Fender and I sat down together.
I said,
"I can't believe I walked out of Corny Collins."
"You wanted to compete. I knew even 'fore you started competin'. Now I am seein' you compete for a huge honor an' if you to compete even after this this season."
Tracy added,
"You're right when someone from a pageant should their win to help others. I know that descion was tough, but they're goin' to have to give into you.."
Link joined in.
"Because we're the best dancers an' that rule's stupid."
I slowly walked down the street.
Then, I told Fender,
"Can you give me a ride home? I need to get the money to release Mary."
"All right and you'll have the right thing done."
"It must be something for you to be on that show for six years an' then your girlfriend ends up choosing to leave."
"It's okay, Crystal."
Tracy added,
"I'm sure Corny didn't want you to go. Those sponsors are just set on havin' rules. I know for a fact that Maybelle and Inez are gonna leave, too."
"Then, the show will suck." I said.
Fender, Tracy, Link and I arrive at Montrose to bail Mary out.
I saw the matron and she said,
"Back so soon?"
"I'm here to bail Mary out."
"Follow me."
The matron led us to the room called the "bail room." Then, I saw that stupid racist pain-in-the-ass owner. He had decided on bail.
He smirked at me.
The matron said,
"I'm goin' to get Mary."
"May I speak with Crystal about money?"
"Okay. It's okay, Fender. If he makes any trouble, I'll call you."
"Crystal, good-luck. Bail Mary out."
Mary was comin' in. She was still dressed as a Montrose girl.
"Okay. The bail for Mary is five hundred dollars."
"You said it was four hundred dollars, ya liar!" I yelled.
I pulled out four hundred dollars and thought,
Mary, you won't get any freedom unless you come with me. She has her bag. I must…
I yelled,
"Come on, Mary! Run! Here you racist man-take the four hundred dollars!'
She and I bounded out of the reformatory.
Fender asked,
"What happened?"
"Never mind. Go home. Mary and I have to run."
Once again, I didn't know what the hell I was doing, but the risk is what made me stronger.
The owner yelled,
"Crystal, you're going to be punished! And I'll make sure a dirty little troublemaker like you is back here at Montrose where you belong!'
I was angry inside. Tired. I wanted to fight back.
The owner called the police…
"I need you to find…"
My heart was pounding. I knew we needed a place to rest.
I told Mary,
"First, you're goin' to have to stop by your house. Change your clothes. It'll be easy for the cops to spot you in a Montrose uniform."
Of course, I'd been to this side of Baltimore. But not like this.
Mary told me,
"Come in. My ma is home."
At first, Mary's mother didn't like seeing a "white girl" in her house.
Mary said,
"It's okay. Crystal is here because she bailed me out. But the owner said four hundred dollars and then changed it to five hundred. Crystal slapped four hundred dollars and ran off with me. She has released me and even risked herself getting sent there again."
"Well, then, she isn't a racist white girl. Because there are still those around."
I waited around and then said,
"Mary, bring your mom over here."
"All right."
Mary's mom said,
"Yes?"
I pulled the remaining seventy-five dollars and handed it to her.
"This is quite a bit for even a girl of your age. Do you want me to pay you back?"
"No, it's for you. To keep. Mary told me you needed some financial help. And this will help. It isn't as much as some people would like to have, but I paid Mary's bail of four hundred dollars and that's all I had saved left for you. I won one hundred twenty five dollars from the "small" dance competitions and three hundred fifty dollars from the Regional Dance Competitions. If you need anything else, call me at this number."
"You are a kind girl, Crystal."
"Thank you. But now that I helped you, I need to make sure that racist owner never again does that."
I walked home-but I was careful. Because the police could be looking for me 'cause of what happened.
I told my family,
"I did one of the most riskiest things I've ever done. It's now my time to fix it."
Drama, running, drama, more cliffies! Will Crystal be victorious? Find out in chapter 12.