you even tell DJ?"
"No, and Leshawna I didn't-"
"Even you can't talk your way out of this one," Leshawna narrowed her eyes. "Courtney, I see you almost every day."
"I know but-"
"You should've told me Courtney. And you should've told DJ too! Friends don't keep things from each other! You've been going out with him for almost a month and you haven't told me or DJ! You know, I should tell him myself!"
"But I-"
"You were wrong for hiding this, Court. And you know you would've been pissed if I hid something like this from you. I know I was teasing you about liking him and calling him. And are you forgetting that the chicken head police man is his dad? Are you really willing to take that risk? And how can I trust you not to keep secrets from me, Court? Do your parents even know about this?"
Too many questions. Another thing Courtney was bad at was admitting she was wrong.
"I don't- I trust-"
"Best friends don't keep secrets Courtney," Leshawna said, and a wave guilt came over Courtney. "I'm out of here!"
Leshawna slammed the door on her way out. Leshawna was mad about Courtney keeping secrets. So did she also disapprove of her and Duncan too?
Duncan ran down the stairs.
"What happened?" Duncan questioned her.
"I told Leshawna about us…" Courtney said. "She's mad at me for hiding it from her, and mentioned your dad being the police officer that was mean to us..."
"Courtney I would never do anything to hurt you," Duncan assured her.
"I know," Courtney whispered, and buried her head into his chest. "But would he?"
"Who?"
"Your dad."
A/N: Sorry about not updating in a month. I'm involved in lots of extracurricular activities at my school! But of course, there's no reason to keep you guys in the dark. Thanks for sticking with Trapped and Follow, Favorite, Review!
History: 50 years ago today, John F Kennedy was shot and killed in Dallas, Texas.