Part 2
Boy how the world has changed over the years. In 1920, the Prohibition Act was passed. The sale of alcohol was illegal, the great war happened, and everyone was trying to keep their heads above water. My daddy's farm grew more. He sold dairy and beef, but he only did business with other colored farmers.
My dad was really good at his job, and white people don't like colored people being good at anything. After Miss Hattie passed away, her sister Mayella took over her property. She has a daughter, Lucinda, who's around my age. We look out for each other.
My dad his truck, and I had an old car that got me around. It was a gift from a suitor but he passed away from Spanish Flu. My dad and I stayed away from everyone kin and friend alike in order to survive and protect his life stock.
So are we now? Well I was still walking back home from our small town after picking up some eggs and flower. Daddy's birthday was coming up and I said I would make him a chocolate cake. I knew I could have drove, but I liked walking. I was in one of my older grey dresses with a black bucket hat on. My hair was braided back swaying across my bottom as I walked. It was cloudy today so the sun was not beating down on me. Numerous, nice looking cars passed me by. I recognized many of the drivers, some white some black. I always gave an excited wave to those who passed to show I was friendly.
Another familiar beat up truck was coming around the corner. I was familiar with the dark tint of it and the large window showing Jack Bondurant driving with his brother Forrest beside him. And in the back standing to the wind was Howard. I heard big talk about those three. Boy did they make a name for themselves. Whispers of Howards entire battalion dying at sea was all over the community. I remember my heart pounding fast at the thought of my friend getting caught up in all that. Some say he should have died with them. I'd like to think God had other plans. Forrest along with is parents also caught the Spanish Flu. Only he survived. Yeah those boys were legends. Jack though, well I haven't heard about his immortal stunt yet. But we have time. They're moonshiners, bootleggers with injun blood that makes them so fierce, so legendary.
I remained on the side of the road strolling carelessly as they drove by. Jack held his hand out to wave and with a warm smile I nodded at the truck. I saw Forrest notice me but look ahead once more. I looked up at Howard to see him staring at me with a deep gaze no white man should ever have toward a colored girl. When he came back from the war, Howard didn't seem all that interested in me. I wasn't offended by it though. He saw things that no one should ever see. I was looking forward to a harmless friendship with him, but it was clear he belonged in his world and I belonged in mine. As the truck drove on, I couldn't help but look over my shoulder once at it. Howard looked back too.
As I returned to my father's house, I saw another car parked beside his truck. That's preacher Abraham Rockwell's truck. As I went inside, I could hear men talking in living room. I passed by and immediately saw two men dressed in suits sitting across from my daddy. When they saw me, they immediately stood removing their hats. Abraham and his son, Miles were here. Miles smiled warmly at me. He's young, educated and handsome to look at. He has waves in his hear and pearly white teeth. His nose isn't huge but it fits his face perfectly. His chin is a little long, but it didn't hinder his looks. He's tall too.
Daddy was sitting in his chair when he saw me. He gave an old smile to me.
"Daughter. We've been waiting for you." he said standing up now. I blinked and looked at everyone.
"Why, Daddy?" I asked and Daddy just motioned toward the two men.
"Well Preacher Abraham and his boy Miles came along for a little visit." he announced. I nodded looking from him to the two men.
"Would you boys like some lemonade or tea perhaps?" I asked and they waved their hands casually and shook their heads.
"No, Velvet thank you. Why we're really here is well…" Preacher Abraham started before smiling at Miles and placing his hand on Miles neck. The young Rockwell smiled and stepped forward.
"Velvet Turner, I came over to ask you for your hand in marriage- well ask your father." he said. I feigned shock as my mouth formed a perfect O and then I looked at Daddy who just crossed his arms.
"Miles here just came home from school upstate. He's studying law." he said as if seeming impressed. But my daddy was a man who learned with his bare hands. Nothing impressed him anymore when it came to us young folk. I nodded slowly as if impressed before looking at Miles.
"Oh… I see." I said with hesitance. Abraham stepped forward.
"Well you're getting to be at marrying age now, Velvet and you're going to need someone to take care of you and the kids you may have." he explained. I looked down hiding my scowl at his words before looking up at Miles.
"We've never really spoken. I don't know much about you." I said. Before Miles could answer Abraham beat him to it.
"Well ya'll got lots of time for that! Velvet my son's gonna be a lawyer. You gone want to lock him down before some other woman does." he said. Miles smiled nervously some as Abraham put his hand back on son's neck. I looked back at my dad who stood up from his chair.
"Why don't we discuss this on Sunday after church. I gotta get ready to head back out to the farm soon. One of my cow's gone give birth and I need to make sure the fences are good enough to keep the wolves out." he lied and patted Preacher Abraham's shoulder. Abraham didn't seem too happy about being dismissed but he nodded.
"Alright, Sunday after church then." he said. Daddy walked the two men to the door and I just turned and headed into the kitchen moving to put my groceries away. I heard Daddy's footsteps approaching the doorway.
"Alright now what's wrong with them?" he asked. I glanced back at him now and crossed my arms.
"They came here asking to marry me, but I should be the one wanting to jump at the proposal?" I asked and Daddy rolled his eyes.
"Velvet this is the third suitor. Soon they're gone stop coming." he said. I shrugged.
"So let them stop." I said and he winced and shook his head.
"Velvet, I ain't gone be around forever. If I die who is gonna take care of you? You needs a man and you needs to get married and start a family of your own." he said. I didn't like it when Daddy talked about death. It scared me to think about being in the world alone.
"Why can't I just take care of you and then worry about myself when you die?" I asked.
"Cause you a girl and you can't make it in this world by yourself. You need a husband. Miles Rockwell is a good boy. We seen him around." he explained. I sighed and just looked up in thought.
"I just… I ain't ever been some man's wife. I don't know nothing about men." I said.
"And that's why I left you stay with Miss Hattie. Lord rest her soul, she was supposed to teach you stuff." he lectured. I looked down at the ground feeling my eyes water and he sighed heavily. "Come on now don't you start crying now." He walked across the kitchen and hugged me. He smelled like the field but I didn't care. I hugged him back.
"We'll just talk about this later." he said. I only nodded.
"Lucinda wanted me to ask if I can go into town. Ida Bell is having a small get together." I told. Daddy leaned back giving me a suspicious look. I gave a pout. "Please, Daddy. I may find me a husband while out there." Now he just leaned back some more.
"Alright. You don't be out late and you don't bring no boys to this house. I find someone in your room, my shot gun gone go off." he threatened. I smiled happily and nodded.
"Yes sir!" I replied hugging him quickly before hurrying to my room to get ready. Once I was washed up, I sat at my small vanity desk putting on some cherry red lip stick and black eye liner. I did my lashes and released my hair from its braid letting my waves come to live down my back. I wore one of my black dresses and my grey coat and hat. Miss Hattie left a lot of her dresses from her youth to me. She definitely knew how to flaunt. I placed a pearl necklace around my necklace. I waited on the front porch until Lucinda drove up in her momma's truck. She's light skinned with straight black hair and beautiful eyes. She's have black and half Indian. She wore a red dress and black heals. She loved to stand out.
She's going to marry Edgar White, a young boy studying medicine to be a doctor. She drove down the road with a light squeal.
"Miles Rockwell, asked you to marry him? Please tell me you said yes!" she snapped. I glanced at her with a scoff.
"My daddy said he would think about it." I responded, my arm out her window. She shook her head.
"So it's a no. You should marry him! He's studying law you know. Oh it'll be great! You marry a lawyer and I'll marry a doctor! We'll have kids at the same time and dress then up and maybe they'll marry each other!" she said with utter happiness. I shook my head.
"I hardly know him!" I blurted.
"So I hardly knew Edgar. But he brings me flowers and takes me out on the lake. We even had a picnic last week oh it was grand! Oh give Miles a chance. You're young, beautiful and not to mention smart. You belong at his side. Think about it, a lawyer's wife…ooh a doctor's wife. Oh things are looking up for us. You cannot let him slip through your fingers." she said. I sneered a bit.
"Yeah that's what his father said too." I replied.
Ida Belle threw the best parties at her bar, The Belle's. Her husband Jerome helped her start it, but he was sleeping with another woman. One day that other woman's husband came home and caught them in bed together, blew em both away. The band was throwing down, and my legs hips were moving about the floor with the rest of the young women. Oh how I love dancing.
"Whooo shake it girl!" someone yells. There's clapping and singing and cheering all around me. Lucinda is beside me throwing her hands in the air as well. As I began to sweat, I moved over to the bar and smiled at Ida Belle who grinned back at me.
"Girl if dancing is the secret to keeping that figure you not gonna gain a pound ever!" she said happily and I laughed in response.
"I feel I'll pass out from this heat of this bar." I replied.
Lucinda now joined me, taking a napkin and patting her face.
"You got anything to drink?" she asked. She gave me a dumbfounded look.
"Of course I do! But the good stuff ain't coming for another…" she looked passed me suddenly and grinned. "Well speak of the devil. Our giggle juice has just arrived!"
We followed her eyes over to the back of the bar to see none other than Forrest and Howard Bondurant carrying case loads of mason jaws filled with something. So it was true, they did sell alcohol. Everyone who saw at them like they were gods.
"Bring it over this way boys!" Ida calls out and I just kept my head down avoiding any eye contact with the men as they approached the bar. Two men hurried and took the case before anyone tried focusing too hard on what the only two white men were carrying. Howard was right beside me and we glanced at each other. He cleared his throat some.
"Evening, Velvet. Pretty dress youj got on!" he said and I smiled politely at him.
"Howard." I responded before looking at Forrest. "Forrest." He glanced my way.
"Mm, Ms. Turner." he replied and looked forward. Ida was handing him some money now. Lucinda took my hand immediately pulling me away from the two men. She looked at them already with distrust. She didn't trust white men. She didn't like white men. We slid back into the dances with other women and laughed together as if the world were actually ours to control for once. As we moved about, I glanced back over to the bar discreetly and could see Howard watching me as he drank from one of the mason jars. I didn't let his deep wandering eyes move me from my fun.
Once the heat of the bar was too much, I merely danced my way from the crowd and stepped outside into the night. I shivered as the cool air hit me. A small group of young folks were coming toward the door so I opened it for them. They smiled and said thanks and I smiled back. I moved to the side of the bar and pressed my back to the bricks looking up at the sky for a moment. There were so many stars out, shining really pretty.
I thought about what my daddy said and what Lucinda says. It seemed my only purpose at this age is to be married with a belly full of kids. I wanted to do something for myself. Maybe continue going to school and making something of myself.
"Shit I would have thought you'd be married by now." I jumped and looked to my right to see Howard standing against the wall beside me. When did he even get here? You don't miss a big guy like him. I could smell the alcohol on him. It wasn't thick, but it was noticeable. He stared down at me with a mischievous smirk. Oh not him too.
"My marital status is only my concern." I replied with a low tone, looking him over now. "What are you still doing here? Don't you have more… things to deliver?" He laughed now and shook his head.
"That bar was our last stop and lucky for me too, I got you see you dance." he said with that childish grin I hadn't seen in quite a few years. it was weird behind alone like this for we hadn't been alone since the last time we saw each other. It was the day he was leaving for the war. But ever since he had been back, nothing happened and so I felt comfortable calling him a stranger and I had nothing to really say to him
"Well I'm glad I amuse you. Excuse me." I said dryly walking around him, only for him to take one step in front of me and he was blocking my path completely. I had to look up at him as he kept his hands out.
"We haven't spoken since I got back!" he blurted and I winced at the weakness in his tone.
"I haven't gone anywhere you knew where to find me." I said keeping my eyes on the ground as I tried to walk around him, but he stepped in front of me again. "Let me pass." Like I could ever demand a white man anything. Hell if I said that to any other man the consequences could be dire.
"Can we just talk again?" he asked and I looked up at him with a confusing shake of my head.
"Talk about what?" I asked.
"Anything?" he asked. "Maybe we can go somewhere alone now."
"Tonight is not the time." I said.
"So when?" he asked stepping closer to me which was hardly much because it closed the space between us.
"Howard." I heard Forrest's familiar low tone call and we turned to see him standing there. Lucinda coming up behind him looking at me with worry as she hurried up around Howard and took my hand pulling me from his space. "Leave the girl be. Come on now." He watched with drunken eyes as my friend pulled me away asking me multiple times if I was okay.
"Did he try and touch you?"
"He didn't try and attack you did he?"
"Those Bondurant's are savages!"